The Ultimate Lens Review: Comparing the Best 35mm Lens to the ARRI Signature Prime

TLDRIn this lens review, we compare the 35mm G Master lens to the ARRI Signature Prime, exploring focus breathing, chromatic aberration, distortion, vignetting, and bokeh. The Signature Prime offers superior performance in all aspects, with minimal focus breathing and chromatic aberration. It exhibits minimal distortion and vignetting, with smooth and clean bokeh. The lens is a perfect balance of size and weight, providing exceptional image quality.

Key insights

🔍The ARRI Signature Prime outperforms the 35mm G Master lens in all aspects of lens performance.

🌀The Signature Prime exhibits minimal focus breathing, providing consistent frame size even at different focus distances.

🌈Chromatic aberration is present in both lenses, but the Signature Prime maintains a neutral color tone throughout the frame.

📷Distortion is almost imperceptible in both lenses, with no noticeable barrel distortion.

⚫️Vignetting is well-controlled in the Signature Prime, with consistent brightness across the frame.

Q&A

Is the Signature Prime worth the higher price compared to the 35mm G Master lens?

Yes, the Signature Prime offers superior performance and image quality, making it worth the investment for professional filmmakers.

Does the Signature Prime have any disadvantages?

The lens is large and heavy, making it less suitable for handheld or run-and-gun shooting. It also requires an adapter for use with Sony mirrorless cameras.

Does the Signature Prime have a distinct character in its bokeh?

The Signature Prime produces smooth and clean bokeh, with a slight warmness characteristic of ARRI lenses.

Can the Signature Prime be used for photography?

While primarily designed for cinematography, the Signature Prime can also be used for photography, providing exceptional image quality and performance.

Are there any additional accessories or filters available for the Signature Prime?

Yes, ARRI offers Impression Filters that can be used to add specific characteristics or effects to the lens, providing creative options for filmmakers.

Timestamped Summary

00:23The video introduces the ARRI Signature Prime lens and the purpose of the lens review.

01:56The focus breathing of the 35mm G Master lens is discussed, highlighting its significant impact on focal length.

04:24Chromatic aberration is examined in both lenses, with the Signature Prime exhibiting a neutral color tone throughout the frame.

06:10Distortion is almost imperceptible in both lenses, with minimal barrel distortion noted.

06:52Vignetting is well-controlled in the Signature Prime, providing consistent brightness across the frame.

07:35The bokeh characteristics of both lenses are compared, with the Signature Prime offering smoother bokeh and minimal texture.

09:13The ARRI Impression Filters are introduced as a way to add specific characteristics or effects to the Signature Prime lens.