Which lens to use for lens flare

[Yousuf Abbasi]

I've heard there are some older lenses out there that are more prone to lens flare. I'm setting up dreamy sequence in a grass field that requires a good amount of lens flare (without me actually pointing to the sun and completely overexposing the picture), what's the best way to achieve this and what lenses would work best? Thanks.

 

[spitfire44]

lens flare

lens flare

You won't really get a flare unless there is a specular source in the frame.
if you have a large soft source in the frame, you'll get some degree of halation or it might wash out the frame but a flare, if you mean those rings of light bouncing, between the elements, then probably not.

oh, older or uncoated lenses will flare and cause halation, but I recently used a Canon 70-200 IS that flared like a mofo when pointed into the sun, was really beautiful..also I used a set of Zeiss uncoated primes on a shoot that looked great when there was a hot spot in the frame, but was quite low contrast in normal situations..

this is the Canon





Eric Halberstadt

 

[Scott C.]

Any ray of light that is parallel to the lens barrel will flare it. That source needn't be in the frame, it just needs to strike the front element directly. That is to say that it needn't be within the field of view to cause flare, but sources within the field of view are most parallel to the lens. Modern lens coatings are engineered to reduce flare, so uncoated lenses are more prone to it.

 

[Andrew Ceperley]

In terms of cine glass...I've gotten lots of great flares from Zeiss Super Speeds and Standard speeds. And I've heard great things about the old Cooke Panchros (not the new ones). I find most zoom flares displeasing.

 

[jon erwin]

On music videos sometimes I use a tiffen streak filter to get anamorphic looking flares...

 

[David Mullen ASC]

"Star Trek: The Motion Picture" ends with a big lens flare as V'Ger disappears in a blinding explosion, leaving only the Enterprise. As part of the animation element, Trumbull shot a big zoom lens flare by zooming slowly into a bright light using an old 25-250mm Angenieux.

 

[Yousuf Abbasi]

Thanks, I'll try these suggestions out. I guess older uncoated zooms might be the way to go.

I'm also curious what happens if I put a single-glass or plastic filter over a coated [85mm T1.8] prime, if that will exhibit flaring. The sequence is nostalgic so a single-glass or plastic feel could work. Any thoughts on this approach?

 

[David Wyatt]

I think Panavision have a line of lenses that have had the anti-flaring coating stripped off them (they used them on "Saving Private Ryan"). If you're in New York your local Panavision could probably track these lenses down and order them in.

 

[David Mullen ASC]

Do you want veiling/glare or rings?

 

[Yousuf Abbasi]

Do you want veiling/glare or rings?

David, I'd like a variety of lens flare/glare in the shot. This Louis Vuitton ad has some great examples of the flare I'm going for:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTtpFmgBmTI

The photos below also exhibit the flares I'd like in the sequence.

 

[Joe G.]

I heard that Star Trek also had guys with flashlights just off camera, shining into the lens. I'd like to give that a shot.

Some people complained over too much flaring.

 

[Evin Grant]

That was the new Star Trek. Try Super Speeds or Standard Speed Zeiss primes or any 80s or older vintage zoom lens.

 

[David Wyatt]

I heard that Star Trek also had guys with flashlights just off camera, shining into the lens. I'd like to give that a shot.

Some people complained over too much flaring.

That film had more flares than Woodstock :emote_hippie:

 

[Yousuf Abbasi]

Just curious, in the Louis Vuitton ad below, do you think the DP was basically shooting with an uncoated older zoom to achieve the lens flares, or could it be something else? I really like his flares.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTtpFmgBmTI

 

[christopher witzke]

For a cheap solution you can try the lensbaby pl mount lens.... built to flare. At least the canon version I used to have did.

I'd think that the more elements a lens has, the more rings it will produce. So... a zoom lens would have plenty of multi-colored flare rings going on.

 

[Ryan E. Walters]

Test, test, test, and then test-

Test, test, test, and then test-

I'd recommend testing a bunch of lenses to see what you like best. If you do want to do for that star trek look, you can check out a bunch of tests that Claudio Miranda did at these links:

RED Tests: (There are four pages, so check them all out.)
http://www.claudiomiranda.com/lenstest/index.html

Alpine 50mm:
http://www.claudiomiranda.com/Alpine.html

Alpine 75mm:
http://www.claudiomiranda.com/Alpine75mm.html

Maybe there is something in there that will strike your fancy ...

 

[Blair S. Paulsen]

Super flares

Super flares

I have SuperSpeeds. I have shot live music with stage lighting in, and just out, of the frame with them. Some of the flares are uber sexy and add a great deal of character, texture and depth to the image. If flares are your quest, 'Speeds can rock 'em.

 

[Bonkers]

Hi Eric, I saw your message on Cinematography.com before your uncoated zeiss shoot, asking for examples. Now I'm in the same position, soon to shoot with the uncoated Zeiss Superspeeds from Vantage Films. Do you have a few test examples that you would be so kind to share with me? We're planning on shooting 35mm not Red, so maybe I'm in the wrong forum, but as I was searching for people with uncoated Zeiss experience I came across your name twice, so I thought you might be the right guy to ask! Thanks alot!