Free tools / Gear database / Lens

Bausch & Lomb Baltar 50mm T2.5

Lens · 1930s–1950s · Bausch & Lomb Baltar

We don’t have a vetted photo of this one yet. Own a copy? Send us a packshot and we’ll credit you.

classic Hollywoodgentle cornerssingle-coatedsharp centre

Covers full-frame still sensors according to the rehouser. The original Baltars were designed in the 1930s and were the top American cine primes through the studio era; the series also includes 30, 40 and 152mm. Surprisingly contrasty for their age and resistant to veiling glare, with gentle corner falloff on the wider lenses. Specs are for the Zero Optik rehousing (95mm front).

Key specs

Focal length
50 mm
Max aperture
T2.5
Mount
PL
Image circle
Full frame
Close focus
0.3 m
Front diameter
95 mm
Weight
626 g

Field of view by sensor

Full frame
39.6° horizontal · frames like 50 mm on full frame
Super 35
28° horizontal · frames like 72.3 mm on full frame
Micro Four Thirds
19.6° horizontal · frames like 104 mm on full frame

What it goes on

Originals were tiny Mitchell-mount barrels, so practical use today means a full rehousing — Zero Optik offers a dedicated PL housing, and TLS and P+S Technik have housed them too. The Mitchell mount is not in common use, so PL is the only mount listed.

  • PL camerasNativeALEXA 265, ALEXA 35, PYXIS 12K, PYXIS 6K +15 more
  • Sony E camerasWith adapterRonin 4D-6K, Ronin 4D-8K, Alpha 1 II, Alpha 7 IV +13 more

    Wooden Camera E to PL · Vocas PL to E · Metabones PL-E. Solid and common. Support the lens — the E-mount is not built to carry a heavy cine zoom on its own.

  • Canon RF camerasWith adapterEOS C400, EOS C50, EOS C70, EOS C80 +10 more

    Wooden Camera RF to PL · Canon PL-RF (C400 / C80) · Kipon PL-RF. Common; use lens support with heavy glass.

  • L-Mount camerasWith adapterCinema Camera 6K, PYXIS 12K, PYXIS 6K, Ronin 4D-6K +6 more

    Leitz L-PL · Wooden Camera L to PL · Sigma MC-31. Common; use lens support with heavy glass.

  • Micro Four Thirds camerasWith adapterMicro Studio Camera 4K G2, Pocket Cinema Camera 4K, Lumix BGH1, Lumix GH6 +1 more

    Wooden Camera MFT to PL · MTF PL to MFT. Works, with a 2x crop on Super 35 glass relative to full frame.

  • LPL camerasWith adapterALEXA 265, ALEXA 35, ALEXA Mini LF, URSA Cine 17K 65

    ARRI PL-to-LPL Adapter. ARRI's own adapter, passes LDS / Cooke /i lens data.

  • Nikon Z camerasWith adapterKOMODO-X 6K S35, V-RAPTOR [X] 8K VV, V-RAPTOR XE

    Wooden Camera Z to PL · Kipon PL-NIK Z. Common; use lens support with heavy glass.

  • Leica M camerasWith adapter· by flange mathsALEXA 265, ALEXA 35, ALEXA Mini LF, Ronin 4D-6K +1 more

    24.2 mm of room for a plain ring. Check rear-element and mirror clearance before buying.

  • B4 (2/3") camerasWith adapter· by flange mathsURSA Broadcast G2, URSA Mini Pro 4.6K G2, AJ-CX4000

    4 mm of room for a plain ring. Check rear-element and mirror clearance before buying.

  • Nikon F camerasWith adapter· by flange mathsURSA Mini Pro 12K, URSA Mini Pro 12K OLPF, URSA Mini Pro 4.6K G2

    5.5 mm of room for a plain ring. Check rear-element and mirror clearance before buying.

See every camera this lens fits →

Sources: alexander-nelson-5mf4.squarespace.com, alexander-nelson-5mf4.squarespace.com

Own one? Put it to work.

ProductionPal links your inventory to this database — photos and specs filled in for you, availability, quotes and invoices on top.

Bausch & Lomb Baltar 50mm T2.5 — Specs, Photos & Compatibility | ProductionPal — ProductionPal