Sirui Vision Prime 1 VP-1-15B-AM 15mm

A 15mm cine prime that gets stupidly close to your subject and swaps mounts like a pro. Manual focus only, but for $649 USD, it's a wide-angle weirdo worth owning.

The macro score of 69.7 out of 100 lands in the 94th percentile, which is wild for a 15mm cine prime. That 67mm minimum focus distance means you can get stupidly close to your subject and still hold a wide frame. The 12-element optical design with 2 aspherical and 3 ED elements keeps distortion and chromatic aberration in check, though the optical score sits at a solid but not spectacular 69th percentile. The T1.6 aperture is nice for low light, but the bokeh score is only 31st percentile, so don't expect creamy background separation to be the main event. Stabilization is built in and ranks well above average, which helps when you're handholding this 600g aluminum body on a gimbal.

The Tamron 18-300mm and Sigma 16-300mm are zooms with autofocus and weather sealing, so they're more versatile for travel and everyday shooting. But neither can touch the Sirui's close-focus performance or its cine-specific features like the geared focus ring and consistent housing. The Sony E 18-135mm is a solid all-rounder, but it's f/3.5-5.6, so you're losing two stops of light compared to the Sirui's T1.6. If you need one lens for everything, get the Tamron or Sigma. If you need a specialized wide-angle cine lens that can get uncomfortably close to your subject, the Sirui is the only one in this group that does it.

At $649 USD, this is a steal for a full-frame cine prime with interchangeable mounts and this kind of close-focus performance. The CAD price of $933 is what it is, but in USD terms, you're getting a lot of lens for the money. It's not a budget toy, but it's also not a $2,000 cinema lens. If you need a wide-angle that can double as a pseudo-macro for interiors and product shots, this is a no-brainer.

The Sirui Vision Prime 1 15mm is a cine lens that thinks it's a macro lens, and honestly, we're not mad about it. For $649 USD, you get a full-frame 15mm with a T1.6 aperture, interchangeable mounts, and a minimum focus distance of just 67mm. That close-focus ability is the party trick here. It's not a general-purpose lens, and it's definitely not for run-and-gun shooters who need autofocus. But if you shoot interiors, architecture, or want dramatic wide-angle close-ups with that dreamy bokeh, this thing punches way above its price.

If you need autofocus, weather sealing, or a lens you can throw in a bag for travel, this isn't it. Go grab the Tamron 18-300mm or Sigma 16-300mm instead. Those zooms are more versatile, have AF, and won't make you cry when it starts raining. The Sirui is for shooters who know exactly why they want a manual focus, ultra-wide cine prime with macro chops.

The Sirui Vision Prime 1 15mm is a specialist's lens, and it knows it. It's not trying to be your everyday zoom, and it's not trying to win autofocus awards. What it does is give you a full-frame, ultra-wide cine prime with interchangeable mounts and a close-focus ability that embarrasses most macro lenses. For $649 USD, that's a compelling package for interior, architecture, and real estate shooters who want cinematic establishing shots without breaking the bank. Just don't expect it to be your only lens.