Panavision is trying a new super-fast (T1.4) large-format prime lens. This prototype has been tested on several productions. The new lens is named for the street Panavision Woodland Hills is on “Variel Ave”.Here is what cinematographers have to say about this new glass.

Panavision VA T1.4 Large-Format prototype

Panavision is prototyping a new large-format super-fast glass with T1.4. Currently, the Panaspeed lenses own this super fast aperture. The Panaspeed spherical primes are defined as high-speed, large-format companions to 35mm-format spherical Primo optics. Anyway, the new T1.4 is called VA Large-Format Primes (VA for the street Panavision Woodland Hills is on “Variel Ave” – according to Reddit user ‘NarrowMongoose‘). The prototype has been spotted in several productions (The Menu, Emancipation, Shotgun Wedding, Spirited, and National Treasure: Edge of History). The VAs were mainly paired with the Sony VENICE, Millennium DXL2, and RED Monstro cameras, which means, they are dedicated to covering Vista Vision sensors. The VA glass has not been officially announced yet. However, let’s read what cinematographers have to say about it.

Compact and lightweight

Cinematographer Peter Deming ASC elaborates on the making of The Menu: “I had used the prototype VA Large Format primes on another project, and they were quite pleasing and also had a little ‘funk’ to them as well. They are also amazingly compact and lightweight, which always helps when you have a healthy portion of Steadicam and handheld as we did”.

Dedicated to low-light environment

Cinematographer Kramer Morgenthau ASC has stated in his work in Spirited: “We did extensive tests with many different lens and camera combinations. Ultimately, we chose to shoot in the Anamorphic 2.39:1 aspect ratio with Panavision C and T Series lenses. We also had some sequences that we shot spherically with Panavision VA primes. All the glass was optimized by Dan Sasaki with the first AC Craig Pressgrove. One of my favorite sequences is a long, intimate Steadicam walk-and-talk with Will Ferrell and Octavia Spencer that breaks out into song and then crescendos in a romantic kiss. We shot with the Sony Venice camera at 2500 ASA and a VA lens at T1.4, using the ambient nighttime city light”. 

Smooth imagery

Cinematographer Abraham Martinez discussed his work on the series National Treasure: Edge of History: “Panavision’s VA large-format lenses feel like they embrace warm and cool colors equally, allowing both to play on our camera sensor without either one overpowering the other. I also see an artful balance of sharpness and softness in their bokeh. There was never a need to add diffusion filters to help smooth out the image. I loved the lenses so much that I rolled them onto my next series, Obliterated, for Netflix”. 

Wrapping up

As explained, the Panavision T1.4 VA Large-Format Prime prototype lens is being extensively used before the final production. As expected, the lens is dedicated to covering large sensors, in a compact and lightweight design, and be utilized in low-light situations. Obviously, these VAs will be rental-only lenses.

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