How full-frame sensors are changing the lens market

In electronics, the rule is almost always: smaller is better… except when it comes to image sensors. Of course, smaller sensors mean smaller cameras, which are usually good, but larger sensors capture more light, which is even better, especially for anyone shooting at Ultra HD or higher resolutions, particularly with high dynamic range.

This is why cinematographers have been so excited by the recent slew of large format sensor digital cinema cameras, such as Arri’s Alexa LF or Sony’s Venice.

The main attractions of full-frame sensors are: “increased resolution, more control of depth of field, and the ability to use quality stills lenses” from all the old 35mm film cameras, according to Mike Tapa, director, MTF Services.

This is why it isn’t just high-end digital cinema cameras going large. The new Nikon Z and Canon R compact mirrorless cameras are also full frame, and MTF showed the world’s first third-party adaptors for the Nikon Z at IBC2018. “The PL adaptor for the Nikon Z in particular is something that has created a lot of interest with many people wanting to try out this combination as soon as they are available,” says Tapa.

The new full-frame sensors are generally 36x24mm in size (as used by Venice) or larger. The Alexa LF is 36.7x25.54mm in full Open Gate mode, Canon’s EOS C700 FF is 38.1x20.1mm, while Panavision’s DXL2 and Red’s Monstro 8K VV use the same Red sensor, at 40.96x21.6mm (nearly twice the area of standard S35 sensors).

The problem, however, is what goes in front of this sensor.

A lot of DoPs and rental houses have invested in high-quality lenses made for Super 35mm film and digital cameras. Indeed, one of the most significant trends in lenses over the past few years has been a rush to buy vintage glass (such as Cooke Panchros or Bausch & Lomb Super Baltars), or to rehouse old stills lenses in cine bodies, because they gave character to the clean, rather characterless images produced by digital sensors.

Indeed, such was the demand for old Speed Panchros that Cooke brought out a Panchro/i Classic range (which now includes 18, 21, 25, 27, 32, 40, 50, 65 Macro, 75, 100, 135 and 152mm models), all of which offer the vintage look of the old…