Meet the ‘Cockpit Lens’ Behind Top Gun: Maverick

[rand thompson]

By YOSSY MENDELOVICH

Article
https://ymcinema.com/2022/05/16/meet-the-cockpit-lens-behind-top-gun-maverick/

 

[Karim D. Ghantous]

An interesting detail from this article is the demonstration of how the Venice sensor blocks are used in real world applications.

 

[rand thompson]

An interesting detail from this article is the demonstration of how the Venice sensor blocks are used in real world applications.

Yeah, I also thought it was really interesting that they went with VOIGTLANDER E-Mount Lenses over SONY E-Mount Lenses that I would think would offer more lens data and some controllability from the Sony VENICE’s Rialto extension units.

It reaffirms, atleast to me, my investment in the VOIGTLANDER APO-LANTHAR 50mm and 35mm F2 , 50mm and 40mm NOKTON F 1.2 M-Mount lenses I own.

 

[Christopher S Johnson]

Apparently they also used Sigmas

https://www.sigma-global.com/en/mag...shot-on-cine-lenses/shot-on-top-gun-maverick/

 

[Phil Holland]

Zeiss, Sigma, Voigtlander were used on TG2.

 

[rand thompson]

I believe I have mentioned on this forum that I was a CIVILIAN MILTARY CONTRACTOR. For almost 5 years, I was a CIVILIAN MILTARY CONTRACTOR on a NAVAL AVIATION TRAINiNG BASE, in the VT-9 SQUADRON's OPS/ADMIN as ASSISTANT STUDENT CONTROL. A CIVILIAN MILTARY CONTRACTOR is basically a non-military civilian whom works for a Military Contracting Firm in a position that a military officer would normally occupy but at a lower pay rate.

I was part of the Student Pilot's INTERMEDIATE stage of training. They came from the PRIMARY stage of their training where they completed their classroom/academic training which ended with them successfully flying a propeller plane. The INTERMEDIATE stage is where they learn how to fly jet airplanes. they would use a T-45 training jet which would have the student pilot, either a 1st- lieutanent(MARINE) or LTJG( LIEUTANENT JUNIOR GRADE) (NAVY) in the front and a instructor pilot/ SUPERIOR OFFICER in the back seat. The INSTRUCTOR PILOT could take over control of the training jet if he felt that the student pilot was putting them both at risk in the plane

As Assistant Student Control I was responsible, along with the STU/CON Military officer who was usually a MAJOR or CAPTAIN in rank, for the orientation of each new class. I was responsible for their JACKET ( A folder of all of their academic, flight training and other necessary paperwork) to make sure that they and their SUPERIOR OFFICERS properly adhered to the 1500 /CNATRA(Chief of Naval Air Training). I had to compile multiple daily reports for the STUDENT CONTROL OFFICER, ASSITANT OPSO, OPSO, SENIOR MARINE. XO (Executive Officer) of VT-9, CO(Commanding Officer) of VT-9 and "THE WING" ( THE TWAWING COMMANDER).

I had to initiate "DOWNS" ( When a Student Pilot does something the INSTRUCTOR PILOT thinks is dangerous in the training jet) PRB'S(Progress Review Board) (When a Student Pilot gets multiple DOWNS) and DORs( when a student pilot has done very poorly in their training and are processed out of the military)

After flying multiple events in Stage 1 and all but their last CQs in Stage 2 ,usually about 127 events, they go to a specific Aircraft Carrier (CVN) and get three passes to land on the carrier by hooking( Tail Hook) a large line. Once they have "QUALED", I would make sure that their "JACKETS" were completed to CNATRA'S STANDARDS and the "WINGING" process would began ( The Ceremony where they received their "WINGS OF GOLD", they are officially jet pilots.

From the" INTERMEDIATE" training stage, they now go to the "ADVANCED STAGE" of their taining where they will fly the plane that they were assigned based on their "NSS" ( Naval Scholastically Score). These planes would include HARRIER, PROWLER and F-18 Super Hornets.

With each "WINGING CLASS" , they create a "PATCH" that tells either when they "QUALED" or when their expected "WINGING CEREMONY" will be. I had received over 80 or 90 or so but I could only find these five, the rest are in storage somewhere. I photographed them with a bible I received from an elderly couple that I helped along with my grandmother at their kidney dialysis treatments so you know that it wasn't some shit I pulled offline.

 

[James Darren]

Zeiss, Sigma, Voigtlander were used on TG2.

The vast majority of the film was shot using Master Primes, a lot of it wide open or close to it.

 

[M Harvey]

As Assistant Student Control I was responsible, along with the STU/CON Military officer who was usually a MAJOR or CAPTAIN in rank, for the orientation of each new class. I was were completed to CNATRA'S STANDARDS and the "WINGING" process would began ( The Ceremony where they received their "WINGS OF GOLD", they are officially jet pilots.

Wow, Rand—you’re gonna have pretty unique insight into the authenticity of the movie! You’ll have to come back and share personal thoughts with us after you see it…

 

[rand thompson]

Matt,

Thanks! I believe in this movie Tom Cruise is Training these student pilots in F-18 Hornets or Super Hornets. That would be the ADVANCED STAGE of their training which comes after their INTERMEDIATE STAGE of training were they " Qualed" QUALIFIED on an Aircraft Carrier to get their "Wings Of Gold" ( Gold Wings Pendant). I can really only tell you about their INTERMEDIATE Training since I'm not really that familiar about their ADVANCED STAGE training.

After working with Student Pilots long after seeing the first Top Gun Movie, this Top Gun movie will be that much more interesting to watch.

 

[rand thompson]

Val Kilmer begged Top Gun: Maverick bosses to return through AI

by Daily Mail

ARTICLE
Val Kilmer begged Top Gun: Maverick bosses to return through AI (msn.com)

 

[Karim D. Ghantous]

Okay, Rand, spill the beans on the UFOs!!

 

[rand thompson]

Okay, Rand, spill the beans on the UFOs!!

HaHaHaHa,

Unfortunately I didn't have that level of security clearance. Being allowed to have access to the Student Pilots " Jackets" and other sensitive military info did really require me to have a certain level security clearance to be able to do so.

 

[NathanHenneton]

Karim you killed me ahah.

The article on Voigtlander seemed more like an Ad for Voigtlander than an actual explanation. That's too bad.
They seemed to have used multiple rialto and lenses. Do anybody know if they did some kind of multiple image merging / stretching ?

The cockpit images are just amaizing.

 

[rand thompson]

Karim you killed me ahah.

The article on Voigtlander seemed more like an Ad for Voigtlander than an actual explanation. That's too bad.
They seemed to have used multiple rialto and lenses. Do anybody know if they did some kind of multiple image merging / stretching ?

The cockpit images are just amaizing.

Nathan,
Here's two earlier artilcles about the film from YMCinema about how the movie was shot in the cockpit.

Top Gun: Maverick’s Cockpit Shots Were Captured in 4K. Is it Still Worth Watching on IMAX? - Y.M.Cinema - News & Insights on Digital Cinema (ymcinema.com)

Tom Cruise Taught Actors How To Operate Sony VENICE Cameras Inside Fighter Jets in Top Gun: Maverick - Y.M.Cinema - News & Insights on Digital Cinema (ymcinema.com)

However, it didn't really say much about any image merging or stretching process. I always Usually wait for the write-up in AMERICAN CINEMATOGRAPHER after the movie's first week of release or so to get more detailed info than you can normally find online for info such as that. The JUNE EDITION of AMERICAN CINEMATOGRAPHER more than likely will cover TOP GUN 2.