Video: A Complete Guide to Stanley Kubrick's Lenses
Filmmakers tend to be kind of like gym bros, because if you imagine cinematic tools as different parts of the body, cameras would be arms and lenses would definitely be legs -- and lots of filmmakers are skipping leg day.
What does this have to do with Stanley Kubrick and lenses? Well, if Kubrick was a gym bro, he'd certainly have a very well-rounded, very rippled, very toned physique -- with calves like tree trunks and quads like -- even bigger tree trucks.
In this short video, hosted by Joe Dunton, who served as Kubrick's camera advisor on Eyes Wide Shut, we get up close and personal with the lenses that made the director's work so iconic and unique.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_PIqg449is
We've covered Kubrick's lenses before, namely the Zeiss f/0.7 he used for the candlelit scene in Barry Lyndon, but this video provides an exhaustive look into the gear bag of the great director. It's truly interesting to see how particular the ol' perfectionist filmmaker truly was when it came to the tools he was working with -- modifying and customizing his favorite lenses to fit his favorite camera, the Arriflex IIC.
What are your favorite lenses to shoot with? Do you find yourself skipping leg day? Let us know down in the comments!
Your Comment
21 Comments
Pretty neat that he was adapting still lenses for cinema use decades before it became really commonplace.
March 30, 2015 at 4:36PM
Stanley Kubrick > Christopher Nolan
March 30, 2015 at 5:10PM
So beautiful
March 30, 2015 at 5:20PM, Edited March 30, 5:20PM
I want this guy to do a piece on the VERY SPECIAL 18-50mm f3.5-5.6 Canon kit lens.
March 30, 2015 at 5:24PM
Never skip Leg Day.
March 30, 2015 at 6:12PM
My favorite lenses to film with mostly vintage lenses and maybe some modern lens. I have super-takumar 28mm 3.5, Helios 58mm 2.0, mir1b 37mm 2.8, canon 50mm 1.8, jupiter9, 11, 3. Canon 55-250mm 4.0, nikkor 48-87mm and Rokinon 8mm t3.8.
March 30, 2015 at 8:12PM
So much awesomeness
March 30, 2015 at 8:33PM
Today, Stanley Kubrick would be evaluating his passion. Now you can buy anything you want of the shelf. Speed hardly matters with high sensitive sensors cameras available. Still, some lenses seem to bring more than others. You have to go out and find what suites your needs best.
March 31, 2015 at 5:03AM
Oh man... I'm sharing this with ALL the nerds. This is great stuff. You can actually rent Kubrick's f/0.7 lens from Barry Lyndon, which was made for NASA and then adapted to a film camera.
March 31, 2015 at 11:24AM
Fuckin sweet! good stuff
March 31, 2015 at 11:46AM, Edited March 31, 11:46AM
SLR Magic 12mm T1.6, Zuiko 50mm F1.4.
March 31, 2015 at 11:50PM
Saw this earlier, brilliant piece. Recommend for every film fan.
Current favorite glass setup: Tokina 28-70 2.6. Love the soft look of it.
April 1, 2015 at 8:48AM, Edited April 1, 8:48AM
Video removed?
April 3, 2015 at 12:21AM, Edited April 3, 12:21AM
yes... video removed... I've missed this one! shame on me!
April 3, 2015 at 12:52PM, Edited April 3, 12:52PM
12mm MFT 1.8 T SLR magic is my go to lens.
And I love my c-mount 25mm as well.
April 4, 2015 at 9:51AM, Edited April 4, 9:51AM
I saw the Kubrick exhibit at LACMA in LA and noticed that at least two of his lenses were labeled wrong in the display - seriously, obviously wrong. The specs were right on the front lens rings - focal lengths, etc. I owned the two I recognized (not super-expensive by any means) so I knew right away these were wrong. I wrote to the museum and to the exhibit management but as far as I know no corrections were made.
April 6, 2015 at 10:50AM, Edited April 6, 10:50AM
Link down!
April 6, 2015 at 6:16PM, Edited April 6, 6:16PM
The link was taken down because of some copyright dispute. Video along with a lecture by Joe Dunton can be found here: http://www.cinematheque.fr/fr/dans-salles/rencontres-conferences/espace-...
April 7, 2015 at 9:55AM, Edited April 7, 9:55AM
The video has been taken down :(
April 11, 2015 at 5:43AM, Edited April 11, 5:43AM
Thanks for this great article :)
I tried to open the video but it said the video has been removed, any chance for another link, THNAKS
April 13, 2015 at 2:15PM, Edited April 13, 2:15PM
This video never plays for me! Anyone have an updated link?
May 12, 2015 at 4:48PM, Edited May 12, 4:48PM