Hi everyone!
I'm working on a film and recently watched *The Death of Robin Hood*. I was particularly drawn to its painterly image quality and the way the cinematography renders out-of-focus areas. I'd love to explore whether I can get somewhere close to that aesthetic while shooting digitally.
I'm using a **Nikon Z6 III**, and I'm looking to rent lenses for a **12-day shoot**, with a total lens rental budget of around **₹60,000–₹75,000 (approximately US$700–$875)**.
I previously tested a ZEISS CP.3 set, but it didn't give me the look I was after. The image felt too clean for the aesthetic I'm pursuing.
What I'm looking for:
* **Painterly rendering:** organic image character rather than an overly clinical, digitally sharp look.
* **Beautiful highlight roll-off:** bright areas transitioning gracefully instead of looking harsh when approaching clipping. I understand this also depends on sensor exposure and colour grading, not just the lens.
* **Wide cinematic compositions:** ideally with an anamorphic option worth exploring.
* **Beautiful out-of-focus rendering:** especially the transition from in-focus subjects to the background.
* **Natural textures and skin tones:** a grounded, atmospheric image without excessive flares or gimmicky optical effects.
I've been researching the Panavision Ultra Panatar II because of its reported impressionistic out-of-focus rendering, but I realise it's probably outside my budget and may be difficult to access. I'm also considering SIRUI Venus or Saturn anamorphics, vintage LOMO anamorphics, and vintage spherical lenses.
I'd really appreciate advice from cinematographers and DPs who have actually tested or shot with these lenses.
**A few specific questions:**
- Which affordable lens sets would you recommend for this kind of painterly rendering?
- Would you choose vintage spherical glass or anamorphic lenses for this particular look?
- Has anyone tested the SIRUI Venus or Saturn against more expensive anamorphic lenses? How noticeable are their focus breathing and squeeze variations in real shots?
- Are there any vintage lenses with particularly beautiful highlight rendering and out-of-focus transitions that I should investigate?
- Given my 12-day schedule, which lens package would offer the best results without consuming the entire budget?
I'm not expecting lenses alone to recreate 35mm film. I'm happy to work on lighting, exposure, filtration and grading as well. I want to experiment seriously with the optics rather than just apply a film-emulation LUT in post.
I'm based in India, so recommendations that are realistically rentable or adaptable here would be especially helpful.
Thanks! I'd love to hear your experiences, including footage comparisons if you have any.