Welcome to our community

Be a part of something great, join today!

Log in
  • 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 :)

NEO Super Baltars

Björn Benckert said:
Yes, I actually don't think trying to copy 70 year old lens cells is a bad thing, on the contrary I like such stuff. But while doing it, I find it important to show some respect to the originals as they are still out there and very much in use.

Do a google search, and its quite easy to see that every respectable rental house on the planet got their set of rehoused or remounted Super Baltars, usually they rent them out with an additional name before or after, like "TLS Super Baltars" or such. But no matter their naming convention, hopefully all have one thing in common, original B&L cells inside of them.

So with that in mind, and again this is my opinion, it would be more respectable if those that actually bought into the real deal and paying those huge numbers could at least own the name "Super Baltars". Because as I see it, that name is not something that any of us, no matter how good we are at making lenses, just should be able to claim no matter what is, or is not currently a registered active tradmark etc. And having the drawing of a lens and not having the same minerals in the glas etc or the blessing of the original manufacturer is simply not, as I see it, reason enough to claim a commonly used name.

So dont take me wrong. The idea of making lens cells that somewhat mimic the cell of old lenses and has the same dimensions I think is great. Love the idea of being able to pick a housing from a choosen rehouse vendor and customized the engravings, mounts etc. Everyone probably have their preferences for good housings and to be able to choose is really good. So why no just call these Super Caldwell´s or something and let others be the judge if these are more likable than the originals. I think if they are even half what Caldwell promise they will still sell like hotcakes no matter if they got the word Baltar in their name.
Click to expand...

with all due respect, i dont agree. as a dp we need the name to sell the lens to be on the project. if im coming with caldwell lenses, the directors i work with are savvy enough to be like wtf is that? well its sort of a baltar but not, and see the coatings, um, see.... if i want these to ever make it to a set, i have to be like they are new super baltars. enough said.
so no matter what, im calling them neo baltars!
as well, i shoot with original super baltars a lot, kowas, cooke panchros, and im kind of going away from it these days because they are so inaccurate from lens to lens and im doing more tv shows, even stops are off lens to lens, even with tls rehousings. This is why people like cooke and hawk are making lenses based on original glass. too bad B&L isnt around anymore to do with with baltars, but thankfully Caldwell IS!
 
jordan levy said:
with all due respect, i dont agree. as a dp we need the name to sell the lens to be on the project. if im coming with caldwell lenses, the directors i work with are savvy enough to be like wtf is that? well its sort of a baltar but not, and see the coatings, um, see.... if i want these to ever make it to a set, i have to be like they are new super baltars. enough said.
so no matter what, im calling them neo baltars!
as well, i shoot with original super baltars a lot, kowas, cooke panchros, and im kind of going away from it these days because they are so inaccurate from lens to lens and im doing more tv shows, even stops are off lens to lens, even with tls rehousings. This is why people like cooke and hawk are making lenses based on original glass. too bad B&L isnt around anymore to do with with baltars, but thankfully Caldwell IS!
Click to expand...

So what you say is that without the help of the name Super Baltar your clients would not accept you to use these lenses? Hmm. Think that was the point I was trying to make...To me good reputation is not something that just could be borrowed like that.

Must say I'm a bit amazed, most DP´s and filmmakers usually have pretty strong integrity about things like this. But with these lenses all seam to be more than fine, happy about it even.
So whats next? Someone is going to make a sensor and name it Eastman as they think it mimic film so well...? Kodak is hardly making it any more so why not ride on their names. Your clients would possibly love to shoot on the Neo Eastman Ektachrome sensor... :)
 
Björn Benckert said:
So what you say is that without the help of the name Super Baltar your clients would not accept you to use these lenses? Hmm. Think that was the point I was trying to make...To me good reputation is not something that just could be borrowed like that.

Must say I'm a bit amazed, most DP´s and filmmakers usually have pretty strong integrity about things like this. But with these lenses all seam to be more than fine, happy about it even.
So whats next? Someone is going to make a sensor and name it Eastman as they think it mimic film so well...? Kodak is hardly making it any more so why not ride on their names. Your clients would possibly love to shoot on the Neo Eastman Ektachrome sensor... :)
Click to expand...

