Stanley Kubric Exhibition with Zeiss f0.7 lens.

[Akira]

Here an article with the video posted in Cinema 5D website:

https://www.cinema5d.com/stanley-kubricks-legendary-f0-7-zeiss-lens-explored/

The exhibition is literally the lens nerd's heaven!

It is interesting to know that the specially modified Mitchell camera with that famous Zeiss f0.7 lens was not the only secret for shooting "Barry Lyndon".  He also specially ordered candles that are 3x brighter then the normal ones!

[Jan Anne]

Very interesting indeed, thanks for sharing Akira.

[John Geerts]

Thanks for the links Akira. It all explains why Kubrick's films were technically on a very high level.  It's a pity he was not so good in bringing emotion and passion in his movies

[Erik Lund]

Thanks! Very interesting ''Foud this link on the camera and lens modifications:
http://www.visual-memory.co.uk/sk/ac/len/page1.htm

[Erik Lund]

Please also note the Kollmorgen adapter;
 To get wider shots, Kubrick also modified the lens further using an additional front mounted adapter from the Kollmorgen Corporation to produce a 36.5mm lens that remained at f/0.7

Early Speedbooster!

http://philipbloom.net/blog/speedbooster/

[Akira]

Jan I'm glad you enjoyed the link.

John, maybe Kubric was a bit too cerebral?

Erik, thanks for the additional interesting info.  It is always a joy to see what the nerds are doing!

[John Geerts]

John, maybe Kubric was a bit too cerebral?

Yes, rather 'clinical'. Very enjoyable but not at a superb level like Antonioni, Bergman, Tarkovski, Kieslowski, Leigh and Kurosawa, to my humble opinion 

[abergon]

Yes, rather 'clinical'. Very enjoyable but not at a superb level like Antonioni, Bergman, Tarkovski, Kieslowski, Leigh and Kurosawa, to my humble opinion 

I beg to differ in your appreciation of Stanley Kubrick's movies, but elaborating may take us off-topic. More to the point, Stanley Kubrick's first career was as photographer https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley_Kubrick#Photographic_career and this experience certainly influenced his later film director career.

[Akira]

Kubric's style is so definitive and unmistakable that I wouldn't be surprised by the highly contrasting assessment.

I beg to differ in your appreciation of Stanley Kubrick's movies, but elaborating may take us off-topic. More to the point, Stanley Kubrick's first career was as photographer and this experience certainly influenced his later film director career.

Albert, thanks for commenting.  I agree with you and like his photographic composition of the scenes in his movie.

[David Paterson]

I once worked with the model-maker / prototype-maker who made the mysterious rectangular objects which appeared in the film 2001. He said Kubric was the ultimate perfectionist, and the objects - about 2.5m tall and made from liquid perspex, poured into a mould - had to be made several times over, as Kubric kept on seeing flaws which no-one else could detect. They did not part as the best of friends.

[Akira]

I once worked with the model-maker / prototype-maker who made the mysterious rectangular objects which appeared in the film 2001. He said Kubric was the ultimate perfectionist, and the objects - about 2.5m tall and made from liquid perspex, poured into a mould - had to be made several times over, as Kubric kept on seeing flaws which no-one else could detect. They did not part as the best of friends.

Wow, you mean the "monolith"?

[Tristin]

Akira, thank you for the find!  I am a big Kubrick fan and Barry Lyndon happens to be my favorite film overall.  Kubrick's photographer eyes and perfectionism combine to deliver stunning visual cinematography.  Even before I got into photography, I saw that every shot in Kubrick's films were clearly made with very deliberate intent.  I could watch his films muted, and still enjoy it.

[pluton]

Kubrick had photographic style in mind at all times, which make his films extra entertaining for photographers. 

[John Geerts]

Yes that is true, although in film the cinematographer (or Director of Photography) plays a very important role in the look of a film.  I think my words were a bit misinterpreted, I regard Stanley Kubrick as one of the best directors ever and 2001 and Barry Lyndon have my highest rating.

The role and work of John Alcott, who received an Academy Award for Barry Lyndon, must not be underestimated.

[Frank Fremerey]

Thank you for the link.  I was always interested in extending
Photography into low light situations. The D3 finally broke
into new territitory. Pushing Sensia to 1600 and 1.4/50mm
could do roughly the same as the D70. With the arrival of the
D3 12.800 became usable. Wow.

I never thought about faster lenses than 1.2.

The practical limits as described in the article are very high.

A genius like Kubrik pushed it far. 1975. Wow. I was 9 then.

Godd to have seen most of his movies. A gift from heaven.