Nisi Athena Cinema Prime Review

Today we're checking out the Nisi Athena Primes, a powerful combination of size, sharpness, quality and affordability. Is this a new standard for mirrorless cinema lenses?
5 Lens kit here: bhpho.to/49iiVNH

[@Gregg0Palmer]

Nice review! You did not mention one big advantage of the Nisi over the Sigma, lack of any noticeable breathing on a rack focus.

[@BradyBessette]

was excited to see your impression on these! I love mine honestly

[@ErisedMediaCo]

I’m glad you’ve done a review on these. I desperately want this set in RF mount for use on the C70 and R5c. Putting a bit aside at a time in hopes I can eventually invest in these.

[@TechEnthusiastInc]

I have an 85mm with 25, 35 and 50 on their way. Absolutely loving all about these lenses! Perfect match for R5c. Maybe even a bit too sharp for my taste but nothing that sharpness and noise reduction settings on the R5c wouldn't be able to fix.

[@sarthakvrm7]

Hey I just got an R5C, can you tell me your settings to reduce in camera sharpness for a softer look with nisi athenas ?

[@TechEnthusiastInc]

@@sarthakvrm7 Best ones I’ve found so far: sharpness: -10, spatial filter: 8, frame correlation: 3. That’s quite high for spatial filter, tho, might introduce some ghosting. With more static shots, works well. Let me know if you find better settings.

[@redfacilities]

Hey Rubudium - great review. - I have a C70, can I do the crop sensor tip you mentioned and get the 25mm and the 50mm? thanks!

[@REMY.C.]

Those lenses have a nice image. I have two questions. What would make buying 3 or 4 of those more interesting than buying a cinema zoom like the Fuji mk 18-55 because this zoom is a bit cheaper than a set and have apparently good quality. Second question, is it possible to adapt those lenses on an APSC and is there any disadvantage. Thinking about that 14mm that would make a great 21-22mm wide focal.

[@csound55]

They look great. Which drop in filers work with these lenses? Will it be only Nisi proprietary filters or will Canon or other brand drop in filters work also?

[@blnksktch]

Almost bought the set a couple months back (the 35 was the stumbling block as I use that the most and it's the worst lens of the set). I've now admitted that a 24-105 f2.8 is probably just going to be attached to any rf mount for the foreseeable future.

[@frankfeng2701]

You forgot to mention the one major flaw of the Nisi set, which is the rear protruding element during focus adjustment that'll prevent you from mounting the lens on speedbooster or most filter adapters, making it less useful on mirrorless and/or super35 bodies than the DZOFilm Vespid.

[@CrimzonRX]

That's on pl only

[@yvesbernas1772]

Have you tried them on a Canon EF camera with a PL to EF adapter? Does/would it work (well ) ?

[@hmillz941]

I've used these with a c300mkiii with a PL mount and they were fantastic

[@Crimsonengine]

I haven't. I only tested the RF

[@yvesbernas1772]

@@hmillz941 Are you sure ? I asked Nisi Austria. They said it would not work. I have asked another Nisi site. Waiting.

[@windbornemedia2821]

@@hmillz941 Did you mod it with a wooden camera or other mount or just use an adapter? I have a c300iii as well and am close to buying these lenses, but am not sure the best way to adapt the mount. Thanks

[@zippo563]

It's the Maroon Dragon again.