Q: What lens(s) were used in the original 1986 Top Gun flight deck into scene & the hop 31 scene?

[vanislandguy]

Obviously it was a a super telephoto. Am looking for detailed info. What specific lens. Brand or other info. I can't seem to find any details to the specific lenses they used in this movie. These specific scenes. If anyone has info I would be very much appreciated if you could hook me up. Thank you

 

[koraks]

This contains some hints, although not specifically what you're looking for: https://theasc.com/articles/flying-high-with-top-gun
They mention shooting on Panavision, apparently Panaflex, but with lenses adapted to suit the purpose. For the long shots, they apparently went all the way up to 4800mm for tracking shots, but I suspect that the deck scenes were shot at maybe 1600mm by the looks of it. For the footage filmed within the cockpit, they apparently used Nikon lenses so it's conceivable they also used Nikons for some of the longer shots.

This page mentions Panavision as the lens manufacturer: https://shotonwhat.com/top-gun-1986 However, IDK if Panavision ever made such long glass to begin with; I doubt it, which means they probably adapted 'something' and added teleconverters when necessary. This page is already a little more specific: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092099/technical/ It suggests they used pretty much whatever they could get their hands on.

You could try and contact Jeffrey Kimball; he's old, but apparently still lives https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_L._Kimball
Long shot I suppose. But wasn't this about long shots to begin with...?

 

[vanislandguy]

This contains some hints, although not specifically what you're looking for: https://theasc.com/articles/flying-high-with-top-gun
They mention shooting on Panavision, apparently Panaflex, but with lenses adapted to suit the purpose. For the long shots, they apparently went all the way up to 4800mm for tracking shots, but I suspect that the deck scenes were shot at maybe 1600mm by the looks of it. For the footage filmed within the cockpit, they apparently used Nikon lenses so it's conceivable they also used Nikons for some of the longer shots.

This page mentions Panavision as the lens manufacturer: https://shotonwhat.com/top-gun-1986 However, IDK if Panavision ever made such long glass to begin with; I doubt it, which means they probably adapted 'something' and added teleconverters when necessary. This page is already a little more specific: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092099/technical/ It suggests they used pretty much whatever they could get their hands on.

You could try and contact Jeffrey Kimball; he's old, but apparently still lives https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_L._Kimball
Long shot I suppose. But wasn't this about long shots to begin with...?

Thank you so very much for the links and helpful info. Much appreciated. I am such a photo and cinema nerd.

 

[Kino]

The ASC publication "American Cinematographer" of May 1986 had a story on Top Gun.

It may have the information you seek.