Tribe7 Blackwing7 137mm T1.9 X-Tuned PL Mount Large Format Cinema Prime Lens, 14-Blade Iris, Tunable Low Contrast, Strong Halation and Ethereal Rendering

X Expressive is the lowest-contrast tuning in the range. Selective edge-uncoating drops contrast under hard light, while exaggerated edge halation plus a measured amount of spherical aberration and field curvature heighten the sense of shallow depth of field. The result is smooth, almost ethereal rendering favoured by filmmakers who light minimally. It is a strong match for music videos, fashion, and experimental work.

Blackwing7 is a family of tunable large format prime lenses from Tribe7, the company co-founded by Academy Award nominated cinematographer Bradford Young, ASC, and lens designer Neil Fanthom. Rather than chasing clinical perfection, Blackwing7 treats optical character as a creative control. Controlled distortion is introduced during manufacture, letting sharpness, contrast, roll-off, spherical aberration, field curvature, edge halation, and flare be shaped to taste. The design language draws on primes built between the 1930s and 1960s, but these are new optical designs, not rehoused vintage glass. Every Blackwing7 is hand-built and individually tuned to order.

Across the range the lenses share a 14 blade non-linear iris for rounded bokeh, a 114mm front outside diameter for fast matte box and accessory swaps, industry standard 0.8 MOD focus and iris gears, and an ARRI PL mount that pairs with full frame and large format cinema cameras such as the ARRI ALEXA Mini LF and ALEXA 65, Sony VENICE, and RED V-RAPTOR.

Each Blackwing7 lens is hand-built and tuned to order, so production lead times apply. Tuning choice can typically be adjusted up to eight weeks before delivery.

Specifications

• Focal length: 137mm
• Tuning: X Expressive (X-Tuned)
• Lens mount: ARRI PL
• Format coverage: Large format and full frame
• Image circle (max illumination): 62 mm
• Maximum aperture: T1.9 (T1.8 on 77mm and 107mm depending on production generation)
• Minimum aperture: T22
• Iris: 14 blade, non-linear
• Close focus: 32.0 in / 81.3 cm
• Front diameter: 114 mm outside diameter
• Focus rotation: 270 degrees
• Focus and iris gears: 0.8 MOD (module)
• Focus scale: windowed, marked in feet (meters on request)
• Transmission waveband: 420 to 680 nm
• Color and tonality: matched across the range
• Weight: 3.2 lb / 1.5 kg
• Operating temperature: -20 to +45 C