That is correct. the director's i work with are all pretty camera and lens savvy, so much so last year when i couldnt find super speeds for a job in orlando and was offered sigmas, the director had the producer fly in super speeds from ny. and substitute eatman with arri and um, yeah...when im booked for a job, generally alexas are already on hold per the director, and im usually like really, which ones? names go very far in this town, or maybe my world.
 
jordan levy said:
That is correct. the director's i work with are all pretty camera and lens savvy, so much so last year when i couldnt find super speeds for a job in orlando and was offered sigmas, the director had the producer fly in super speeds from ny. and substitute eatman with arri and um, yeah...when im booked for a job, generally alexas are already on hold per the director, and im usually like really, which ones? names go very far in this town, or maybe my world.
Click to expand...

So if there was some NEO Super Speeds in town (made by some for your client unknown brand / not Zeiss), then you think those lens savy clients would be all cool with it? I doubt that.
 
Björn Benckert said:
So if there was some NEO Super Speeds in town (made by some for your client unknown brand / not Zeiss), then you think those lens savy clients would be all cool with it? I doubt that.
Click to expand...

you are just never going to get it, that's ok, different worlds i guess.
 
Aaron Lochert said:
Personally, I find it more ethical to disclose where the designs came from than not. For example: Celere.
Click to expand...

I agree. And this lens cells are quite a bigger feat the Celeres rehousings even if they would be half bad it's tons more difficult to make.
 
WILDLING Official Trailer (2018) Liv Tyler Thriller Movie HD



By ONE Media




Info of camera and lenses used can be found here

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5085924/technical


20190421-115849.jpg


Shot with multiple cameras and Bausch & Lomb Super Baltars
 
Last edited:
Caught - Official Trailer



By CBC

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=13&v=l3XJayjTtYY



Info about lens used can be found at the link below

https://www.technicolor.com/news/te...ic-70s-cinema-look-and-feel-cbc-series-caught

"We used super baltars for the early 70’s footage and vintage Cooke Panchros for the later 70’s, drawing colour inspiration from a photo series called documerica,” said DP Philip Lanyon, who filmed the series on location in Newfoundland, Ontario, and the Dominican Republic using vintage lenses to achieve the desired 70’s look. “Subtractive colours of cyan, magenta, and yellow (in this case tobacco) were referenced to colours of old photos from that time period. Tobacco and cyan were used for [scenes set in] Mexico and Canada, magenta was used in the early 70’s scenes.”



CBC original series adapted from Lisa Moore's acclaimed novel. Set in 1978, locked up after a drug deal goes wrong, David Slaney (Allan Hawco) makes a daring break from a New Brunswick prison to attempt one more deal with his former partner. It's Slaney's last chance at freedom but in this tale of bravado and betrayal, nothing is what it seems and no one can be trusted. The series stars Allan Hawco, Paul Gross, Tori Anderson, Eric Johnson, Charlotte Sullivan, and Enuka Okuma. CAUGHT was filmed on location in Newfoundland, Ontario, and the Dominican Republic. #CaughtCBC

CAUGHT is produced by Take The Shot Productions. Hawco stars in the series and serves as showrunner. Executive producers include Allan Hawco, Perry Chafe, John Vatcher, Alex Patrick, Peter Blackie, Rob Blackie and Michael Levine.

Key Cast:
Allan Hawco (@allanhawco)
Paul Gross
Tori Anderson (@torianderson)
Eric Johnson (@ericjjohnson79)


Subscribe: http://bit.ly/CBC-Subscribe
Watch More Shows: http://bit.ly/CBC-MoreShows

Web: https://cbc.ca/caught
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CaughtCBC/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CaughtCBC?lang=en


About CBC:
Welcome to the official YouTube channel for CBC, Canada’s public broadcaster. CBC is dedicated to creating content with original voices that inspire and entertain. Watch sneak peeks and trailers, behind the scenes footage, original web series, digital-exclusives and more.

Connect with CBC Online:
Twitter: http://bit.ly/CBC-Twitter
Facebook: http://bit.ly/CBC-Facebook
Instagram: http://bit.ly/CBC-Instagram
 
Marvels THE DEFENDERS Stan Lee & Punisher Trailer (2017) Netflix Series




By New Trailer Buzz



Info about lens used can be found at the link below

https://www.ivanabel.com/commercials-1#/netflixmarvel/

"We shoot Stan Lee in studio in LA and later moving plates and the car shots in New York.
Great people in the Mill put it all together.
The shoots of the characters are from actual TV shows.
It was real honor to work with the legend Stan Lee."

