Chinese cinema lens series featuring 11 aperture blades for circular bokeh, 270° focus throw, and T-stop markings. 85mm f/2 and 35mm f/2 deliver warm color rendering for indie productions.
The Creator series consistently features 11 aperture blades for circular bokeh and a focus ring with a 270-degree rotation angle for precise focus pulls. The 85mm f/2 weighs 680g with a length of 95mm, while the 35mm f/2 is significantly more compact at 420g. All lenses have a 67mm filter thread and are available in Canon EF, Sony E, Fujifilm X, and Micro Four Thirds mounts. The optical construction of the 85mm consists of 9 elements in 7 groups, and the 35mm of 8 elements in 6 groups.
Zhongyi Optics introduced the Creator series in 2018 in response to the growing demand for affordable cine lenses. The Guangzhou-based company had previously established itself with the Mitakon Speedmaster 50mm f/0.95. The Creator line was expanded in 2019 with the 135mm f/2.8 and in 2020 with macro variants. The development aimed to transfer the characteristic look of classic film optics into modern, affordable lenses.
Creator lenses are used in independent productions and documentaries where budget and weight are crucial. The 85mm is suitable for portrait shots and close-ups with creamy bokeh, while the 35mm is ideal for establishing shots and narrative sequences. Manual focusing allows for precise rack focus movements, and the T-stop markings ensure consistent exposure when changing lenses. Colorists appreciate the warm color rendition and low contrast, which offers more flexibility in grading.
Compared to Zeiss CP.3 or Canon CN-E lenses, Creator lenses offer 70% cost savings with comparable image quality. They compete directly with Rokinon Xeen and SLR Magic Anamorphot series in the budget segment. While Sigma Cine lenses render sharper images, Creator lenses produce more organic skin tones. For high-end productions, Cooke S4/i or ARRI Master Primes remain the first choice, but Creator lenses have established themselves as the standard for streaming content and corporate videos.
Ich nutze die Creator 85mm für Interviews, weil die 270-Grad-Fokussierung mir millimetergenaue Schärfeverlagerungen ermöglicht, ohne dass ich Follow Focus-Systeme benötige. Die T-Stop-Kalibrierung spart mir Zeit beim Objektivwechsel, da ich die Belichtung nicht neu anpassen muss. Der einzige Nachteil ist das Fehlen von Zahnkränzen für professionelle Follow Focus-Systeme.
Die Creator-Objektive geben mir die Möglichkeit, auch bei kleinem Budget einen filmischen Look zu erzielen, der sich deutlich von der digitalen Schärfe moderner Kameras abhebt. Das cremige Bokeh des 85mm hilft mir dabei, Emotionen in Nahaufnahmen zu verstärken, während das 35mm genug Charakter hat, um sterile Locations interessanter wirken zu lassen.
Bei einem Anschaffungspreis von unter 800 Euro pro Objektiv spare ich gegenüber vergleichbaren Zeiss-Objektiven etwa 4.000 Euro pro Set, ohne merkliche Qualitätseinbußen für Online-Content. Das geringe Gewicht reduziert Transportkosten und Gimbal-Anforderungen, während die robuste Konstruktion teure Reparaturen bei häufigem Einsatz vermeidet.
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