Bausch & Lomb Super Baltar Lenses: A Cinema Classic
Few cinema lenses carry the same legacy and visual character as the Bausch & Lomb Super Baltars. Originally developed in the 1930s and refined through the 1950s and 60s, these lenses helped define the look of some of the most iconic films in cinema history. Today, they remain highly sought after by cinematographers who want warmth, texture, and a distinctly cinematic feel.
At Aimimage, our Super Baltar lens set is available to hire, carefully rehoused by True Lens Services to meet the demands of modern production while preserving the original optical character that made these lenses famous.
A Lens With Serious Film History
The Super Baltars are associated with classic Hollywood cinematography. They were famously used on The Godfather Part I & II and The Birds, helping to create images that still feel rich, atmospheric, and timeless decades later.
What makes these lenses especially interesting is that their appeal hasn’t faded with time. Super Baltars have also been used on more recent productions such as Rush, The Witch, and the TV series Lilyhammer. This blend of classic heritage and modern relevance is exactly why they continue to be in demand.
The Super Baltar Look
Super Baltars are loved for their unmistakable character. They produce warm, slightly softer images with gentle contrast and beautiful roll-off in the highlights. Skin tones are flattering, and the lenses have a natural fall-off that adds depth without feeling artificial.
Wide open, they offer a pleasing softness that feels organic rather than unfocused. Stopped down, they retain enough sharpness for modern sensors while still holding onto that vintage personality. This makes them a great choice for productions that want a cinematic feel straight out of the camera.
Rehoused for Modern Productions
Our Super Baltar set has been professionally rehoused by True Lens Services, making it far more practical for today’s shooting environments. The rehousing provides consistent focus and iris placement, smoother mechanics, and robust housings suitable for professional use on set.
Crucially, the rehousing process retains the original optics, ensuring the lenses still deliver the authentic Super Baltar look that cinematographers are after, just with modern reliability and usability.
Available to Hire at Aimimage
The Super Baltar lenses are available now as part of Aimimage’s cinema lens hire range. They are ideal for feature films, commercials, music videos, and high-end TV projects where character and mood are just as important as technical performance.
If you’re looking to add warmth, texture, and true cinematic heritage to your next project, the Super Baltars are a timeless choice. Get in touch with the Aimimage team, and we’ll be happy to help you decide if they’re the right fit for your shoot.
