• Catalog
  • Mentors
  • Store
  • Pricing
  • Blog
  • Start Free Trial
  • Login
  • Search
  • Menu Menu
Camera, Lenses

RED Monstro Test: Xeen Lens vs. Canon Lens

RED Monstro Brain


Monstro Cinematography filmmaker film movies tv shooting DP lights

The new Monstro 8K VV sensor from RED is a beast. It’s a huge sensor, not just in resolution, but in size. So, I wanted to know how well certain lenses covered this big of a sensor. The “VV” stands for Vista Vision which was a film format that ran horizontally through the gate exposing 8 perforations of film per frame, leaving the usable frame width size to 36mm. That’s basically “Full frame” as referred to in the still photography world. Or, what the Canon 5D’s shoot. Compare that against super 35mm, which has a much shorter frame width of 24.89. The Monstro 8K VV is actually 40.96mm wide, significantly wider than typical vista vision. So, now you’re cinema lenses have a much larger area to cover, and most don’t. So I put a couple of the most common lenses on the market to the test.

Monstro Cinematography filmmaker film movies tv shooting DP lights

We put this test together to test the nature of distortion, skin tones, contrast, and sensor coverage of these lenses within a real-world scenario.

Some Notes and Observations About Xeen Lenses:

One clear difference is how the Canon lenses remind me of DSLRs, not of Cinema. And that look has gotten pretty tired. The Xeens seem to have a slightly more “dramatic” look.

The Xeen 14mm, 16mm, and 24mm cover up to 7K, which I’d like to remind you is actually closer to normal Vista Vision or “Full Frame”. The 20mm covers  8K easily and looks great. I’m not surprised either, because It’s one of their newer lenses and my personal favorite from the set. The 35mm, 50mm, 85mm and 135mm all cover 8K.  That makes 8 lenses in the Xeen set! Hopefully they’ll make more too, like a 40mm or some macros?

I go more in-depth in comparing Xeen, Canon, Cooke, and Zeiss CP.2’s in my reviews with my Xeen 16mm Lens Overview, Xeen 20mm Lens Overview, Xeen Prime Lens Test 14mm-35mm Cinematography Education, Xeen Prime Lens Test 24mm, 50mm, 85mm Cinematography Education, and Xeen 135mm Lens Review. 

 

     
     
     

Get started to access your FREE LESSON

April 17, 2018/by Shane Hurlbut, ASC
Tags: Canon, Cinematography, Director of Photography, Film Education Online, filmmaker, filmmaking, Lens, RED Monstro, XEEN
Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on WhatsApp
  • Share on Pinterest
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Share on Vk
  • Share on Reddit
  • Share by Mail
https://www.filmmakersacademy.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/monstro04252.jpg 775 1163 Shane Hurlbut, ASC https://www.filmmakersacademy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Filmmakers-Academy-Filmmaking-Courses.svg Shane Hurlbut, ASC2018-04-17 13:20:032022-04-08 12:19:35RED Monstro Test: Xeen Lens vs. Canon Lens
You might also like
FreeFly MoVI - Shifting The Paradigm Part 1 Freefly MōVI: Shifting the Paradigm – Part 1
Leica Summilux-C Cinema Lenses Why Do We Want Flat Glass?
Camera Configurations - Man Cam on a Head Camera Configurations: Your Best Ally
Black and white goggled man on train Independent Filmmaking – Helen Disconnected
Arri camera on Kessler Crane's CineSlider When a Small Move Makes All the Difference: Kessler Crane’s CineSlider
A man in military gear facing camera Color Correction: Put Your Best Foot Forward

Blog Catagories

  • Announcements
  • Business
  • Camera
  • Composition
  • Directing
  • Film Theory
  • Lenses
  • Lighting
  • Post Production
  • Pre Production
  • Production

Latest Blog Posts

  • BLUESHAPE 2022: Powering the Film IndustryBLUESHAPE 2022: Powering the Film IndustryJune 24, 2022 - 4:56 PM
  • The Look of Top Gun MaverickTHE LOOK OF TOP GUN: MAVERICKJune 21, 2022 - 9:11 PM
  • 2022 5DayDeal BundleWhat’s in the 2022 5DayDeal?June 9, 2022 - 7:07 AM

Newsletter Signup

SUBSCRIBE

Join our community to take advantage of personal insights, techniques, and skills from Hollywood professionals. They put in the time and effort so you don’t have to!



BROWSE COURSES

Cinematography
Lighting & Grip
Directing
Camera And Lenses
Post Production
Coming Soon
View All Courses

ABOUT

Pricing
Store
Blog
Our Story
Our Mentors
FAQs
Student and US Military
Shane’s Kit
Glossary
Press Kit
Contact Us

DOWNLOAD
SIGN IN
BECOME A MEMBER

Our Partners

 
PreviousNext
Red Digital Cinema logo
Matthews Studio Equipment logo
The Tiffen Company logo
Musicbed logo
Keslow logo PNG Transparent
Blueshape logo
MBS Equipment Company logo
 

Filmmakers Academy, Los Angeles, CA Born in Los Angeles, CA.

Terms Of Use         Cookie Policy         Privacy Policy

2022 © Hurlbut Visuals, All Rights Reserved.

Scroll to top