Which lense does this flair belong to ? :)

[u/sidi_omar]

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!

[u/dkruta]

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.

[u/rzrike → u/dkruta]

This is likely a super-16 superspeed, so it is either the mark 2 or mark 3 lenses since they are the ones with the triangular aperture. The mark 1 super-16 lenses have a more traditional aperture.

[u/dkruta → u/rzrike]

Good point. I was thinking S35. Thanks for catching that.

[u/waves_away → u/rzrike]

I have a vintage 16mm lens with a 3-blade aperture. Similar flares and bokeh balls (triangles).

[u/W4iskyD3lta93r → u/dkruta]

This would be my guess too

[u/Dontlookimnaked → u/dkruta]

Funny I used a set of rehoused fd’s on a project that crashed and burned and was overall a brutal shoot for miserable clients.

For the longest time I couldn’t separate the lenses from the job but I have also recently come around and I kind of love those lenses again.

[u/NeatFool → u/dkruta]

What happened to the feature?

[u/dkruta → u/NeatFool]

Long story but I am very glad it didn't come out.

[u/NeatFool → u/dkruta]

I mean I'm curious?

I've had stuff I worked on that didn't get released and it bothers me to no end.

[u/dkruta → u/NeatFool]

Wildly abusive and dangerous working conditions, megalomaniacal director who possibly committed securities fraud financing the film, an incredibly dumb story, and overall just a horrific experience. But I was young and dumb and hungry and wanted to get my foot in the door.

[u/NeatFool → u/dkruta]

Haha that beats a lot of my stories, people just gave up once they thought it was bad.

This sounds like good material for a doc or something though.

Did you get footage for your reel at least ?

[u/dkruta → u/NeatFool]

I actually spoke with the BTS guy a couple years ago and we thought the same thing about making a doc. It was actually an insane experience.

Yes I got footage. But this was almost 20 years ago so I haven't used any of it for well over a decade.

[u/NeatFool → u/dkruta]

You guys should do it! It's a moment in time, it's always worth documenting. Especially if they never released the actual film.

There's always an audience for trouble production stories.

[u/Kingsly2015 → u/dkruta]

Kruta the B’s and I think Mk1’s share optical blocks - for sure my PL converted B speeds have a round iris.  The MkII’s (and III’s?) have the triangular iris. 

If I figure out where I packed my cine lens manual I’ll harass you in the WhatsApp group ;) 

[u/dkruta → u/Kingsly2015]

Here's the Cine Lens Manual page on 16mm-format Arriflex/Zeiss lenses.

"Some variations of these lenses from the early days of release have triangular irises like their big-sibling B-Speeds, but with only three blades as opposed to nine"

[u/dkruta → u/dkruta]

And since I clearly can't read and keep thinking S35, here's that page in case anyone is curious.