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MasterBuilt Soft Flare Lenses

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MasterBuilt Soft Flare 18mm T1.4
MasterBuilt Soft Flare 25mm T1.4
MasterBuilt Soft Flare 35mm T1.4
MasterBuilt Soft Flare 40mm T1.4
MasterBuilt Soft Flare 50mm T1.4
MasterBuilt Soft Flare 65mm T1.4
MasterBuilt Soft Flare 85mm T1.4
MasterBuilt Soft Flare 105mm T1.4
MasterBuilt Soft Flare 135mm T1.4

Matching Items

MasterBuilt CFZ 27–60mm Zoom

Full Frame LF/VV | Spherical

Matching Items

MasterBuilt CFZ 27–60mm Zoom

Full Frame LF/VV | Spherical

MasterBuilt Soft Flare Lenses

Prime - Spherical - Full Frame

product details

MasterBuilt Soft Flare lenses are modern cine primes designed to merge high-end optical performance with an expressive, character-driven aesthetic. These lenses produce a more organic rendering than clinical modern glass, and are known for their gentle highlight roll-off and beautifully controlled blooming around strong light sources. Engineered to serve as a companion to the Vista-M Classic series, the Soft Flares provide creative flexibility: they can be swapped in for more delicate flare behavior without changing coverage or handling attributes. A set comprises nine focal lengths: 18mm, 25mm, 35mm, 40mm, 50mm, 65mm, 85mm, 105mm, and 135mm, all at T1.4. The 14.5mm Masterbuilt Superwide can also be added to provide a matching ultra wide angle option. Available for rental or sub-rental at Cine Visuals.

Focal Length
T-Stop
Type
Format
Front Diameter
Lens Mount
Metadata
Iris Blades
Image Circle

Era / Generation
Contrast & Tonal Character
Sharpness & Resolution
Focus Fall‑Off / Transition
Iris & Bokeh Quality
Flare & Highlight Behavior
Handling & Ergonomics
Build & Modifications
Cinematic Heritage & Credits

*Refer to Technical Specifications table. Not the same for all focal lengths.

Matching Items

MasterBuilt CFZ 27–60mm Zoom

Full Frame LF/VV | Spherical

Technical Specs Table

T-Stop

Type

Format

Front Diameter

Lens Mount

Metadata

Close Focus (ft)

Close Focus (m)

Weight (lbs)

Weight (kg)

Length (in)

Length (mm)

Iris Blades

Image Circle

Front Filter

Rear Filter

Horizontal Angle of View (Full Frame)

Horizontal Angle of View (S35)

Focus Rotation

T1.4

Spherical

Full Frame LF/VV

114 mm

–

18"

0.46 m

5.80 lbs

2.63 kg

–

46.7 mm

–

300°

T1.4

Spherical

Full Frame LF/VV

114 mm

–

14"

0.36 m

4.70 lbs

2.13 kg

–

46.7 mm

–

300°

T1.4

Spherical

Full Frame LF/VV

114 mm

–

16"

0.41 m

4.70 lbs

2.13 kg

–

46.7 mm

–

300°

T1.4

Spherical

Full Frame LF/VV

114 mm

–

18"

0.46 m

4.70 lbs

2.13 kg

–

46.7 mm

–

300°

T1.4

Spherical

Full Frame LF/VV

114 mm

–

19"

0.48 m

4.26 lbs

1.93 kg

–

46.7 mm

–

300°

T1.4

Spherical

Full Frame LF/VV

114 mm

–

28"

0.71 m

5.00 lbs

2.27 kg

–

46.7 mm

–

300°

T1.4

Spherical

Full Frame LF/VV

114 mm

–

3'3"

0.99 m

4.60 lbs

2.09 kg

–

46.7 mm

–

300°

T1.4

Spherical

Full Frame LF/VV

114 mm

–

3'9"

1.14 m

5.50 lbs

2.49 kg

–

46.7 mm

–

300°

T1.4

Spherical

Full Frame LF/VV

114 mm

–

4'7"

1.40 m

6.40 lbs

2.90 kg

–

46.7 mm

–

300°

MasterBuilt Soft Flare Lenses

Image Fidelity & Focus

MasterBuilt Soft Flare lenses deliver sharp central resolution with smooth focus falloff, softer overall contrast, and signature soft-edged flares – traits that echo the cinematic warmth of vintage glass – but are housed in rugged, modern mechanics. These lenses exhibit center-focused sharpness and gradual peripheral drop-off that brings a gentle, painterly quality to scenes. Contrast leans lower, emphasizing mood and character. Aspherical elements are used for aberration control, striking a balance between optical correction and analog aesthetics. Falloff is intentionally gentle, naturally drawing attention to the subject, with pleasing background transitions.

Handling & Adaptability

Their focus mechanics are precise and smooth, with minimal breathing, making them suitable for both controlled narrative work and dynamic handheld operation. A uniform 114 mm front diameter allows for rapid swaps in production. Mechanically robust, the Soft Flare primes feature uniform gear positioning, front diameter, and weight balance across the focal range, furthering crew efficiency. Their PL mounts (and potentially LPL or Panavision options) integrate seamlessly into production setups, while substantial build quality ensures durability.

Flare & Bokeh

The “Soft Flare” signature refers to the way these lenses handle bright points of light, producing veiling flare and ghosting in a pleasing, cinematic manner that enhances mood without overwhelming contrast. Flares are intentionally muted – softer and more atmospheric compared to harsher modern optics. The bokeh produced by MasterBuilt Soft Flares is creamy and atmospheric, with rounded out-of-focus highlights that contribute to a painterly depth of field.

Image Circle

These lenses support formats from Super 35 to IMAX 65, with ample image circle for today’s large-format cinema cameras, including ARRI ALEXA 65 Open Gate and RED MONSTRO 8K VV. Mechanically robust, the Soft Flare primes feature uniform gear positioning, front diameter, and weight balance across the focal range, enhancing crew efficiency.

Cinematic Heritage

MasterBuilt crafted the Soft Flare series in 2021 in response to cinematographers seeking the characteristic flares of vintage Canon K-35-style lenses but with improved mechanics and coverage for large-format digital workflows. They are often rented in tandem with the Classic (Vista-M) series, offering tailored aesthetic control on set.