Ignacio Aguilar
Well-known member
Vintage, Superspeed & Full Frame: Mitchell Hi Speed AKA Super Speed Baltar LENS TESTS
Hello:
We have and extremely rare set of lenses, the Mitchell Hi Speeds.
They are full frame lenses from the 1970's, also branded as F&B CECO Super Speeds, Mobile Optics Hi Speeds, etc. The look is very reminiscent to that of the Canon K35 prime lenses, and also Panavision Ultra Speeds MK2, which probably share some glass elements with this set.
I was told by Kenji Suematsu, who was behind them, that most of the sets were used for VistaVision VFX photography by Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Apogee and other companies who relied on 8-perf 35mm for optical and VFX work.
Originally in BNCR mount for Mitchell, Cinema Products and/or Fries cameras, they are often known as Super Speed Baltars, as Super Baltars were the BNCR lenses of choice back them.
Have a look at them, they are pretty special (the 55mm wide-open at T1.1 is spectacular) and future proof, as they cover Full Frame 35 / VistaVision. Most cinematographers that already have tried this set have fallen in love with them!
Any other references are very welcome!
Hello:
We have and extremely rare set of lenses, the Mitchell Hi Speeds.
They are full frame lenses from the 1970's, also branded as F&B CECO Super Speeds, Mobile Optics Hi Speeds, etc. The look is very reminiscent to that of the Canon K35 prime lenses, and also Panavision Ultra Speeds MK2, which probably share some glass elements with this set.
I was told by Kenji Suematsu, who was behind them, that most of the sets were used for VistaVision VFX photography by Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Apogee and other companies who relied on 8-perf 35mm for optical and VFX work.
Originally in BNCR mount for Mitchell, Cinema Products and/or Fries cameras, they are often known as Super Speed Baltars, as Super Baltars were the BNCR lenses of choice back them.
Have a look at them, they are pretty special (the 55mm wide-open at T1.1 is spectacular) and future proof, as they cover Full Frame 35 / VistaVision. Most cinematographers that already have tried this set have fallen in love with them!
Any other references are very welcome!
Last edited: