Today, Vantage is a worldwide company – a highly respected brand synonymous with ingenious lens design and dependable equipment rental throughout the global business of filmmaking. From the beginning, founders and childhood friends Peter Martin and Wolfgang Baumler pursued their vision with a passion for precision, an openness to innovation, and a deep understanding of the practicalities and constantly shifting trends of motion picture production.
Peter Märtin and Wolfgang Bäumler are childhood friends and film enthusiasts. They founded Vantage Film in 1993 and share a passion for detail and perfection. They are both associate members of the American Society of Cinematographers – ASC
The Vantage rental operation, headquartered in Weiden, encompasses facilities in Berlin, Leipzig, Prague, Budapest, Paris, Brussels, Marrakech and Los Angeles – all staffed by sophisticated camera pros with extensive set experience, and offering the resources, skill and flexibility to equip shows of every size and description. Smooth logistics are a particular point of pride. Personal relationships are of course crucial – clients feel they know the company and its people from top to bottom. This breeds confidence and communication, and keeps the company’s service attuned to their needs.
Over the past 28 years, Vantage established and nurtured the fabled Hawk Anamorphic brand, recognized worldwide as a leader in motion picture lens design and manufacture. Hawk lenses play a key role in Vantage’s ongoing success.
In 1993, Martin and Baumler saw an opportunity for a forward-thinking rental company that delivered reliable, innovative filmmaking tools. Both working film technicians, they realized the importance and potential of tailoring the tools and service to the unique demands of motion picture production. Today, the company they started spans the globe – 90% of Vantage’s business comes from outside Germany, with shipments to more than 70 countries.
THE GLASS
The legendary Hawk brand was born of the belief that anamorphic motion picture lenses offered unrealized potential. At a time when anamorphic was generally considered a legacy format, Hawk’s design team went back to the drawing board, taking a fresh, can-do approach to optic design and mechanics. Optical traits like focus fall off, curvature, flare, breathing or limited close focus – previously thought of as impediments to shooting anamorphic – were carefully reduced or corrected. An open-minded and logical design attitude towards every aspect down to the footage markings, combined with precision manufacturing and the highest quality materials, led to success. Hawk V‑Lite Anamorphics set an industry standard and are still in widespread demand years later.
Since the introduction of the V‑Lites, the Hawk brand has expanded to include 14 other full sets of lenses, each with particular strengths and applications, including 16 mm and 65 mm formats, varying squeeze factors, vintage coatings, and even spherical primes capable of shooting at T1. In each case, the Hawk commitment to superb quality in a compact, durable package is clear.
Today the Hawk brand is known around the world, and is highly sought after by directors of photography.
Vantage Film is a developer and manufacturer of film lenses and one of the most sought-after full-service rental providers of camera equipment and film technology worldwide. The company supports film and commercial productions all over the globe with an extensive pool of rental equipment, sophisticated logistics and uncompromising service solutions. The HAWK® lenses produced by Vantage Film are considered leading-edge and enable filmmakers to translate their artistic visions into compelling visual statements. Since Peter Martin and Wolfgang Baumler founded Vantage Film in 1993, the company has aspired to set standards of excellence and unleash the creative power of its customers. Vantage Film is located in Weiden (HQ), Berlin, Leipzig, Prague, Budapest, Paris, Brussels, Marrakech, London and Los Angeles, employing around 120 staff.
Vantage Film entwickelt und produziert Filmobjektive und ist einer der international führenden Full-Service-Verleiher von Kamera-Equipment und Filmtechnik. Mit einem umfassenden Gerätepark, ausgeklügelter Logistik und kompromisslosen Prozessen begleitet das Unternehmen Film- und Werbeproduktionen weltweit. Die von Vantage Film gefertigten HAWK®-Objektivserien gelten als technologieführend und eröffnen Filmschaffenden kühne Möglichkeiten der Bildgestaltung. Seit Peter Märtin und Wolfgang Bäumler Vantage Film 1993 gründeten, ist das Unternehmen durch den Anspruch angetrieben, in einer außergewöhnlichen Branche Maßstäbe zu setzen und die kreative Kraft seiner Kunden zu potenzieren. Mit rund 120 Mitarbeitenden ist Vantage Film in Weiden (HQ), Berlin, Leipzig, Prag, Budapest, Paris, Brüssel, Marrakesch, London und Los Angeles vertreten.
