SHIFT 4 London

20/02/2024

LSAXBSC Masterclass - Introduction to Camera Operating and Grip.

It was a pleasure to once again, help our friends at BSC and LSA with another amazing workshop.

• •

14/02/2024

Here we go again, BSC Expo 2024.

Why not popping over to our stand for a drink (yes we have a bar 😎) and have a look at some very interesting optical
projects that we’ve been working on.

Plus, the highlights of Shift 4 Cine (our newly opened cutting edge facilities), and why it’s becoming a talking point in the industry amongst DPs, ACs, Directors and Producers.

Image 1: OMG 37mm lens - an in-house project for those wanting a unique ‘out-of-this-world’ look.

Image 2: A comparison of 2 different looks from our Look Customisation System. Which empowers DPs to fine tune certain visual elements of a lens.

Image 3: Our modular Look Development Studio, specifically designed for lens and camera tests.

Image 4: Out prep bays and a 30ft projection room (all with MYT Opti-Glide systems)

We’ll be at stand 252, which is located towards the beck of the hall, right in front of the Seminar Theatre.

See you then

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15/12/2023

If you work in TV Production, and have experience in organising shoots and dealing with rental houses, this might be the perfect time to use your skills in a new part of the industry.

We're looking for people to join our London team of Account Managers.

Full details > https://www.shift-4.com/jobs-at-shift-4/

01/10/2023

Just Arrived 🙌 | IronGlass Soviet MKII

Rehoused by , this Soviet Set consists of six classic lenses from the USSR, including the legendary Helios 44-2. Featuring slightly overcorrected bokeh, exaggerated spherical aberration (dream effect), gorgeous yet interesting focus falloff, and out of this world flares, these lenses are like nothing else available. With more than Full Frame coverage across the set, the MKII rehousing makes mechanical and material improvements over the original rehousing.

They use a “hybrid focus system”, which is a combination of a new & refined helicoid combined with technology generally found in CAM-driven focus systems. The result is a very reliable, rugged focus system that feels like a CAM-driven focus ring, even on lenses with weighty optical blocks such as Helios 40-2 and Tair-11A. Combined with an internal focus design that no longer limits the clip-on Matt Box weight, these lenses are now an absolute joy to use, which is what MKII rehousing is all about

Some of the Close Focuses have been improved from the original lenses.

20mm MIR-20 • T3.6 • CF 7"
28mm MIR10A • T3.6 • CF 8"
37mm MIR-1V • T2.9 • CF 1'10"
58mm HELIOS 44-2 • T2.1 • CF 1'8"
85mm HELIOS 40-2 • T1.6 • CF 2'6"
135mm TAIR-11A • T2.9 • CF 3'11"

Who wants to come for a lens test? Drop us a DM.

30/09/2023

We are happy to be supporting SHIFT 4 with SP3 for their lens and social event in Manchester on October 4. It will be a great opportunity to test the new SP3 lenses if you are in the area.

To register for the event please contact [email protected].

26/09/2023

Our Manchester office is hosting one of its regular Social and Lens Events - 4th October - focused on Full Frame lenses with the Cooke SP3's!

It has limited numbers - reach out to [email protected] to register your interest.

21/08/2023

The new Angenieux Optimo Ultra Compact 37-102mm

It's the successor to the highly popular Optimo 28-76mm zoom lens. The optics have been redesigned to produce the same look, but to cover full frame with the equivalent field of view. And all kept to a similar compact and lightweight design of the original Optimo zoom. They have also incorporated the interchangeable rear element design from the EZ series, meaning this lens can be switched to cover U35 and become a 28-76mm T2.2.

16/08/2023

In the LOOK DEVELOPMENT STUDIO - lens test & LUTs grade at Shift 4 Cine with & .tspl

DP Santonio Terzio & Director Phillip Shaw came in to shoot a lens test for their upcoming project, and with help from our in-house DP Colin Coomber, they developed the look they wanted with the Cooke S8s & Alexa 35 as well as their LUTs.

Who's next?? Get in touch

We know this is a precarious time for everyone in the industry, but this is the perfect opportunity to get creative and push your ideas at Shift 4 Cine.

Optics

28/07/2023

BLACKWING7 T-TUNED

BLACKWING7 T-TUNED

These beauties are always in high demand - our sets are rarely on our shelves!

They're seriously popular for a reason. Designed with a tuneable vintage style, these full-frame primes are compact & modern, with softness and medium flaring.

Classy, classic & smooth.

26/07/2023

Sky-high with the brilliant , shooting on the VENICE + CANON FD 50-300 T4.9 FF Zoom.

Thanks to .mroc for this great BTS shot!

20/07/2023

BAUSCH & LOMB SUPER BALTARS - TLS Rehoused

Originally built in the 1950s, these S35 lenses produce really vintagey, warm, low-contrast images with lots of flaring, with fast T stops at T2.3 for most of the set.

Lovely.

18/07/2023

PLAGGY BAG - an exciting new short film.

When working-class Zoe meets her best mate’s privileged friends, she tries to ignore the chip on her shoulder and make a good impression. But when a single-use plastic bag comes to life and hunts down the group one by one, Zoe must face her inner rage head-on.

Director/Writer: Alex Withers
Producer: Fatosh Olgacher
Producer: Mark Campbell Garrity
Executive Producer: Alex Withers
DOP: Fatosh Olgacher
Steadicam Op: Lee David Brown _steadilee_
1st AC: Kristiana Zhekova
2nd AC: Beanie Baker

11/07/2023

Customize your look with the exceptional ANGENIEUX OPTIMO PRIMES.

Come in to Shift 4 Cine for a lens test in our Look Development Studio and get to grips with what changing internal elements and adding rear filters does to your image, also from neutral and clean to low-contrast vintage and more. They cover full-frame sensors and have a fast aperture of T1.8.

30/06/2023

Say what? Is that ALAIN LOLLIOT on the camera floor? Yes, yes, it is. We’ve got Alain. And he’s our new Technical Director in Manchester!

Before moving to London in 2006, Alain had initially trained as a Sound Engineer in South Africa, working in studio, live, and theatre environments.

Beginning as a driver at Pro Motion, he grew with the company, learning everything he could about the TV & Film industry, satisfying his technical passions. By 2012, he was Technical Director, then ran the Manchester branch with Jess from 2015, before joining our team a few months ago – lucky us!

With years of industry knowledge and experience, if you’ve got a technical question or an idea for a workshop, Alain’s your man. However, if you’d rather chat about vinyl collecting, bad guitar playing or fermenting and pickling veggies, Alain is also your man.

Along with the mega Jess as Manchester’s Commercial Director, and the fabulously dressed Kodak, we’re feeling pretty darned chuffed with our latest team members!

If you’re in London, come and catch up with the lovely Lolliot’s on Thursday (6/7/23) at our Shift 4 Cine launch (send us a DM for RSVP info).

Let’s GO!

15/06/2023

Vintage KOWA R FF Primes by Ancient Optics, rehoused by TLS

Crafted from the 60s & 70s era stills photography lenses, they offer sharp, low-contrast images with stunning flares.

They offer a rare and unique look for full-frame cinematography. Up until recently, the only genuine vintage glass for full frame on offer was the Canon K35s, which has a very strong vintage look.

What the Kowa Rs offer are very subtle vintage characteristics, subtle chromatic aberrations, subtle barrel distortion, no spherical aberrations, and subtly sharp images.

Their strongest aspects are their highly defined defocus and complex lens flares. These lenses are perfect when a subtle full-frame vintage look with a more forgiving depth of field and stunning lens flares are desired.

31/05/2023

We’re so excited to welcome the super-experienced Nicola Robinson to the Shift 4 Bookings Team 😊
 
Having worked at other rental houses for over a decade, you may already know the lovely Nicola. She’s bringing years of knowledge and practise of the industry to her new role as a Senior Account Manager, and she’s settled in so well it feels like she’s been part of the team for years!
 
As we expand and evolve with our new Shift 4 Cine division, we’ve got several other exciting new additions coming to work with Shift 4, which we’ll be announcing over the next few months (watch this space).
 
For more on Shift 4 Cine – see the link in our bio.

