Contrast Cine

02/25/2022

What’s larger than large format? Medium format.

Get a medium format FOV on LF sensors with our Mamiya Sekor-C set. Rehoused by @truelensservices with a speed-booster built into every prime, you walk away with a similar FOV to an Alexa 65.

When introduced in the 70s, the f2.8 Mamiyas were one of the fastest medium format lenses available. Now, the speed-booster makes most of the lenses T2.3, with the 57mm hitting a whopping T1.6. 

The primes in our set were handpicked from multiple copies and tested against each other for sharpness, color, aberrations, and lens flare qualities. Only the top performing primes made it into the set.

Bigger, better, faster, sharper.

02/09/2022

Ever wonder what goes on behind the scenes before you rent lenses at Contrast? 

Our quality control team @caseymmcdonald & @kittfresa use our Medium Format @denz.precision lens projector to prevent problems from happening in the field. They routinely check the flange depth of cameras and lenses, verify back-focus, and test alignment, resolution & distortion.

With Large Format sensors growing in popularity, we chose a future proof medium format lens projector. This model can test for lens coverage as small as S16mm and beyond Alexa 65 or Vista Vision. You can throw any lens at this thing.

The projector is also a great asset for observing lens characteristics in a more objective way. It’s like taking a lens to the doctor. If you’re ever curious to test and learn, come on by and ask for Casey!

02/02/2022

Leningradskoye Optiko Mechanichesckoye Obyedinenie
  
L.O.M.O.

Born in Soviet-Era Russia, these 1980s cinema lenses are characterized by their soft focus falloff, distinct rainbow flares, low contrast, and blooming highlights when shot wide open. At T2.8 you get less blooming and impressive sharpness. No matter the stop, these look straight up cinematic.

The original housing was tough to use. A spinning aperture ring on the front of the lens made using a matte box tricky and the focus was stiff. Now, the GL Optics rehouse transformed these from vintage oddities to optimal cinema lenses.

 If you’re a fan of the Cooke Speed Panchros or Zeiss Super Speeds, you’ll love these.

Our set includes:
18mm T2.6
28mm T1.3
35mm T1.5
50mm T1.3
75mm T1.5

01/27/2022

4K cameras have been here forever. 4K monitors have been slow to follow. With this 24” SmallHD 4K monitor you can finally appreciate the high resolution you’re recording. 

This monitor is bright enough for all lighting conditions; even bright sunlight. The panel itself is incredibly thin and the OS has the same SmallHD tools and functionality of the on-camera monitors we’re all used to.

Quad-view is the ‘coming-soon’ feature we’re most excited about! Soon you’ll be able to route in 4 separate video feeds without using a Decimator or extra adapters. This will seriously simplify multicam setups for directors, DP’s, and AC’s.

Take 4K wireless by pairing this with our Teradek 4k Series.

Turn Video Village into Video Vista.

01/26/2022

Contrast Cine is now on WhatsApp.

Contrast Cine is now on WhatsApp.

01/19/2022

The Canon K35s are some of the most rare and demanded lenses today. So what does that have to do with Canon FDs?

It is believed that the Canon K35s were derived from the aspherical Canon FD Super Speed still lenses from the 1970s (24mm f1.4, 55mm f1.2, & 85mm f1.2). 

Now rehoused, our 8 lens Canon FD set shares similar character and functionality to the K35s, with buttery bokeh, warm flares, and pastel colors. Stunning beauty lenses, for real.

Our set ranges from 14mm to 135mm and continue to impress time and time again.

01/12/2022

Use our @DZOfilm Vespid Prime Set to capture that cinematic look you want, even when your budget doesn’t align with your creative vision. 

The 8 primes range from 16mm  - 125mm and project a 46.5mm image circle, which makes them perfect lenses for full frame digital cinema cameras. 

The smaller size of these lenses is ideal for shooting handheld, mounting onto a gimbal, or for use with a drone. 

Our set includes:
16mm T 2.8 (Coming soon)
25mm T 2.1 
35mm T 2.1
50mm T2.1
75mm T 2.1
Macro 90mm T 2.9
100mm T2.1
125mm T 2.1

12/31/2021

Snorkel. Periscope. Borescope. 

No matter what you call it, the Skater Scope creates new possibilities.

Pivot the lens in any direction, allowing you to look up, down, left, right, or anywhere in between while the camera stays horizontal. 

Unlike other snorkel systems, the Skater Scope is more light sensitive at T5.6 and lets you choose your own PL lenses. Then, every lens can become macro with the rear macro ring.

Traditionally barrel rolls require heavy rigging, but with the Skater Scope’s infinite 360º image rotation gear, all you need is a follow focus motor to spin the image. Throw it on a Steadicam, we dare you.

Whether you’re shooting tight spaces, creative angles, or need to get super close up, the Skater Scope will do the trick.

