Let’s look at the cameras used to capture the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe. First up, we’ll explore the Phase One films.
I was curious about which camera was most used throughout the production process of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), so I took a deep dive into each of the films to find out.
This was quite the journey back through time — and through tons of research — into the production of each film. So let’s sift through each phase: Phase One (2008-2012), Phase Two (2013-2015), and Phase Three (2016-2019). We’ll also look at what the future holds with upcoming Phase Four Marvel films.
Here’s what I learned about the camera packages used on each Marvel Phase One film — from Iron Man to The Avengers. (Stay tuned in the following days for the next article in this series.)
MCU Phase One: “Avengers assemble!”
Iron Man
Director: Jon Favreau
Director of Photography: Matthew Libatique
US Release: May 2008
Camera Package:
- Arriflex 235 (PanARRI)
- Panavision Panaflex Millennium XL
- Panavision Panaflex Millennium
- Lenses
- Panavision Primo
- Angenieux Optimo 4:1 (17-80mm T2.2) and 12:1 (24-290mm T2.8)
- Cooke 15-40mm T2
- Captured on 35 mm (Kodak Vision2 200T 5217, Vision2 500T 5218)
In a conversation with the ASC, Libatique shared the following:
The Incredible Hulk
Director: Louis Leterrier
Director of Photography: Peter Menzies Jr.
US Release: June 2008
Camera Package:
- Arriflex 235
- Arriflex 435 ES
- Panavision Panaflex Millennium XL
- Panavision Panaflex Millennium
- Panavision Panaflex Platinum
- Panavision C-Series Lenses
- Captured on 35 mm
In an interview with Collider, Louis Leterrier talked about the production:
As for the now-legendary first crossover and appearance of Tony Stark (at the end of the film back in 2008) Leterrier shared the following:
That may be the understatement of the decade right there: “Crossovers — it’s the future of movie-making.”
Iron Man 2
Director: Jon Favreau
Director of Photography: Matthew Libatique
US Release: May 2010
Camera Package:
- Panavision Panaflex Millennium XL2
- Arriflex 435 Advanced
- VistaVision
- Phantom
- Photo-Sonics
- Canon EOS 5D Mark II (some shots)
- Lenses
- Panavision Primo
- Angenieux Optimo Lenses, 15-40mm and 28-76mm
- Captured on 35mm (Kodak Vision2 50D 5201, Vision2 200T 5217, Vision3 500T 5219, Vision 500T 5279)
Talking to the ASC about the race track shoot, 2nd Unit DP Jonathan Taylor revealed his equipment list included a high-speed camera-tracking vehicle, a Porsche 928 rented from Propulsion in Paris (driven by Jean-François Dubut), mounted with VistaVision cameras from Geo and Procam; an insert car rigged with VistaVision cameras, Arri 435s, and Canon EOS 5D Mark IIs; and a Mercedes SUV-mounted Russian Arm rented from Bickers Action. Additionally, ground cameras were positioned to grab shots of the Rolls speeding by, and even a helicopter, rented from Flying Pictures, was employed for aerial shots. “We had all the toys, and we ran a whole convoy around the track,” Taylor continues. “It was quite a trick to pull the whole thing off.”
Equipment-wise, however, the second unit had its hands full:
Taylor also incorporated Canon EOS 5D Mark II DSLRs, fitted with Canon lenses, as crash cameras.
Thor
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Director of Photography: Haris Zambarloukos
US Release: May 2011
Camera Package:
- Arriflex 435
- Panavision Panaflex Millennium XL2
- Panavision Panaflex Platinum
- Photo-Sonics 4ER
- Lenses
- Panavision G-Series, ATZ, AWZ2 and SP Lenses
- Captured on 35 mm (Kodak Vision2 50D 5201, Vision3 250D 5207, Vision3 500T 5219)
Talking to British Cinematographer about previz and production, DP Haris Zambarloukos shared the following:
Captain America: The First Avenger
Director: Joe Johnston
Director of Photography: Shelly Johnson
US Release: July 2011
Camera Package:
- Arri Alexa
- Arriflex 235
- Arriflex 435
- Canon EOS 5D Mark II
- Panavision Genesis HD Camera
- Panavision Panaflex Millennium XL2
- Lenses
- Panavision Primo Lenses, 27: 275 mm and 17.5: 75 MM zoom, 14.5, 17.5, 21m 27, 35, 40, 50, 75,100 and 150 mm Primes.
- Canon Lenses
- Captured on 35 mm (Kodak Vision2 200T 5217, Vision3 500T 5219), SxS Pro, HD Video
In his conversation with British Cinematographer, Shelly Johnson shared the following:
The Avengers
Director: Joss Whedon
Director of Photography: Seamus McGarvey
US Release: May 2012
Camera Package:
- Arri Alexa
- Arriflex 435
- Canon EOS 5D Mark II
- Canon EOS 7D
- Lenses
- Panavision Primo, Primo Zoom (PCZ), Frazier Lenses
- Canon EF Lenses
- Captured on 35 mm (Kodak Vision3 500T 5219), ARRIRAW, HD Video, Codex
In a conversation with ARRI, DP Seamus McGarvey spoke about avoiding a comic book look: