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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

FOR SALE : Super speeds - freshly serviced

It seems the confusion lies in the fact that some people call the first 'B' speed T1.4 lenses MKI super speeds . When in fact they are not MKI's at all they are not part of the super speed series of lenses. If you considered them ( T1.4 with trinagular iris) to be MKI's then these lenses would indeed be MKII's. In fact they are not original MKII T1.3 super speeds, they are the MKI version of the T1.3 super speed lenses, MKII's have the expanded focus scale etc and we all know what MKIII's look like right...?

There has always been a confusion over this, personally i would not consider the T1.4 lenses as mark 1 super speeds, that would make the present MKIII's MKIV's. If anyone has a set of MKIV's i would like to see them, i bet they would look nice next to my set of MKVII's:detective2:
 
Dear Bob,

yes and no.

There's a small confusion about the B speeds being Mk I's yes, but make no mistakes that these are MK II's - in that there's no confusion.

Followin facts are taken from Cinematechnics website about Mk I, II and III sets.

The Bayonet mount, with its troublesome pin and lockring attachment was replaced with a large and stable lens mount held by eight M2 screws. On the 35mm Mk. II lenses, only the 54mm O.D. ARRI PL mount can be fitted.

Mine have 8 eight screws in the mount

Super 35mm T1.3 Mk.2 set: 18, 25, 35, 50, 85mm, all f1.2 / T1.3. PL mount only. Original Mk. I T1.4 Super Speed prime lenses for Super 35mm cinematography.
The differences in maximum aperture can be easily seen here. The 18, 25 and 35mm lenses are f1.2, the 50mm is f1.3 and the 85mm f1.4.

All of mine are f1.2

A major problem with the Mk. I S16 and S35 sets is the very limited focus marks on the scale ring, combined with the minimal depth of field at T1.3. This meant that eye focus was the only way to go with the Mk. I lenses. The camera assistant had hardly anything else to work with.

Not a problem on mine

The Mk. II focus scales are calibrated in feet and meters. On S16mm and early version S35mm Mk. II lenses, the scale rotates 170º and each side of the lens has one calibration, ether feet or meters.

Mine happens to be an early version

A later version of the Mk. II S35mm lenses has a "wrap around" focus scale with about 350º rotation. These scales have meters on the front side of the focus gear and feet on the back side, with both scales reading from the same index position.

As you can see it's only later versions that has that.

The much larger diameter of the focus helix thread and the larger linear guides reduce play in the focus mechanism and give a much smoother and more consistent focus feel. The guides are also adjustable on the Mk. II.

I can tell you that is the case and you can see that on the pics, but this is something a lens technician can verify and have.

Oddly, the S35mm Mk. II lenses switched from the 9-blade triangular iris to a 7-blade iris. The S16mm Mk. II lenses switched from 6-blade hexagonal to a 9-blade triangular iris just like the Mk. I S35mm set.

Mine are 7 blade iris as you can see in one of the pics. I also stated earlier that this IS NOT the triangular iris

The aperture closes down to T16 rather than T11 of the Mk. I lenses.

All of my lenses are T16

Now do I have to spell this out anymore or can we leave this behind and just agree that these are in fact Mk II's?
 
Wierdcrew, I know you don't want these to be MI's because it may in fact decrease the value but there is no denying that these are MI's because of the short focus throw. That is in all cases the defining difference between MI's and MII's. Optically all Superspeeds are identical! B Speeds as Stuart mentioned are different but not technically super speeds. These are fine lenses and you should fetch a fine price but please label them properly.
 
zeiss list

zeiss list

i am not sure how precise this list is - i used "print screen" method to capture this, and unfortunately cannot say where from it was. (i took that a few months ago)

filip
 
Wierdcrew, I know you don't want these to be MI's because it may in fact decrease the value but there is no denying that these are MI's because of the short focus throw. That is in all cases the defining difference between MI's and MII's. Optically all Superspeeds are identical! B Speeds as Stuart mentioned are different but not technically super speeds. These are fine lenses and you should fetch a fine price but please label them properly.

Evin please read my post above yours.

I can not seriously believe that NO ONE has seen my picture with the iris leafs - PLEASE look again and count them. 7 leafs

I have no problem with selling a Mk I set if it is one, but this is a Mk II set and I can't believe that so many are not seeing this?

My problem is that now you're all calling me a liar, since I'm stating that a well looked upon lens technician has serviced this set and that he clearly states this is a Mk II set. That then means that he hasn't serviced the set?
 
i am not sure how precise this list is - i used "print screen" method to capture this, and unfortunately cannot say where from it was. (i took that a few months ago)

filip

It looks like the one from cinematechnic website
 
Dear Bob,

yes and no.

There's a small confusion about the B speeds being Mk I's yes, but make no mistakes that these are MK II's - in that there's no confusion.

Followin facts are taken from Cinematechnics website about Mk I, II and III sets.

The Bayonet mount, with its troublesome pin and lockring attachment was replaced with a large and stable lens mount held by eight M2 screws. On the 35mm Mk. II lenses, only the 54mm O.D. ARRI PL mount can be fitted.

Mine have 8 eight screws in the mount

Super 35mm T1.3 Mk.2 set: 18, 25, 35, 50, 85mm, all f1.2 / T1.3. PL mount only. Original Mk. I T1.4 Super Speed prime lenses for Super 35mm cinematography.
The differences in maximum aperture can be easily seen here. The 18, 25 and 35mm lenses are f1.2, the 50mm is f1.3 and the 85mm f1.4.

All of mine are f1.2

A major problem with the Mk. I S16 and S35 sets is the very limited focus marks on the scale ring, combined with the minimal depth of field at T1.3. This meant that eye focus was the only way to go with the Mk. I lenses. The camera assistant had hardly anything else to work with.

