Panavision C Series

1. Overview

The Panavision C-Series are anamorphic prime lenses that Panavision developed in the USA starting in 1967 and exclusively rents out. With a 2.0x squeeze, they belong to the classic anamorphic generation and are designed for Super 35 sensors.

2. Characteristics

Flare behavior according to the CINEFLARES datasheet:

• Types: Streak, Oval, Rainbow
• Colors: Blue, Amber
• Intensity: Strong

Linked Pattern Entries:

• anamorphic-streak
• oval-flare
• rainbow-flare

3. Creative Use

The 50mm C-Series lens delivers a soft, low-contrast look at T2.0 with pronounced horizontal streaks and oval bokeh in blue and amber—typical for older Panavision glass without modern coatings. The strong flare intensity makes it the choice when the image's look is meant to be a visible storytelling element, not disappear into the background. It is almost exclusively rented directly through Panavision, not through general rental houses, which limits access to productions already working with Panavision camera systems. For low-budget indie productions, access is consequently more difficult than for lenses available on the open market.

4. Specs Overview

5. Status Tracker

• [x] Datasheet extracted (DOM-direct, 2026-04-20)
• [ ] Overview formulated
• [ ] Creative use researched
• [ ] AI-Illu or Manufacturer Photo (with attribution)
• [ ] Translations (9 languages)
• [ ] Import via import-lexikon.mjs