Are we actually getting Zeiss MK3 Super Speeds?

[Jamie Havill]

Hey,

We're renting from a local company in the UK, and I have nothing but respect for them and what they do. They're giving us a really good deal. It's just on our invoice for an up and coming rental, they've listed the lenses as Zeiss distagons (18,25,35) and Zeiss Planar (50,85) and I'm not 100% sure what that means. There all T1.3.

I was told I would be getting the MK3's today and saw an 85mm they have. It was black with white markings/writing all over. It has Arriflex 35mm written on the barell and I noticed 'Made in Germany' written near the glass.

I just wondered if some one could explain what those terms mean to me, and also, if what I described fits astehtically with the MK3's. I've only ever shot HDV with a DOF adapter and still lenses, so I'm not 100%!

Thanks in advance.

[Dave Edsall]

MK3 Super Speeds have only white markings and will be either in metric or imperial and have marks that can be read from either side of the lens. MKI or MKII will have both imperial and metric. Metric in white and Imperial in Red, if the AC pulls from the dummy side they'll have to flip the lens to see the marks. It is the same glass just the housings are different between MKI/II and MKIII.

Dave

[Evin Grant]

They do sound like MKIIIs from your description. Distagon and Planar are Zeiss's designation of the lens formula type.

[Matthew Duclos]

If they are still factory spec, then yes, as Dave said, the MkIII are all white engravings.
However, it is very easy to change the color of the engravings.
You won't see much difference. Optically the Super Speeds are all the same. The focus barrel varies which will change the amount of rotation you get between the three series.
And even then, the MkII series have two different styles. So technically, you're looking at four different styles, all within the Zeiss T1.3 Super Speed family.

[Charles Angus]

If they are still factory spec, then yes, as Dave said, the MkIII are all white engravings.
However, it is very easy to change the color of the engravings.
You won't see much difference. Optically the Super Speeds are all the same. The focus barrel varies which will change the amount of rotation you get between the three series.
And even then, the MkII series have two different styles. So technically, you're looking at four different styles, all within the Zeiss T1.3 Super Speed family.

I understood that it was the Mk I superspeeds that had that distinctive triangular iris - while they might be optically the same, that can produce a very different look.

I could be wrong, and will certainly defer to your superior knowledge in this matter...

[Jamie Havill]

They will most definitely be factory stock. The rental house is actually a subdivison of a huge well known TV network in the UK and they mainly supply to TV dramas.

Thanks for that guys, I just wanted to check as I wasn't 100%.