Not a problem on mine

The Mk. II focus scales are calibrated in feet and meters. On S16mm and early version S35mm Mk. II lenses, the scale rotates 170º and each side of the lens has one calibration, ether feet or meters.

Mine happens to be an early version

A later version of the Mk. II S35mm lenses has a "wrap around" focus scale with about 350º rotation. These scales have meters on the front side of the focus gear and feet on the back side, with both scales reading from the same index position.

As you can see it's only later versions that has that.

The much larger diameter of the focus helix thread and the larger linear guides reduce play in the focus mechanism and give a much smoother and more consistent focus feel. The guides are also adjustable on the Mk. II.

I can tell you that is the case and you can see that on the pics, but this is something a lens technician can verify and have.

Oddly, the S35mm Mk. II lenses switched from the 9-blade triangular iris to a 7-blade iris. The S16mm Mk. II lenses switched from 6-blade hexagonal to a 9-blade triangular iris just like the Mk. I S35mm set.

Mine are 7 blade iris as you can see in one of the pics. I also stated earlier that this IS NOT the triangular iris

The aperture closes down to T16 rather than T11 of the Mk. I lenses.

All of my lenses are T16

Now do I have to spell this out anymore or can we leave this behind and just agree that these are in fact Mk II's?


so what's the asking price....how much are the Master Primes coming in at these days?

Maybe we could go in together and get a better price.
 
Here's the deal...
There is no hard and fast rule about what series these early Speeds fall into. In general my experience from Hollywood rental houses and professional lens technicians is this...

B Speeds: T1.4, 9 blade iris (Triangular), no built on gears, Bayonet mount
Mark I Speeds: T1.3, 7 blade iris, built in focus gear 170º focus throw Bayonet or PL mount
Mark II Speeds: T1.3, 7 blade iris, built in focus gear 340º focus throw PL only
Mark II Speeds: T1.3, 7 blade iris, built in focus and iris gear 340º focus throw PL only focus scale on both sides

I'll concede that this really is a grey area but my call is Mark I.
 
i am not sure how precise this list is - i used "print screen" method to capture this, and unfortunately cannot say where from it was. (i took that a few months ago)

filip

It looks like the one from cinematechnic website

Yes and all my lenses are T1.3, f1.2 - which means Mk II. According to that list.

Now I can not speak for Evin and Hollywood rentals, maybe that's right, but these are as far as I know an early version of MK II's.

Now that maybe be considered Mk I's in Hollywood, but they're not that outside of Hollywood.
 
Yes and all my lenses are T1.3, f1.2 - which means Mk II. According to that list.

Now I can not speak for Evin and Hollywood rentals, maybe that's right, but these are as far as I know an early version of MK II's.

Now that can maybe be considered Mk I's in Hollywood, but they're not that outside of Hollywood.

These are IDENTICAL to the set I bought from Sergey less the 18mm. But I spoke with Stuart over the phone and he told me the same he's stating here, that I have an older set. I'm so confused!

Billy
 
Hi,

So Midnight Express was not shot with SuperSpeeds at all then!
For 30 years I have always used MK 1's with triangluar bokeh.

Stephen
1
Here's the deal...
There is no hard and fast rule about what series these early Speeds fall into. In general my experience from Hollywood rental houses and professional lens technicians is this...

B Speeds: T1.4, 9 blade iris (Triangular), no built on gears, Bayonet mount
Mark I Speeds: T1.3, 7 blade iris, built in focus gear 170º focus throw Bayonet or PL mount
Mark II Speeds: T1.3, 7 blade iris, built in focus gear 340º focus throw PL only
Mark II Speeds: T1.3, 7 blade iris, built in focus and iris gear 340º focus throw PL only focus scale on both sides

I'll concede that this really is a grey area but my call is Mark I.
 
I've got the same set as Fredrik is selling.

Here in Germany they are considered as the EARLY High (Super) Speeds MK2s with the SHORT throw.

When Arri proudly introduced in the 70ies the T1.4 primes they were called HS-Satz in Germany (set of High Speeds) and elswhere Super Speeds. At this time no one called them B-Speeds.

Later with the introduction of the upgraded new series with improved optics and mechanics the new ones were called Mk2s and therefore the older one Mk1s. Although the later Mk2s have a longer throw and hence a upgraded design they were still called Mk2s because they looked almost the same and shared the same optics.

The next generation have the same optics but a new design and look different. People called them the Neue High Speeds (New Super Speeds) or Mk3s.

Calling the MK1s B-Speeds may be right from a retrospective point of view because their optics are inferior, hence "B". Nonetheless, calling them Mk1 is the more appropiate way if we take their history in account and how people named them at this time.

Fredriks Super Speeds are MK2s with the short throw and not MK1s with improved optics, mechanics, mount and markings.

I find it interesting that Super Speeds make people so engaged. Must be great glass.


Hans
 
It IS very nice glass.

I am soooo sorry I didn|t go for a set early on when I had the chance. Worst decission I ever made since getting the RED.
 
I sense an internationl crisis arising....

Germany, Norway, Denmark vs the rest... now wheres sweden when we need ´em...

EDIT: Oh wait.. Frederik you swedish right?... so sweden was there...
 
Well nows your chance Gunleik :wink:

It's nice to see that Europe has woken up and can confirm my side of this drama.

So back to the lenses - these lenses have been completely serviced and are in "as new" condition. They are very well taken care of and have not been used very much (as you probably can see from the pictures - just download the link I posted).
 
I sense an internationl crisis arising....

Germany, Norway, Denmark vs the rest... now wheres sweden when we need ´em...

Actually I might have my company in Denmark and live in London but I am Swedish :weight_lift:
 
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