Behind the scenes, it’s the demands of big-name directors and dramatic movie sets that call for precision work. Ensuring cine lens cleanliness is a challenge unto itself. After all, a cine lens features between 15 and 22 lenses depending on the focal length and model line. “Every single lens is painted by hand to the edges to protect against incident light and either adheres to the metal frame or is held in place by the screw-on ring. At every step of the assembly process there is a risk of wear and tear on the black anodized metal frame,” explains Josef Kohnle. If one speck of dust should fall on the lens, it must be fished out using an angling tool – hence the term “anglers.” Kristina Hepperle’s trained eye and angling tool are certainly up to the task. That said, the “fishing out” process takes around two to five minutes per lens, depending on the size and degree of dirt.
Kohnle adds: “A lens is only deemed clean once the number and size of the particles are within the limit values for this lens. For the entire lens, this could mean that no more than five particles measuring 0.16 mm may appear in the visible zone. By way of comparison: the diameter of a human hair is roughly 0.07 mm.” So excellent vision, and spatial perception in particular, are vital in order to detect a particle on the front of the fourth lens in a complete set – that’s what it takes to be an angler at ZEISS.