DZOFilm Vespid vs NiSi Athena vs Irix Cine Lenses - Which is Best?

You can only choose one, which lens would you choose?

00:00 DZOFilm Vespid vs NiSi Athena vs Irix Cine Intro
00:29 What I Want in my Prime Lenses
00:52 Aperture Ranges
01:09 Vespid, Athena & Irix Image Quality: Charts
02:34 Image Quality: My Thoughts
03:47 Color Shift
04:26 Video Sponsor: Artlist
05:51 The Character
07:02 Minimum Focusing Distance
07:14 Flaring and Bokeh
07:40 Focal Lengths & Mount Options
07:56 Notes and the Adapters and Filters
09:43 Image Circle and Filter Size
10:25 Changing Mounts
11:06 Focus and Iris Rings
12:40 Lens Caps
13:15 Price
13:32 So…. Which Lens Kit Did I Buy??
13:48 Why I Chose These Lenses
14:38 My Opinion: Vespid vs Athena
15:13 My Opinion: Irix Cine
16:04 A Win for All of These Lenses
16:54 My Lenses
17:40 More Videos

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🤓 Disclosures
Amazon links in this description box and on my website are affiliate links, I make a commission if you decide to purchase using these links.

All opinions are my own and not influenced by anyone.

If you want to send me stuff:
Keith Knittel
14837 Detroit Ave, Ste 187
Lakewood, Ohio 44107
United States

[velvetsound]

I have a set of 4 Irix cine lenses in RF Mount (21, 30, 45, 65) and haven’t noticed any color difference between them. Mine are all pretty new though and quite consistent high quality throughout the set. I have vintage glass too if I need more character, but for spherical lenses they look great. I can add character easily in post, but I can’t take it away. I debated these 3 exact sets and picked Irix and love them. Athenas were a close second.

[romain_do]

there's nothing a cardellini clamp can't do

[ansenvideoproduction]

thanks for sharing this! not many Irix lenses comparison online. I still love my Irix cine lenses, I think there's something about them I personally prefer over other recent lenses.

[philipp-ackermann]

Thanks for the video! Since I want the most perfect picture, I probably go with the IRIX ones.

[JasonPischke]

Great comparison!! I know charts are not the most interesting, but I appreciate you taking the time to go through each lens at different f-stops. Have been looking into the Athena lenses and it is nice to see where they shine and where they fall short.

[DastanZhumagulov]

Great comparison, Keith!
Was shopping for a set of PL VV primes myself a year ago and went with Vespids. Athenas weren't out then but I don't regret not getting them since I like to use Vespids with a PL speedbooster on my Red Komodo to make the full use of the lens character. Irix seemed interesting but the amount of available focal lengths just bums me out.
A year later, I'm extremely happy with the character of the lenses, having used them not only on my Red Komodo, but also with bunch of rented cameras such as Alexa Mini, Mini LF and Red V Raptor.

[brettthemonster]

All absolutely killer lenses. I'm an Athena boy.

[wenjun_n]

A very interesting comparison. I had hoped you would compare the "micro contrast" of each lens, as well as colour rendition (not just white balance, but also colour accuracy and saturation.) It would also be nice to see how each lens deal with faces and skin tones, some lenses make faces more 3D where others make them more flat. But still thanks for sharing your findings!

[GizmoMaxx]

IRIX all the way, for the clean, not over sharpen (organic feel), not fringe, barrel distortion or color shift, which their other two lens has.

[wallenboeckfilms]

Great video. This is exactly where i am right now. Deciding between those 3 options myself and currently waiting on my next camera to fit these on and to be financially able to buy one of these sets lol. I'm really intruiged by the DZO Vespid lenses myself. Ty for the comparison.

[camilocalderon]

Super well made video but I am absolutely dying at the monstrous rig to hold up a DJI mic thats the size of my thumb. Sounds amazing tho!

[Guillaume]

Oh using only the 35mm is not the greatest way to test a set because for exemple the 35MM is the athena weak point, and that's a detail but making your facecam showing lenses not at all related to the test is a bit distracting

[prostigeMarketing]

I'd like to see a comparison between the new nisi primes and dzo arles primes

[cleverghostchili]

This is pretty comprehensive, nice Keith

[jet]

Thank you for this! Im torn between irix and athena. Would you remember if the athena was drasticly more manageable to handheld. Love the irix, just worry its too clunky for that style

[Kini_Wolfgang]

Wow! Thank you for this video.I think the NiSi is my guy.

[simpleObserver]

Hey, thanx for the vid! I enjoyed the comparisons!
I just bought a in store demo set of DZO primes at a really good price. My knowledge with lenses isn’t as great as yours so I have to ask: do you think this demo set lacks anything from your new set of lenses? They are in perfect condition. Only some wear on the case and lenses caps…..

Thanks again!

[areapictures]

Irix anNIHILATES both these. Vignette, blooming wide open, and the touch of green CA in the corners? Lol. Maybe 1-2 inch less close focus? That color cast also plainly just makes the image look better. Green color cast is easy as hell to fix. And honestly lenses that trend green give a WAY more malleable (if not 100% neutral) starting point. Those Vespids don't clean up nearly the way the Irix's do. Sigmas are at least TRULY clinical, dependably so.

[cubul]

Aren't the new DZO caps a bit better?

[Eric.mov_]

These are 3 brands I’ve been looking into for quite some time. I’ve used Irix and DZO but haven’t gotten my hands on a Nisi yet.

One thing I noticed here is that in all of the other videos I’ve seen of people comparing these lenses or even just using them, specifically regarding the Nisis, what you say about them is almost the exact opposite as what other people who have used the lenses are saying.

Most say very little focus breathing, very small amounts of CA and barely any distortion when talking about the Nisi Athena’s. I find it interesting and odd that your takeaways from your tests work those lenses are basically the polar opposite