CinemaTechnic | Optics for Super 16

After you have made the decision to convert your camera to Super-16, you will need to give some though to lenses that are compatible with your new format. There are four main categories of compatible lenses:

1) Prime and zoom lenses designed specifically for Super 16 - see below

2) 35mm format lenses - ALL lenses, prime and zoom, designed for 35mm will cover Super 16. This also includes all lenses designed for 35mm still cameras (Canon, Nikon, Zeiss ZF, etc.)

3) High quality B4 mount zoom lenses designed for HD digital cine (used with the Abakus adapter). More info will be posted on this new possibility.

4) 16mm zoom lenses with incomplete coverage. These lenses were designed for standard 16mm, but cover Super 16 over part of their zoom range. This can sometimes provide an interim solution for some cinematographers.

The Super-16 format requires an image plane circle at least 20% larger than standard-16. Most zoom lenses designed for standard -16 do not have the required coverage, especially on the wide ange / close focus end.

Zoom Lenses Designed for Super 16:

These lenses were either designed for the Super-16 format, and will cover the Super 16 format at all focal lengths and focus settings. These lenses meet today's standards of optical quality for Super 16 film production. They are all multi-coated designs and generally utilize such technologies as low dispersion glass and aspherical elements. Unlike older lenses, it is possible to shoot with these lenses at their maximum aperture "wide open" without a noticable loss is quality.

CinemaTechnic higly reccomends that, if you need to shoot with a zoom lens, you only consider zoom lenses from this chart (or new style 35mm zoom lenses) for your Super 16 cinematography.

Disc. = Discontined, no longer manufactured.

Older Zoom Lenses with Full Super 16 Coverage:

NOTE: The lenses in this chart below are older designs that happen to have enough coverage for the larger Super-16 aperture. The are not designed to the same standards nor use the same technology in glass and coating as the lenses in the chart above. Their image quality may not meet today's standards for Super 16 production.

Zoom Lenses Converted to Super-16

Lenses in this second category were designed for standard-16 only. The were among the highest quality zoom lenses for the standard 16mm format. They are converted to Super-16 by using a range extender. Similar to the 1.4x extenders and 2.0x extenders (sometimes called doublers) that attatch to the rear of many lenses. These lenses have had 1.15x or 1.2x extenders installed behind their rear elements. The 1.2x extender optics increase the diameter of the lens' image circle by 20% thereby extending coverage to the Super-16 frame
All these conversions are available from CinemaTechnic. The Optex 9-50 T2.5 and 10-100 T2.0 (Mark I or Mark II) conversions can installed at our facility in Miami. NOTE: As of 12-2005 NONE of these conversions are available (due to Optex receivership). Click here for more info on the conversions (archived for reference). We are working on a replacement conversion for the 10-100 T2.

Zoom Lenses with Partial Super-16 Coveraage.
Lenses in this third category were never designed for Super-16, but owing to their being mostly long focal length designs, the may have a great deal of useful coverage. Their coverage extends over most of the focal length range, but is limited on the wide end, and in the close focus range. The column "Coverage @ Inf." shows the range of Super-16 coverage when the lens is focused on infinity. The colum " Coverage @ Min." shows the coverage at minimum focus, which is usually lower.

Of the three zoom listed below, the 10-120mm comes closest to covering Super 16mm at all focal lengths. It also has the highest optical quality of the three. The 12-120 HEC is a close second. The 10-150 is not reccomended for Super 16 unless you can find one of the very rare HEC versions, but the HEC 10-150 does not compare to the HEC 12-120 which is a superb bargain.

Prime Lenses for Super-16mm:
Most 16mm prime lenses that were not designed with Super 16 in mind do not cover S16 if the focal lengths are below 25mm. 25mm and above generally have enough coverage (but you must test each lens).

The chart below shows the only prime lenses designed for Super-16. Most other 16mm primes were designed for standard-16mm and will not cover Super-16. Except for the Zeiss Mk. I primes, and the Kinoptic Tegea, most of these lenses are too new to be readily available on the used market. The first generation Zeiss Super Speed primes are more easily purchased used, although the second and third generation Super Speeds are in very high demand, and therefore difficult to find and costly to purchase.

1) Older model Kinoptic Tegea 5.7mm lenses are f1.8/T2.3. Newer models are T2.0. Focus is fixed, and set to a hyperfocal distance of about 3ft 6in. Depth of field is 19 inches to infinity at T2.3, and 8 in to Inf. at T16. Theses lenses will often require modification to clear the 16BL/ 16SR mirror shutter.

2) Some older lenses are meant for the Arriflex S. The lens mount is one piece with the focus scale and rotates with it (ex. most Cooke Speed Panchos). These lenses will not clear the shutter on a 16BL or 16SR. CinemaTechnic can sometimes modify theses lenses for compatibilty with the 16BL/SR. These lenses can only be used in a PL mount camera with a special PL mount adapter available from CinemaTechnic and only after being modified.

3) ARRI does not list the 9.5mm as covering Super 16. This is probably due to the fall off in resolution in the extreme corners of S16 with this lens. Also there is some actual vignetting when stopped down past T11. In my experince, these are not major problems, so I consider all 9.5mm Zeiss lenses cover. -JDA

4) The Mk.3 version Zeiss Super Speed S16mm format lenses have a focus barrel rotation of 320º (degrees). This is considered the "Extended Focus Scale". The numbers on the Mk.3 focus scale are also larger and oriented vertically. The Mk.3 scales are in feet or meters only, and are readable from both sides of the camera. Mk.3 lenses have gears on the iris scale ring.
The Mk. 2 version have a focus barrel rotation of 160º. Numbers on the Mk.2 scale are oriented along the lens axis. There are two scales, one on each side of the barrel, providing both feet and meter distances. The Mk.2 scales have smaller numbers, but more actual focus marks, although they are spaced closer together.

5. It is phsically possible for a Mk.3 S16mm format Super Speed to have a Bayonet mount fitted, although they were not supplied that way from the factory and you will probably never see one set up that way.

*FAI = Forget About It. No one is going to sell these super-hot lenses used. Some of them aren't even available NEW yet. PLEASE don't e-mail me asking for used ones.

Super 16 Lens Chart Shows the equivalent focal lengths between standard 16mm TV 1.33:1 and Super 16 HDTV 1.78:1 formats.

Copyright © 2001-2006 Jorge Diaz-Amador, all rights reserved.

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