cam: alexa mini

lenses: super baltars
 
The bottom line for me is that Brian’s lenses, as meticulously close to Baltars as they may be, are NOT Baltars. And they are not “new Baltars”. Even if they were indistinguishable from Baltars in every way, they still are not Baltars because they were not produced by B&L. Baltars were produced by B&L, period. It’s false advertising to call these Baltars. Or “Neo Baltars”. Or anything “Baltar”. And as to the want for clients to be familiar with the name in order that one can land jobs with the lenses, that’s putting opportunity over integrity. You’re wanting to get jobs through deception? And give clients more credit. They didn’t know the RED name at one point. No one had to deceive them and tell them the RED was something it was not. I think client’s are capable of learning that, say, “Caldwell Neo” primes or “VLC Neo” primes are the modern lenses that replicate the look of Baltars. And if you think they cannot, then buy a set of Baltars.
I feel that Bjorn and myself are in the right here. Because we are taking a principled position ( not to sound all high-minded ). We’re standing up for professional integrity and not having the flippant attitude of “Ahh, what does it matter?”. It matters.


That’s my final two cents on this. Maybe the debate can be settled by another 50–100 posts providing samples of work shot on Baltars. Rand, that’s your cue. :biggrin:
 
The bottom line for me is that Brian’s lenses, as meticulously close to Baltars as they may be, are NOT Baltars. And they are not “new Baltars”. Even if they were indistinguishable from Baltars in every way, they still are not Baltars because they were not produced by B&L. Baltars were produced by B&L, period. It’s false advertising to call these Baltars. Or “Neo Baltars”. Or anything “Baltar”. And as to the want for clients to be familiar with the name in order that one can land jobs with the lenses, that’s putting opportunity over integrity. You’re wanting to get jobs through deception? And give clients more credit. They didn’t know the RED name at one point. No one had to deceive them and tell them the RED was something it was not. I think client’s are capable of learning that, say, “Caldwell Neo” primes or “VLC Neo” primes are the modern lenses that replicate the look of Baltars. And if you think they cannot, then buy a set of Baltars.
I feel that Bjorn and myself are in the right here. Because we are taking a principled position ( not to sound all high-minded ). We’re standing up for professional integrity and not having the flippant attitude of “Ahh, what does it matter?”.
Click to expand...


beating-a-dead-horse.gif
 
Jorja Smith ~ On Your Own



By Rashid Babiker



Link to show the camera and lens info shown below

http://www.oliverforddop.com/jorja-smith-on-your-own


Shot with Arri Alexa and Super Baltars


Director: Rashid Babiker
Producer: Nick Hayes
Production Company: Nuuksio Films
Production Manager: Martha McGuirk
Production Assistant: Pier Noble-Berry

Starring: Savannah Acquah

Editor: Rashid Babiker
Visual effects and animations: Temple Caché
3D Team: Menhir Fx
Colourist: Toby Tomkins
Post Producer: Franky Chadwick @CHEAT

Director of Photography: Oliver Ford
1st AC: Sam Riley
2nd AC: Francis Boyter
Gaffer: Peter Bishop
Spark: Leon Pyszora
Spark: James Leech

Production Designer: Chloe Brady
Construction Manager: James Simmons
Props Buyer: Nick Tolladay

1st AD: Bryony James
Runner: Alex Tawney
Runner: Akay Delano

Stylist: Leah Abbott
Hair Stylist: Zateesha Barbour
Makeup Artist: Carol Lopez Reid
Makeup Assistant: Mario Brooksbank
Nail Technician: Izabelle Bellamy

Casting Director: Louise Collins

2nd UNIT:

1st AC: Rich Savage
Camera Trainee: Andi Thompson
Gaffer: Will Pope

Production Designer: Paulina Rzeszowska

Hair and Makeup: Mandana Mirzaii

Sound Recordist: Bridget Bradshaw
VFX Supervisor: Daniel Hawkins

With thanks to...
Arri Rental
Park Village Studios
Panalux
Locality
 
John David Pope said:
The bottom line for me is that Brian’s lenses, as meticulously close to Baltars as they may be, are NOT Baltars. And they are not “new Baltars”. :biggrin:
Click to expand...

no offense, your perspective seems to come from like either a small rental house point of view, or an AC that rents his own equipment, not sure. As a cinematographer, you would welcome a more modern take on a vintage lens and you would understand names and brands matter on the sell of what you actually get to use on set or you get your rental houses to invest in so that you have it available as a set of tools. sorry it just doesnt seem like you've been around long enough to understand this. this is what matters, fortunately or unfortunately, or else you'll never get to use them, and they are very very nice.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top