ABSTRACT
Most filmmakers prefer to shoot with fast lenses, not just because they tend to produce higher quality images, but also because their wider maximum apertures allow working with lower light levels whether shooting exterior or interior scenes. However, although optical design and manufacturing technologies continue to improve, lenses have not become significantly faster than they have been for decades; this is in part due to inherent design limitations as well as practical considerations. The fantastic speed of this lens, meant to capture images of the dark side of the Moon, allowed Kubrick and his cinematographer John Alcott to shoot night interiors using only candlelight, accurately recreating what these nocturnal environments looked like in the 18th century. The lens also lacked sharpness, even in wider shots where the camera was relatively far from subjects.
