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Artists

Christopher Doyle

Filmmaker
Australian·b. 1952
Known for:
Cinematographer for Wong Kar-wai's most celebrated films, six-time Hong Kong Film Award winner
Education:
University of Maryland (art history); Chinese University of Hong Kong (Chinese language)

Christopher Doyle was born in Sydney in 1952, left Australia at eighteen on a Norwegian merchant ship, and drifted through odd jobs across Asia before landing in Taiwan. His first filmmaking experience was a 20-day documentary on Hakka music shot on Kodachrome 40 Super 8. He became a key figure in Taiwan's New Cinema movement in the early 1980s, then began his defining collaboration with Wong Kar-wai on Days of Being Wild (1991), going on to shoot Chungking Express, Fallen Angels, Happy Together, In the Mood for Love, and 2046. His work has also appeared in Zhang Yimou's Hero, Gus Van Sant's Paranoid Park, and films by Jim Jarmusch and M. Night Shyamalan.

Christopher Doyle's Gear List(7)

ARRIFLEX 535

ARRI

Product description

ARRI's 35mm sync-sound production camera introduced in 1990 as a replacement for the Arriflex 35 BL line. Featured a programmable mirror shutter that could vary its open angle while running, enabling exposure-compensated speed ramps. Earned ARRI a Scientific and Engineering Academy Award in 1995.

Connection note

Used on In the Mood for Love and Hero
Source: Website ↗
Panavision Panaflex Gold II

Panavision

Product description

Updated version of the Panaflex Gold, a 35mm motion picture camera in Panavision's rental-only system. Features improved electronics and movement over the original Gold, with crystal-controlled speed regulation and a 200-degree shutter. Widely used in Hollywood through the 1990s and 2000s.

Connection note

Used on 2046 (2004) with Panavision anamorphic lenses
Source: Website ↗

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Last updated March 20, 2026

Kinoptik Tegea 9.8mm

Kinoptik

Product description

Ultra-wide rectilinear cinema prime made by French manufacturer Kinoptik starting in the mid-1960s. At 9.8mm with a T2.3 aperture, it was the widest rectilinear lens for 35mm film until the Zeiss Ultra Prime 8R.

Connection note

Signature ultra-wide lens on Fallen Angels. Doyle: "I started with a 9.8mm lens. Wong Kar-Wai said 'let's go further.' So we went to 6.8mm"
Source: Website ↗
Angenieux Optimo 15-40mm

Angenieux

Product description

Wide-angle cinema zoom from the Angenieux Optimo line with T2.6 aperture, 114mm front diameter, and minimum focus of 2 feet. Weighs 4.2 pounds, making it one of the lighter professional cinema zooms. Covers Super 35 format.

Connection note

His favorite for handheld work. "Smaller and lighter than many prime lenses, and for me, balances better"
Source: Interview ↗
Panavision C Series Anamorphic Lenses

Panavision

Product description

Panavision's C Series 2x anamorphic primes have been in continuous use since their introduction in 1968. Available in focal lengths from 35mm to 100mm, they are compact and lightweight, making them well suited for handheld and Steadicam work. The lenses produce a pronounced anamorphic flare and organic bokeh with graduated depth of field.

Connection note

Used on 2046 (2004)
Source: Website ↗
Kodak Vision 500T 5279

Kodak

Product description

Tungsten-balanced color negative rated at EI 500, introduced in 1996 as part of Kodak's first-generation Vision line. Provided fine grain for its speed class along with clean highlights and natural flesh tones. Widely used in 1990s and early 2000s productions.

Connection note

Negative film stock used on In the Mood for Love (2000)
Source: Website ↗
Arriflex 35 BL4

ARRI

Product description

The Arriflex 35 BL4, the final model in ARRI's blimped 35mm camera line, features a chrome nickel steel PL mount and a variable speed range of 5 to 36 fps. Production of the BL4S variant ended in 1990 after over 1,700 total BL-series units were built. It was succeeded by the Arriflex 535.

Connection note

Used on In the Mood for Love (2000)
Source: Website ↗
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Robbie Ryan

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