Right on the Button

Known for their innovation and cutting edge appraoch to filmmaking, pioneering director David Fincher and cinematographer Claudio Miranda have earned recognition, awards and several nominations for their newest film The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. They did not hold back in using some new techniques and equipment for this film venture either. The special effects that allow Brad Pitt to age from a 90 year old man, into childhood, are second to none, and they were rewarded for this recently at the Oscars. But another factor needs attention here in the making of this epic story. The final layer of the camera that allows a film to look like a great film. The Lens.

Fincher and Miranda paired Zeiss DigiPrime and DigiZoom lenses with both the Viper and Sony F23 cameras. The best digital cinema cameras on the market. The Carl Zeiss 2/3” DigiPrime family features eleven lenses from 3.9mm to135mm. The DigiZooms are available in 6-24mm T1.9 and the 17-112mm T1.9 Telephoto. Kim Marks the camera operator for the film and recent nominee for the Operator of the Year Award from the Society of Operating Cameramen says, “The amazing flat field-of-view and lack of lens aberrations toward the wide end of the zoom made it possible for us to use many of the beautiful practical locations we had in New Orleans,” Marks goes on to say that “The fast speed of the lenses helped with huge night exteriors, and on the interiors, helped by limiting the depth-of-field -- creating the beautiful soft palate of color and texture David and Claudio desired.” Fincher and Miranda continue to lead the way in making Digital filmmaking a viable and beautiful solution to the expense and process of film.