Super Baltars?

[Ned Wilson]

I'm starting a feature in the next couple of weeks and was looking for a "special" look. Super Baltars came to mind. Can anyone help me with the following questions:

1) Do they accommodate 5k?
2) How are they wide open?
3) Who rents them?
4) Any observations about their performance.

Thanks

[Kevin Marshall]

I can help you with a couple of those - a DP I work with has shot two features on his Baltars.

1) I've noticed some vignetting (although I think he said it's actually portholing), but it mostly goes away once you stop down, which leads me to:
2) They're pretty intense wide open (f/2). Looks like a heavy promist/soft focus effect. Enough that when we needed to shoot some night stuff wide open, the DP busted out his Zeiss Standard Speeds. everything gets within reason at 2.8

Can't help you with #3, unless you're in the MD/DC/VA area, but as for performance - to me, they have a nice, softer, vintage look that is served well by 4K/5K capture. Just don't shoot them wide open (unless you're going for that dreamy/diffused look).

My two cents

[Michael Panfeld]

Kevin: I am in the DC/MD/VA area. Good to know you are around. I do have those SBs, as well as many others. I also have a lens projector. I noticed some veiling on one or two in my set when wide open that, as you observed, disappears quickly when stopping down even slightly.

[Frank Cook]

They are Great, I own a set and have shot everything for 4 years with them. You can rent them from Duclos. they have 2 sets.