ARRI BLACKWING TRIBE7 BLACKWING 57mm T1.9 S-Tuned 57mm
Combining a 57mm focal length with a fast T1.9 aperture, the X-Tuned optical formula delivers pronounced veiling glare and lower contrast for a distinctively vintage character. Its compact, all-metal build and precise ARRI PL mount ensure reliable manual focus pulls on demanding sets. This prime suits cinematographers who want dreamy, halated highlights and organic falloff rather than clinical sharpness.
Snapshot
The 30-Second Version
A gorgeous, character-driven cine lens with world-class bokeh and a vintage soul. It's optically imperfect on purpose, absurdly expensive, and absolutely not for everyone.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Absolutely stunning, best-in-class bokeh 92nd
- Bright T1.9 aperture for beautiful subject isolation 90th
- Unique, vintage image character you can't fake in post
- Purpose-built for cinematic storytelling
Cons
- Optical sharpness is a weak spot by modern standards
- No autofocus, no stabilization, no weather sealing
- Build quality is surprisingly mediocre for the price
- Eye-watering price tag with a huge $5,085 spread between vendors
The proof
Performance
What surprised us most is how this lens completely ignores the spec sheet wars. Its optical score sits in a disappointing 15th percentile, but that's by design. It's not trying to be sharp corner-to-corner. Instead, it delivers a creamy, textured image with a bokeh that ranks in the top 10% of all lenses we've tested. The aperture is a standout too, landing in the 92nd percentile. It's a master of mood, not a test chart champion. Just don't expect any help from autofocus or stabilization, because there isn't any.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Optics
| Type | Prime |
| Focal Length Min | 57 |
| Focal Length Max | 57 |
Aperture
| Max Aperture | f/1.9 |
| Min Aperture | f/1.9 |
| Constant | Yes |
Build
| Mount | ARRI PL |
vs Competition
Comparing this to a zoom like the Sigma 16-300mm or the Panasonic LUMIX S 28-200mm is like comparing a scalpel to a Swiss Army knife. Those lenses are versatile, stabilized, and sharp. The BLACKWING is none of those things. The Meike 50mm F1.8 is a closer focal length match and costs a fraction of the price, but it's an autofocus stills lens with a completely modern, clean look. The BLACKWING's real competition is other high-end cine primes like those from Cooke or Zeiss. It carves out its own niche with that S-Tuned character, but you're paying for a very specific artistic choice.
| Spec | ARRI BLACKWING TRIBE7 BLACKWING 57mm T1.9 S-Tuned 57mm | Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 VXD | Sigma Contemporary 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN | Nikon NIKKOR Z 17-28mm f/2.8 | Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 | Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focal Length | 57mm | 28-300mm | 18-50mm | 17-28mm | 12-35mm | 18-135mm |
| Max Aperture | f/1.9 | f/4 | f/2.8 | f/2.8 | f/2.8 | f/3.5 |
| Mount | ARRI PL | Sony E | Sony E | Nikon Z | Micro Four Thirds | Sony E |
| Stabilization | false | true | false | false | true | true |
| Weather Sealed | false | true | true | true | true | false |
| Weight (g) | - | 590 | 290 | 450 | 306 | 326 |
| AF Type | - | VXD linear motor | stepping motor | Stepping Motor | Autofocus | Linear motor |
| Lens Type | prime | zoom | zoom | zoom | zoom | zoom |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | AF | Bokeh | Build | Macro | Optical | Aperture | Versatility | Stabilization |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARRI BLACKWING TRIBE7 BLACKWING 57mm T1.9 S-Tuned 57mm | 53.9 | 90.1 | 32.4 | 14.2 | 20.2 | 91.9 | 33.6 | 36.8 |
| Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 VXD Compare | 98 | 78.2 | 65.1 | 85.8 | 96.7 | 66.3 | 97.7 | 82.4 |
| Sigma Contemporary 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Compare | 86.9 | 82.1 | 86.1 | 91.7 | 82.2 | 84.2 | 78.6 | 36.8 |
| Nikon NIKKOR Z 17-28mm f/2.8 Compare | 86.9 | 87.3 | 75.2 | 85.8 | 88.2 | 84.2 | 68 | 36.8 |
| Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 Compare | 53.9 | 82.1 | 85.4 | 51 | 86.5 | 84.2 | 80.6 | 96.9 |
| Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS Compare | 98 | 75.7 | 72.5 | 40.3 | 78.5 | 77.6 | 95.8 | 82.4 |
Price
Value & Pricing
Worth it? For most people, absolutely not. This is a specialty tool with a price that swings wildly from $14,169 to $19,254 depending on where you buy. If you're a working cinematographer who rents or can bill this to a production, the image is undeniable. For everyone else, this is a luxury purchase. If you're set on buying, shop around. That $5,085 price gap is insane, and the lowest price we found is the only one that even begins to make sense.
Read more
Overview
The ARRI BLACKWING TRIBE7 57mm T1.9 S-Tuned is a lens that makes you want to shoot. It's built for one thing: creating images with a distinct, vintage-inspired character that modern glass often scrubs away. If you're chasing clinical perfection, turn back now. This lens is all about the look, and that look is gorgeous. The bokeh is some of the best we've seen, and the wide T1.9 aperture gives you real control over depth of field. But you'll pay a serious premium for that character, and you'll give up a lot of modern conveniences to get it.
Common Questions
Q: Is this lens good for photography?
No. It's a manual focus, unstabilized cine lens with no weather sealing. You can technically take photos with it, but you'd be fighting the tool the whole time. Get a modern autofocus prime instead.
Q: What's the difference between S-Tuned and X-Tuned?
The tuning refers to the lens's character. S-Tuned is the smoother, more classic look with softer contrast and a creamier fall-off. X-Tuned is a bit sharper and more contrasty. Think of S as 'vintage romance' and X as 'modern classic'.
Q: Does it cover full-frame sensors?
The coverage isn't explicitly stated, but given its PL mount and cine heritage, it's designed for Super 35 sensors at minimum. Check with TRIBE7 for full-frame coverage on your specific camera before you buy.
Who Should Skip This
If you're looking for a sharp, do-it-all lens with autofocus for hybrid shooting, this isn't it. Go get the Sigma 16-300mm or a fast Meike prime instead. This lens is for a single-purpose artist who values character over convenience and has a crew to pull focus.
Verdict
The ARRI BLACKWING TRIBE7 57mm T1.9 is a masterpiece of mood, not a technical marvel. Buy it if you need its specific, beautiful image character and have the budget to match. For any kind of run-and-gun work, documentary, or photography, it's a total mismatch. This is a lens for deliberate, controlled sets where the image is everything. If that's you, you'll love it. If not, you'll wonder why you spent so much on a lens that's softer than a $500 prime.
