Continuing our previous article about the tools behind Dune Part Two, we forgot to mention one more important glass, which would be the IronGlass x VLFV MKII rehoused Soviet lenses. This fascinating lens was utilized in another interesting project as well…

The lenses behind Dune Part Two

In part of our ‘Five Interesting Facts’ article regarding Dune Part Two, we explained about the glass used to shoot the film. The team utilized spherical glass only. There were no anamorphic lenses, as opposed to Dune Part One. The reason for that is to allow full utilization of the IMAX aspect ratio (1.43:1). We wrote about ARRI Rental’s Eclectic HEROES and Moviecam lenses (T.ONE and LOOK large-format lenses) that were paired with the ALEXA 65. However, we forgot to mention one more important glass that is responsible for Dune Part Two’s unique and outstanding look.

IronGlass x VLFV MKII: Rehoused Soviet lenses

As ARRI Rental explains: Having decided to shoot entirely with spherical optics, Fraser investigated lens options in collaboration with ARRI Rental, eventually opting for a diverse selection. From ARRI Rental’s exclusive offerings, he chose re-housed 1980s Moviecams, combining them with re-housed Soviet-era glass supplied by IronGlass and some of his lenses. He says, “I worked closely with Christoph Hoffsten at ARRI Rental in Germany to tune and detune optics. The Moviecams were pleasing and had good depth, as well as a really good range to choose from. They helped create the texture I wanted, and the Soviet glass was especially well suited to what we were doing; we used them all in harmony, effectively”. IronGlass commented: “We are thrilled to finally confirm that IronGlass x VLFV MKII lenses were used on the phenomenal DUNE: Part Two!. It’s the most exciting secret we had to keep for too long”, and added: “We are honored & grateful to Greig Fraser for choosing these lenses from the 100s of options available on the market! This achievement is a testament to our team’s hard work and dedication, who continue to push boundaries and deliver world-class products. We are also immensely proud of our MKII lenses, which were carefully selected & crafted to contribute to the visual splendor of this iconic film. We are grateful for the opportunity to showcase Ukrainian products on such a grand stage and look forward to continuing our journey in the world of cinematography”. The IG picture released by IronGlass reveals only three focal lengths: 37mm, 58mm, and 85mm. T-stop is 2.1. Check it out below:

It is worth mentioning that this rehoused Soviet glass (by IronGlass) was utilized in…The Creator as well (read: The Tools That Created ‘The Creator’: Sony FX3 ($4,298 on Amazon) , Ronin RS2, Atomos Ninja ($589 on Amazon) , Kowa 75mm Anamorphic, and ProRes RAW).