Roger Deakins, ASC, BSC

Do you have any preference between Panavision and Arri? Or does it just depend upon the job and the project?

I have always shot with Arri Cameras recently though I did a couple of films with Moviecam in the UK long ago. When I first started I liked the Zeiss lenses and I much preferred the coaxial magazines and the profile of the Arri camera - it was a BL3 in those days. I now use the Arri 535 and the Arricam Lite.

interesting... i couldn't work, even test panavision cameras since we don't have them in turkey or in russia. im interested of lens data which i can't find anything on net about it. except weight and other basic info.

What lens data can't you find Yusuf?

of what panavision uses. they called primo lens i guess?

Sorry, I can't help you with the Primos.

Panavision carries several different lens types. Many of them are just "rehoused" versions of Zeiss or Cooke lenses.

Panavision has their own line of lenses called Primos, they were designed by Panavision. There is a full line of primes and zoom lenses, you can see all the focal lengths at their website. They all typically open from a T1.4 to a T1.9.

Kevin Zanit

hello kevin, i know they have own lenses, i was saying that i can't find technical data (lets say review) about them.
im interested in MTF and distortion results.

aslanyurek wrote:hello kevin, i know they have own lenses, i was saying that i can't find technical data (lets say review) about them.
im interested in MTF and distortion results.

I was told that Primos are essential rehoused Leica lenses.

from wikipedia

In 1989, the company brought out Primo, a new line of lenses. Designed with a consistent color match between all the different focal-length instruments in the line, these were also the sharpest lenses yet manufactured by Panavision. Six years later, Oscars were awarded to the company and to three of its employees for their work on the Primo 3:1 zoom lens: Iain Neil for the optical design, Rick Gelbard for the mechanical design, and Eric Dubberke for the lens's engineering. According to the AMPAS citation, "The high contrast and absence of flare, along with its ability to provide close focusing and to maintain constant image size while changing focus, make the Primo 3:1 Zoom Lens truly unique."

Have you tested them against the Master Primes?

Roger wrote:Have you tested them against the Master Primes?

me? no, not even touched them. we don't have any panavision rental.
i dont think its big lose but interesting to test it.

I once tested the Primos against the Cooke S4s and the Zeiss Ultras. The Cooks seemed cleaner as far as any flare goes. To my mind the Master Primes are even slightly better at dealing with flare than the Cooke S4s. So it follows that they are certainly cleaner than the Primos.
I also found the Primos to be something like 1/3 stop less fast than their calibration marks suggested whereas the Masters seem to be marked at their true value. I think the Primo sets do vary a little so it may not be true of all the lenses.

thats great information! thanks Roger.

ok