Rokinon

Rokinon 135mm T2.2 Cine DS Lens Micro Four Thirds

Condenser

Pull cinematic telephoto focus on Micro Four Thirds with a geared T2.2 lens built to full cine-rig standards.

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Overview

The Rokinon 135mm T2.2 Cine DS is a purpose-built cinema lens designed for the operational realities of multi-camera narrative production. On a Micro Four Thirds sensor, its 135mm focal length resolves to a 270mm full-frame equivalent — a telephoto reach that delivers heavy background compression, significant subject isolation, and the characteristic "pulled" look favored in dialogue close-ups and insert shots. The T2.2 aperture is a true transmission rating, not a geometric f-stop, which matters when you're matching exposure across a series of DS lenses on the same production without gray cards and exposure adjustments between every cut. The multi-layer optical coating is calibrated to the Rokinon Cine DS color profile, so footage cut between this lens and others in the series requires minimal grade correction for color continuity.

Where the DS designation earns its meaning is in the operational design: the geared focus and iris rings sit at standardized positions shared across every lens in the DS family. A follow focus unit dialed in on the 50mm DS can transfer to this 135mm without repositioning — a detail that sounds minor until you're on set changing lenses under time pressure. The dual-sided engraved scales ensure that a focus puller working from the operator side or the assistant side can read distance marks accurately without walking around the rig. For a single-operator setup, the manual focus requirement demands a properly configured monitor and accurate focus marks; this lens rewards disciplined cinematography and a rigged setup, and returns cinematic telephoto imagery that matches professional production standards at an accessible price point.

Key Features

The Premium lens from Rokinon comes with a 1-Year Seller Warranty

Rokinon 135mm T2.2 Cine DS Lens : 135mm Lens - Full-Frame Coverage - Multi-Layer Coating to Reduce Flare - Standard Gearing for Focus and Iris - Low light shooting

Industry-standard gearing for focus and aperture rings. Each lens in the Rokinon DS series share common focus and iris gear ring positions, which speeds up lens changes as accessories such as follow focus units or iris motors don't have to be re-positioned.

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Compatible Cameras: Nikon D3200, D3300 D3400, D3500, D500, D5200, D5300, D5500, D5600, D7100, D7200, D7500, D4s, D5, D610 D750, D800E, D810, D810A, D850, Df

Specifications

Focal Length
135mm (270mm full-frame equivalent on MFT)
Aperture
T2.2
Mount
Micro Four Thirds
Image Circle
Full-frame coverage
Focus Type
Manual
Focus Ring
Geared, industry-standard position
Iris Ring
Geared, industry-standard position
Scale Markings
Dual-sided (focus and iris)
Coating
Multi-layer

Pros & Cons

👍 Pros

  • Standardized gear ring positions shared across the DS lens family mean follow focus units and iris motors don't need to be remounted when swapping lenses on a multi-lens shoot day.
  • T2.2 calibration gives cinematographers a consistent, verified exposure value — essential when intercutting between multiple DS lenses where exposure matching is critical to continuity.
  • Full-frame image circle coverage means the lens fills the Micro Four Thirds sensor completely with no vignetting, even in the corners.
  • Multi-layer coating produces accurate, consistent color rendition that matches across other Rokinon Cine DS lenses — valuable for colorists grading footage shot across multiple focal lengths.
  • Dual-sided engraved focus and iris scales accommodate focus pullers on either side of the camera without repositioning or guesswork.

👎 Cons

  • At 270mm full-frame equivalent on Micro Four Thirds, this is a specialized focal length that requires meaningful physical distance from subjects — it is not a versatile all-purpose lens and will spend time off the rig on most shoots.
  • The lens is fully manual focus with no autofocus capability, which requires a skilled focus puller for moving subject work and makes run-and-gun single-operator shooting considerably more demanding.
  • The 135mm focal length at T2.2 produces an extremely shallow depth of field on Micro Four Thirds at close-to-medium distances — critical focus in handheld scenarios is difficult to maintain without a properly configured follow focus and monitor setup.
  • There is no optical image stabilization built into the lens, placing the full stabilization burden on the body or rig — relevant for handheld operators given the focal length's sensitivity to camera movement.

Frequently Asked Questions

On a Micro Four Thirds body, the 2× crop factor makes the 135mm focal length equivalent to 270mm full-frame — a strong telephoto reach that compresses backgrounds dramatically and isolates subjects at distance. For narrative film work this is a specialized focal length suited to close-up inserts, over-the-shoulder dialogue shots with heavy compression, and wildlife or sports scenarios where physical distance from subject is required.
T-stops measure actual light transmission through the lens elements, accounting for glass absorption and coating losses, while f-stops are purely geometric. T2.2 on the Rokinon Cine DS represents the true exposure value — critical for cinematographers matching exposure across multiple lenses on the same shoot without recalibrating between cuts.
All lenses in the Rokinon DS series share common focus and iris gear ring positions. In practice, this means a follow focus unit or iris motor mounted on one DS lens can be transferred to another DS lens without repositioning the gear — a significant time-saver during multi-lens narrative shoots where lens changes need to happen quickly between setups.
Yes. The lens is specified for full-frame coverage, meaning it produces an image circle larger than the Micro Four Thirds sensor. There is no vignetting, and the lens retains its full resolving power to the corners of the frame.
Yes. The Cine DS series features dual-sided engraved scales on both the focus and iris rings, so a focus puller or camera assistant working from either side of a shoulder-mounted or studio rig can read focus distance and aperture without repositioning.