12/15/2021

Famous for its use by directors like Darren Aronofsky & Martin Scorsese, Nashville is getting its first official SNORRICAM camera support rig. The new version of the body rig is being hand delivered to Contrast from LA by Snorricam's founder Eidur Snorri. He will demonstrate the powerful possibilities of the newest V3 design and give a hands on demo of how it all works.

Bring your friends and join us Friday at 2pm for the demo!

12/06/2021

4K TRANSMISSION ENGAGE 🚀

Go wireless with zero delay at 4K, 60p in 10-bit HDR up to 750’ and 1500’. 

Two words: CLEAN BUILD. All 4K units snap directly into gold mount receivers for a truly modular design. Plus, our Cine 7 monitors have built-in receivers that require no attachments at all.

While previous generations only worked with units in the same range, now all 4K units are cross compatible up to 6 receivers. Pair, assign LUTS, and monitor signal strength with the new Teradek Bolt app.

Remember Teradek’s tiny hidden power switch? GONE! Now there’s a glowing switch that’s easy to spot. Receivers now come pre-loaded with LUTS covering most major camera manufacturers - including: ARRI, Sony, Black Magic, and more. 

Full disclosure: No, this model can’t reach the moon, but @teradek , maybe next time?

11/19/2021

The Fujinon 85 - 300mm T2.9 - T4 rocks live events, sports, film & TV. 
Shoot off the shoulder with the servo zoom, take it off if your 1st AC is pulling focus, or run zoom & focus on sticks with Fuji’s external control kit.  
While this can play like an ENG lens, we think the subtle contrast, flattering sharpness, and smooth focus fall off leans more towards film than TV.
Pair this with the Fujinon 19 - 90mm T2.9 for a strong, versatile kit.

11/11/2021

Keep your shots wide and your lines straight with the Laowa 12 mm T2.9 Cinema Prime. 

This lens offers an ultrawide field of view with near zero distortion. Its lightweight design is great for compact camera builds and gimbal rigs. While its strength lies in sweeping establishing shots, the 7” minimum focus also allows for intense close ups. 

This cinema lens covers Large Format, so it works with our Alexa Mini LF, Sony Venice, FX9, and A7S III.

08/27/2021

The Petzval's distinctive gold look pays homage to its origins as a brass lens first created in 1840 by Joseph Petzval. Enchanting artists for over a century, the Petzval allows you to manipulate bokeh in new, fascinating ways. The Petzval keeps the center of your image in sharp focus, while throwing the edges into a mesmerizing swirl. The lens comes with four aperture plates to customize the shape of your bokeh. Throw in the diamond shape to create a dazzling backdrop for your star, or try out the teardrop shape for a glimpse into a fairytale. Fine-tune the intensity of the effect from a slight distortion at a level one to a dreamlike state at a level seven. Swipe left for some psychedelic examples.

08/20/2021

With the help of Ancient Optics, we are bringing a vintage rarity to Nashville. We've lovingly nicknamed these Kowa Full Frame lenses the "Ancients."

Don't let their origins as photo lenses fool you; the Ancients are a cinematic treasure rehoused by @truelensservices. Featuring gorgeous bokeh and beautifully pronounced flares, the Ancients were born to be shot wide open. Our eight lens set ranges from 19mm to 200mm.

Check out our bio for a glimpse of what these lenses have to offer courtesy of our friends at @old_fast_glass and stay tuned for more info coming later this year!

07/31/2021

Our favorite Lomo C-Series round front anamorphics are now fully re-housed! We were the first in the world to get this beautiful @mirrorscope_lenses set completed. These Lomos used to have spinning and telescoping front elements and sticky focus...NO MORE!

These lenses share the same optics as Hawk C-Series glass and create an incredibly textured and organic look. The flares are soft and diffused with subtle green and magenta colors.

Swipe to see what they're capable of in this post and the next. Most of these images are the handiwork of DP @john_matysiak who learned these lenses intimately and created absolute magic with them.
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#rentalhouse #anamorphic #lomo #mirrorscope #cinematography #cinema #c-series #cinemascope #arri #widescreen #dp #directorofphotography #movies #contrastcine

07/31/2021

Our favorite Lomo C-Series round front anamorphics are now fully re-housed! We were the first in the world to get this beautiful @mirrorscope_lenses set completed. These Lomos used to have spinning and telescoping front elements and sticky focus...NO MORE!

These lenses share the same optics as Hawk C-Series glass and create an incredibly textured and organic look. The flares are soft and diffused with subtle green and magenta colors.

Swipe to see what they're capable of in this post and the next. Most of these images are the handiwork of DP @john_matysiak who learned these lenses intimately and created absolute magic with them.
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#rentalhouse #anamorphic #lomo #mirrorscope #cinematography #cinema #c-series #cinemascope #arri #widescreen #dp #directorofphotography #movies #contrastcine #alexamini

07/02/2021

Did you know that the “Super Speed” moniker wasn’t originally used by Zeiss for their classic high speed primes? Fans of Zeiss’ lenses lovingly assigned the name to separate them from Zeiss’ slower “Standard Speed” primes, until the name was officially used to title some of the faster lenses in the CP2 line.

