Optex Periscope delivers unique HD perspective

The OpTex Excellence Periscope lens system is the latest in a growing number of high-end lenses suitable for use with the CineAlta HD camera. OpTex offers a wide range of HD lenses and shooting solutions for CineAlta. The Excellence Periscope is notable for not only adding greater flexibility to CineAlta shoots, but also the uncompromising nature of its design with no less of quality even at the widest apertures.

Its modular design consists of four custom-designed Prime lenses; the periscope module which can be used at 90 degrees or extended straight in probe fashion; the main relay consisting of 0.8 Modulus gears for flawless integration with existing film accessories and Motion Control Rigs; and finally the Format Module for film or HD.

The whole system is colour matched, in fact Optex claim HDTV and Film can be mixed while retaining the same Depth-of-Field at comparable apertures.

Brian Rose of OpTex says the company’s product range is constantly being updated and includes the very latest HD prime and zoom lenses.

“OpTex is about offering solutions, that’s what we do well,” Rose says. “The Periscope is one of the ways of offering solutions. Very rapidly HD is becoming exactly the same as 35mm. If anything, the lenses available for HD are more versatile than for 35mm. For example, we’re taking on a P+S 35mm Pro Adapter that allows you to shoot with 35mm Primes on the HD camera, so that you get the same depth of field as you get with 35mm.

“In addition to the Excellence Periscope, we’ve also got the Angenieux 40x, which gives you the equivalent to 2200mm on 35mm, and I don’t know if there is a 2200mm lens for 35mm. So really the limitations are your own imagination.”

Kiss FM commercial

A recent Kiss FM commercial was shot with a HDW-F900 CineAlta camera supplied through London hire company OpTex with a Canon HJ 21 x 7.8 as well as the OpTex Excellence Periscope lens system.

Director of Photography Peter Talbot says the Periscope was ideal for the Kiss FM commercial. “The Periscope came into its own as it was established from the pre-production meetings that working at ‘rat’ scale would require getting the lens into very small areas. The Periscope is made for this. I have used periscopes many times and although they look clumsy, they are so useful.

“OpTex have a HD version made to the high optical standards required for the CineAlta cameras. It's easy to use and enabled us to get the lens right inside the sets. With its incredible depth of field one wouldn’t know the true size of the sets and made all the sets much bigger than they were.”

Talbot continues: “We did use the Canon lens as well but I preferred the Periscope. We were able to get the end of the lens close to the subject while keeping the bulk of the camera outside the set area. Also working with the rats we didn’t want them to be distracted or intimidated in any way. The Periscope is unobtrusive so we couldn’t have done it without it.”