At the One World on HD event Band Pro Film and Digital introduced a new brand of ultra-high performance PL mount prime lenses designed to deliver optical performance for true 4K imaging and beyond. After three years of design and prototyping the new T1.4 lenses still code named “Mystery Primes” within Band Pro are fully developed and three focal lengths were demonstrated on the F35 camera at the event last month. The series of prime lenses available exclusively worldwide from Band Pro will eventually total 15 different focal lengths ranging from 12mm to 150mm. Delivery of production models of eight of the lenses will begin in early summer of 2010. “A unique use of aspheric technology and cutting-edge mechanical cine lens design provides the ‘Mystery Primes’ with unmatched evenness of illumination across the entire 35mm frame and into the corners with no discernable breathing ” says Michael Bravin chief technologist of Band Pro. “Suppression of color fringing into the farthest corners of the frame is superior to any lenses I have ever seen.” The entire set of “Mystery Primes” features unified distance focus scales common size and location of focus and iris rings and a 95mm threaded (for filters) lens front--all allowing quick interchange of lenses in a busy production environment. Another unique feature is an integrated threaded net ring in the rear of the PL mount. Designed to be light in weight yet rugged on the set the mount and lens barrel are manufactured using lightweight high strength titanium materials. For example a typical Mystery Prime weighs just three pounds (1.4 kilograms). The core set of “Mystery Primes” which will start delivering by June includes 16mm 18mm 21mm 25mm 35mm 40mm 50mm 65mm 75mm and 100mm lenses. Additional focal lengths will be delivered in a second phase. The first 25 sets of lenses will be delivered to Otto Nemenz International. Their experienced team provided invaluable user input from the beginning of the design process. Band Pro Film and Digital www.bandpro.com