These classic, vintage lenses are sharp, high contrast, and T1.3 throughout the entire range. Our set covers the Super35 sensor and displays all of the classic “Super Speed” qualities we’ve come to love.

06/17/2021

Did you see 'Army of the Dead'? It was shot with these re-housed @zerooptik vintage Canon Rangefinder primes WFO. They NEVER stopped down once. Did you like the look?

03/24/2021

The @locationsoundlondon MiniMic is the perfect compact scratch audio solution for @arri Alexa Mini and XT cameras. This little guy is self-powered upon plugging in the minijack. Ideal for weight-sensitive builds and gimbals, MiniMic weighs just 20 grams and can be easily rigged wherever convenient, as its internal capsule is omnidirectional! MiniMic’s internal Li-Po battery operates for ~70 continuous hours and will charge fully via USB-C in ~25 minutes.

02/03/2021

What's to love about the Sony VENICE?! It's all about flexibility...

Shoot Full-Frame or S35, 6K or 4K, RAW or ProRes, dual base ISO 500 or 2500, every ND from 0.3 to 2.3, adapt from E-mount to nearly any lens, and shoot 120fps high-speed and anamorphic. Since no one wants to edit 6K RAW footage, @sonyprousa has thought ahead so that users can simultaneously record proxies to keep editors happy!

If the Venice is too big for a car or tight area, the Rialto extension is basically a second camera that fits in tiny locations from up to an 18' tether.

New in November 2020, firmware V6 allows 72fps 5.7K in 16:9 full frame mode and full frame anamorphic. Compared to the Alexa Mini LF's 40fps at 4K, the Venice is looking pretty nice! Our package comes with all software licenses available to date (Full Frame, Anamorphic, and HFR). Our standard and premium package is differentiated by the option of 3TB total recording media availability for Sony X-OCN (Venice RAW) recording.

Photo by @athenakulb and @ashleyjordanx

Build by @athenakulb

01/12/2021

The Cooke 15-40mm CXX Zoom lens is a fast T2.0 and covers the range of 9 primes in the Cooke S4/i set, with a “Cooke Look” that matches the S4’s.

Specs:
Speed: T2-22
Weight: 7.9 lbs
CF: 18”
Length: 9”
Front Diameter: 136mm

Photos by @ashleyjordanx and @athenakulb

Ronin build by @athenakulb

01/12/2021

The Cooke 15-40mm CXX Zoom lens is a fast #T2.0 and covers the range of 9 primes in the Cooke S4/i set, with a “Cooke Look” that matches the S4’s.

Specs:

Speed: T2-22
Weight: 7.9 lbs
CF: 18”
Length: 9”
Front Diameter: 136mm

Photos by @ashleyjordanx and @athenakulb

Ronin build by @athenakulb

12/25/2020

Sending you Holiday joy from the Contrast team! It was a crazy year, but at least we have each other and at least we have YOU! We hope you find healing and rest this Holiday season.

12/04/2020

Announcing the 2020 Contrast Cine Gear-veaway! TODAY starts 3 weeks of special prize giveaways and lots of chances to enter.

Week 1: Enter 12/4 - 12/10 at 5pm CST. Winner announced 12/11 at 10am CST. 2 Prizes. Each includes:
A sweet Setwear Products AC pouch stuffed with Bongo ties, Kimtech wipes w/ Pancro spray, Pro Gaff mini-roll, RED Digital Cinema sidewinder tool, Stubby screwdriver, and Expo markers.

Week 2: Enter December 11th -17th at 5:00 PM CST, Winner announced December 18th at 10:00AM CST
2 Prizes. Each includes: 2 Aputure B7c bulbs and $100 in rental credit* from Contrast Cine

Week 3: Enter December 18th -24th at 5:00 PM CST, Winner announced December 25th at 10:00 AM CST
Grand Prize. Includes: 1 Aputure LS 600d PRO and $300 in rental credit* from Contrast Cine.

To Enter:

- Follow @contrast_cine Instagram and Like our page
- Like this post!
- Tag as many friends in the comments as you’d like. Each individual comment is one entry.
- Share this post to your news feed with a @contrast_cine tag, and #gearveaway.

Check out this link in our bio for more ways to score entries! https://gleam.io/7CCfn/contrast-holiday-gearveaway

* RENTAL CREDIT IS OPEN TO ALL WHO ENTER, BUT DOES NOT INCLUDE SHIPPING FEES TO WINNERS OUTSIDE OF NASHVILLE, TN.

Good luck and Happy Holidays from all of us at Contrast Cine!