During the Film Video Photo fairs which are taking place in Łodź we had an opportunity to have a closer look at the Irix 15 mm f/2.4 in two versions, Firefly and Blackstone. Their launch took place just last month.
In the stall they presented pre-production versions of the lens so we couldn’t take any photos with them. The representatives of the Polish Irix brand name distributor informed us that the product has been still polished up and the final specimens should appear near June 2016.
Still it must be admitted the constructors took care of every single detail – anyway the lenses presented in Łodz differed from the prototype we had had an opportunity to see already in February.
Irix 15 mm f/2.4 Firefly (left) Blackstone (right) |
The Irix 15 mm f/2.4 is going to be offered in two versions: Blackstone and Firefly. They differ in prices and the bodies of both versions are made of different materials. In the case of Blackstone you get a magnesium composite body; the cheaper lens features plastics. The Blackstone version is supposed to be definitely more durable but the Firefly weighs 12% less than its brother – a difference easy to notice as soon as you take both lenses into your hand.
Irix 15 mm f/2.4 Firefly (left) Blackstone (right) |
There are more differences between these two versions and all of them are presented in the chart below.
As you see the Firefly front element is not sealed, its manual focus ring is made of rubber and the markings on the body are cheaper to product. Optically there are no differences between both lenses so prospective customers won’t have too much problems with making the choice.
Irix 15 mm f/2.4 Firefly |
Irix 15 mm f/2.4 Firefly |
Irix 15 mm f/2.4 Blackstone |
Irix 15 mm f/2.4 Blackstone |
When it comes to physical dimensions, the lenses are identical; in photos below we present the Blackstone version attached to the Canon EOS 5D Mark III.
Still the accessory kits of Firefly and Blackstone are different. If you decide to buy the cheaper version you get a soft pouch along with a cap and a hood; with the more expensive lens comes a well-fitting hard case. Both lenses are packed into stylish metal cases, black for Blackstone, white for Firefly.
The Next77 company is not only the distributor but also one of co-creators of the European part of the Irix project so Polish representatives are completely devoted to the development of Irix products. In the latest model they managed to introduce several interesting solutions which are truly unique on the market.
Firstly, it’s worth mentioning two patent-pending solutions called “Infinity clik” and “Focus lock”. The first of them makes you hear a slight click sound when you set the focus ring at infinity so you are able to find the right position without looking at the lens. Additionally that ring can be locked anywhere with a small ring situated close to the front element. By screwing it tight you are sure that the focus won’t be changed accidentally. That function is called “Focus lock”.
It should be emphasized that in both versions of the lens the manual focus ring moves very smoothly but with a pronounced resistance which allows you very precise settings. Additionally in the Firefly version you can find a toggle which allows you to move the ring with just your thumb. The fact that during the focusing the lens doesn’t change its dimensions and the rear element moves only slightly is crucial.
A clear distance scale expressed in meters and feet along with a depth of field scale make the lens a joy to use. The markings on the Blackstone version are made with fluorescent paint so they will be visible even in the darkness.
A possibility to calibrate the focus ring is another improvement. At the front of the body you see a screw with a masking plate under which you find the ring regulation mechanism. Such a solution allows you to tune up the ring so the infinity setting matches perfectly the infinity point on the ring. Of course the producer emphasizes the fact that this option is aimed at users with skilled hands; the calibration is a process which needs a lot of precision, never to be undertaken under pressure.
Despite the wide angle of view and a quite convex front element the Irix 15 mm f/2.4 was designed in such a way that you can still attach a filter to it. Unfortunately you need one with a diameter as big as 95 mm which means it won’t be cheap. As an alternative there is a pocket for gel filters near the mount.
The representatives of the distributor also indicated the lack of markings at the front of the lens. It was done deliberately, in order to eliminate problems with reflections of those inscriptions in the filter which might also appear sometimes in photos.
A lot of time and attention was dedicated to anti-reflective coatings, used in the lenses. Their marketing name, “Neutrino coating”, is supposed to indicate that they are spectrally neutral (flat transmission). Unfortunately if you know something about an elementary particle called neutrino you have to admit that name is a bit misleading…
The lens doesn’t feature any aperture ring because, with the contacts and electronics parts you can control all nine diaphragm blades from the level of the camera menu; still you can’t rule out a possibility that the Irix brand name will feature also cinematographic versions with an aperture ring.
At the end we should mention the hood which has a movable part; it allows you to use the polarizer without the necessity of taking the hood off.
We have to admit that our first impressions concerning the new Irix lenses are very positive indeed. It is obvious the constructors offer a well-thought-out product which has a lot of convenient solutions. We only hope that the optical path of the lens was constructed with due diligence as well and our good impressions won’t disappear after taking first sample shots and testing the lens thoroughly. Of course we would love to test the Irix as soon as possible.