31/05/2023

HOT WHEELS - the series has arrived on NBC!

It was shot in Manchester by DP Josh Williams, with the kit provided by us 🎥😎🏎

Get an exclusive first look under the hood of the hottest competition show of the summer - Hot Wheels™: Ultimate Challenge! Premieres Tuesday, May 30 at 10/9...

29/05/2023

The ARRI Signature Primes

These popular lenses are the first ARRI primes designed exclusively for the needs of digital cinema cameras.

Modern, full frame, high end lenses that deliver clean, elegant & ultra smooth high resolution images, they’re also nearly completely free from breathing, distortion and chromatic aberrations.

25/05/2023

Read about Shift 4 Cine Televisual Media Works

This is our brand-new cinematography unit crafted especially for those working in Drama's, Feature's & Commercials

Rental outfit Shift 4 has opened its drama, commercial and feature space, Shift 4 Cine.

24/04/2023

CHROSZIEL lens test projector

For lens testing, the Chrosziel lens projectors are the industry gold standard for lens calibration and testing.

In our new Shift 4 Cine facility, we’ll have a 30ft projector room complete with an MYT works Opti-glide system for our 3 in-house lens engineers to keep a close eye on all the beautiful glass we have here!

21/04/2023

Another set of BLACKWING7s are in the house!
🎥👀🎥

These FF primes lenses have a tuneable vintage style built into compact housing. This T tuned set has the medium style of softness and flare quality.

19/04/2023

Naked Attraction is back! TONIGHT Channel 4 10.15pm


Kicking off the new series is our first EVER returning picker. Previously on the show as David, 54-year-old, Sarah from Plymouth is back to find the one. Now identifying as pansexual, Sarah can’t wait to road-test her new body and hopes her first date as a woman will be everything she’s dreamed of.

Next into the studio is Jamie, a 20-year-old plumber from Swansea. Jamie gets hit on by OAPs at work, but his love life has gone down the u-bend. This mummy’s boy is all cisterns go.. will the power of Naked Attraction work for him?

17/04/2023

Aputure Light Storm 1200D Pro

This daylight-balanced LED par light has one very powerful LED for sharp clear shadows and is compatible with various accessories and attachments. With the open-face reflector attachment, the 1200D Pro has the equivalent output of a 2.5kw HMI.

Prepped by Joe Evans -

15/04/2023

The PETZVAL 58mm & 85mm

These Petzval full frame stills lenses, first designed in 1840, were recreated in 2013 by Lomography and are now rehoused in PL mount by TLS. These optics have a unique and extreme vintage look warping the edges to create a spiral drawing focus into the center of the frame, as well as stunning iris flares.

12/04/2023

Canon K35 FF (TLS rehoused)
👀

One of the most popular lenses out there, the K35s never seem to go out of style. With this TLS rehoused set you know what you're getting: reliable engineering partnered with vintage-quality optics.

Other than the 18mm which is S35, the rest of the set (14, 24, 35, 50, 85, 100 & 135mm) is FF.

Kitroom technician, Guy Prosser checks the lenses for scratches before testing the set for prepping. 🎥

24/03/2023

A (Full) Lomo Anamorphic Set (inc a rare 22mm) has just landed 🙌

Why Full Lomo? Because a lot of the Lomos out there available for hire are made with non-Lomo back elements, but our set are made solely with Lomo glass. 😉

This Lomo set, originating from Russia in the early 1980s, has been put together from hand picked Lomo optics to ensure the highest possible quality, setting them apart from other Lomo sets out there. They’re consistent in colour and character, all providing the magic that classic anamorphics are known and loved for. The images are pleasantly soft in their rendering of detail and beautifully distort the background with plenty of focus roll off at the edges of frame. The Lomo’s lens flares are warm, iris style patterns with the classic anamorphic horizontal kick. In addition to this set, we can offer an extremely rare ultra wide 22mm square front anamorphic. One of only a hand full on the planet. Uncommonly wide for anamorphic glass, but providing very subtle barrel distortion and unique deep red lens flares.

22mm - 3.5t
35mm - 2.5t
50mm - 2.5t
75mm - 2.5t
100mm - 3.4t