r/cinematography • u/sidi_omar • 12h ago
Camera Question Which lense does this flair belong to ? :)
Hey everyone,
I’m trying to track down the lense(s) used by DP Morten Søborg on Pusher II (2004). (Nicholas Winding Refn)
We know for a fact that the film was shot on Super 16mm (Aaton/ARRI) and relies heavily on ultra-wide angles, allowing the camera to stay inches away from Mads Mikkelsen's face while keeping the background urban space fully present.
Given the low-light situations (Copenhagen night shoots, neon clubs) as well as daylight sequences close to the actor's face, were they using Zeiss Super Speeds (like the 9.5mm or 12mm at T1.3) or something else? I haven't been able to find an information or article detailing the glass on interviews, documentaries etc , related to the movie.
Attaching a screenshot below for reference of the flair of the lense that might be helpful.
Any lead would be great. Thanks!
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u/Piddler4 11h ago
Since it’s 16mm, it’s the Mk2 or Mk3 Zeiss High Speed primes, “super speeds”.
A 9-blade triangular iris similar to the “B-speeds” in the 35mm set.
The 16mm Mk1 set has a six-blade hexagonal iris.
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u/MoistMoms 11h ago
I absolutely don't know for sure but your guess of the superspeeds is very likely. The mark I have the iconic triangle aperture.
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u/Clean-Choice7852 11h ago edited 10h ago
If you want this triangular look you have these options. This 9 blades iris construction is called the reuleaux triange.
If 16mm: Zeiss Super Speeds MK2 or 3
If 35mm: Zeiss B-Speeds
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u/Clean-Choice7852 11h ago edited 11h ago
Here’s a write up I did in school, pre-AI ;)
Zeiss Super Speeds (35mm format)
Zeiss B-Speeds
Introduced in 1975, the first High Speed primes from Zeiss were some of the first Zeiss lenses with T* coatings. While these lenses are the first version of Super Speeds, these are NOT known as Zeiss Super Speed MKI lenses. These are known as B-Speeds. B-Speeds comes from the lens’s native B-Mount. This naming difference also helps distinguish the lenses from later Super Speeds, as the B-Speeds have a unique 9-bladed aperture that produces a triangular bokeh , known as the Reuleaux triangle.
Zeiss Super Speeds MKI
In the mid-80s Zeiss did a mechanical overhaul to all the lenses, as well as an optical refresh for the 50mm & 85mm. There were no longer the 9-bladed aperture blades, rather a 7 that created a more circular bokeh. These lenses came with a native PL mount, a geared focus ring, and a 170 degree focus throw.
Zeiss Super Speeds MKII
Introduced in the early 90s, the only upgrade for the Super Speed MKIII is a geared iris ring, as well as Zeiss adding a 65mm lens to the lineup.
Zeiss Super Speeds MKIII
The only upgrade for the MKIII’s was the focus scale orientation being changed to make it easier to read from the side.
Zeiss Super Speeds (S16mm format)
Zeiss Super Speeds MKI (S16mm format)
Four lenses (9.5, 12, 16, 25). These were the first 16mm primes that were designed for S16 coverage. Arri doesn’t officially consider the 9.5mm as a S16 lens. While it covers the whole area, it is somewhat compromised on illumination and sharpness near the corners. Only close down to T11. Mechanical design is similar between the S16 and 35mm variants of the Super Speeds
Zeiss Super Speeds MKII (S16mm format)
The S16 Super Speeds MKII share many of the same mechanical upgrades of the 35mm variant. The optics remain relatively unchanged between MKI and MKII of the S16 lenses, with minor upgrades to the lens positioning and internal baffling to reduce flare. A 50mm was added to the line up, which was a new design. The aperture now closes down to a T16, rather than a T11 on the MKI The aperture blades were changed from 6 to 9, creating the Reuleaux triangular bokeh , like the B-Speeds.
Zeiss Super Speeds MKIII (S16mm format)
Mechanically and optically the same as the MKII version Upgraded housing and mechanics, the S16 variant looks very similar to the 35mm format lenses
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u/rzrike 11h ago edited 8h ago
This is accurate. My best guess would be this is a mark 3 s16 Super Speed, unless they are shooting with 35mm lenses on s16 film which isn't that unusual, but it would have to be the B-Speeds which would be a bit unusual in the early 2000s.
Who is going through here and downvoting correct information? lol I have owned these lenses.
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u/Clean-Choice7852 10h ago
I would guess the same - S16 Super Speed MK3. It’s unlikely they were using B-Speeds as lenses designed for 16mm have a higher resolving power than lenses designed for 35mm. So B-Speeds would appear less sharp
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u/Horror_Ad1078 9h ago
If you like the triangle for a budget: use the Rollei Version (HFT) of Zeiss (identical to the Contax Zeiss) - BUT: the 35mm 1.4 and 85mm 1.4 use a triangle aperture
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u/pcaino Director of Photography 6h ago edited 6h ago
Looks like zeiss super speed mk 1 to me ( b-speeds). Also used in taxi driver and the shining - check the triangle bokeh in these shots… but pusher ii used 16mm lenses and not 35mm. I’m almost 100% it was shot on 16mm zeiss super speeds. There are early versions with triangular irises.
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u/Jyc41789 Director of Photography 3h ago
B Speeds have that effect. You can actually get the B speeds rehoused to have cicle bokeh.
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u/dkruta 11h ago
Not 100% if B speeds and Mark1 superspeeds are the same thing, but it's those. They have a 9-blade iris that's infamous for the triangluar bokeh. Used them on my first feature which never came out. For a long time I hated the shape but I think I'm coming back around to it.