If you’ve ever wondered what the difference is between a typical photography lens and a cine lens is, these comparison videos help break it down. Cine lenses are essentially designed for the specific purpose of big budget productions that demand a lot more from its glass. The build, use, and optical properties of a cine lens is more refined and features more gears to allow the operator to toggle focus settings down to the finest point.
Cine lenses are also notched along the barrel to allow for smooth geared operation compared to a still photography lens that uses autofocus. Another advantage is minimal focus breathing, which can be distracting if watching a movie on the big screen.
Of course, many photographers and videographers generally don’t need all the bells and whistles that go along with a pricey cine lens, which is why lens makers also provide near identical still photography lenses in terms of focal lengths and speeds.
Focus breathing explained