10+ Best Anamorphic Lenses for Filmmakers in 2024

In a fast and dynamic world of filmmaking, lens choice is critical. While shaping your narrative, the choice of lens will be essential in visual storytelling. From a beautiful landscape to cinematic flair within your scenes, these are indispensable tools that any filmmaker must have. Let’s take a look at the best anamorphic lenses of 2024.

10+ Best Anamorphic Lenses in 2024

1. Sirui 24mm f/2.8 1.33x Anamorphic lens

Image credit: amazon.com

Specifications

• L, E, EFM, MFT, RF, X, Z - Mount
• 1.33x - Anamorphic Squeeze
• 13 Elements & 10 Groups
• 8 - Diaphragm Blades
• No Autofocus
• No Stabilizer
• 0.6m Min Focus Distance
• 189.6° Focus Rotation: 
• 72 millimeters Filter Thread
• 5.04 x 2.91 x 2.91 inches Size and Dimension
• Weighs 2.2 pounds

Pros

• Easily portable due to its small size and weight
• Can greatly enhance the visual appeal of videos

Cons

• Manual Focusing can be a challenge

Best For

• Cinematic Filmmaking

Price

• $549.95

2. Sirui 75mm f/1.8 1.33x Anamorphic lens

Image credit: amazon.com

Specifications

• EF-M, MFT, E, an X Mount
• 1.33x Anamorphic Squeeze
• 16 Elements/12 Groups
• 13 Diaphragm Blades
• No Autofocus
• No Stabilizer
• 47.2"Min Focus Distance
• 191.0°Focus Rotation
• 67mm Filter Thread
• 7.6 x 4.9 x 4.2" Size Dimensions
• Weighs 1.8lb

Pros

• Stunning Anamorphic Bokeh is a great addition
• Wide f/1.8 Aperture provides a great wide view

Cons

• Potential Focus Difficulties

Best For

• Portrait Videography

Price

• $349.00

3. Sirui 50mm f/1.8 1.33x Anamorphic lens

Image credit: amazon.com

Specifications

• E/X/MFT ,L/RF Mount
• 1.33x Anamorphic Squeeze
• 11 elements/8 groups
• 10 Diaphragm Blades
• No Autofocus
•  No Stabilizer
•  0.85m Min Focus Distance
• 143 6° Focus Rotation: 
•  67mm Filter Thread: 
• 4.11 x 2.72 x 2.72 inches Dimensions
• Weighs 560g

Pros

• Elegant and Stunning  Anamorphic Aesthetic
• Fast f/1.8 Aperture

Cons

• Fixed Focal Length

Best For

• Cinematic Short Films

Price

• $459.95

4. SLR Magic 2x 50 Anamorphot Adapter

Image credit: bhphotovideo.com

Specifications

• MFT Mount
• 2.0x Anamorphic Squeeze
• Elements/Groups: N/A
• Diaphragm Blades: N/A
• Autofocus: N/A
• Stabilizer: N/A
• 26' Min Focus Distance
• Focus Rotation: N/A
• 77mm Filter Thread
• 5.3 x 5.2 x 5.1" Dimensions
• Weighs 1.65 lb

Pros

• Versatile Use and Compatible with Different Lenses
• Creates Classic Anamorphic Flares

Cons

• Requires Additional Lens Setup for exceptional results

Best For

• Filmmakers on a Budget

Price

• $1,199.00

5. Vazen 40mm T/2 1.8x Anamorphic

Image credit: bhphotovideo.com

Specifications

• MFT / Canon RF Mount
• 1.8x Anamorphic Squeeze: 
• Elements/Groups: N/A
• Diaphragm Blades: N/A
• No Autofocus
• No Stabilizer
• 0.82m Min Focus Distance
• 300° Focus Rotation
• 95mm Filter Thread: 
• 110 x 175mm Size Dimensions
• Weighs 1800g

Pros

• High-Quality Anamorphic Image
• Precise Manual Focus Control

Cons

• Premium Price Tag

Best For

• Professional Filmmaking

Price

• $3,250.00

6. SLR Magic APO HyperPrime CINE 50mm T2.1

Image credit: slrmagic.com

Specifications

• EF & PL Mount
• 2x Anamorphic Squeeze
• 7 Groups 11 Elements
• 11 Diaphragm Blades
• No Autofocus
• No Stabilizer
• 31cm Min Focus Distance
• 150° Focus Rotation
• 82 mm Filter Thread
• 6.5 x 5.4 x 5.2 Size Dimensions
• Weighs 1.1 kg

Pros

• Ideal for 8K Resolution Sensors
• Smooth and Precise Manual Focus

Cons

• Fixed Focal Length

Best For

• Professional Cinematography

Price

• $1,799.00

7. Atlas Orion Series Anamorphic Lens

Image credit: atlaslensco.com

Specifications

• EF/PL Mount
• 2x Anamorphic Squeeze
• Elements/Groups: N/A
• 14 Diaphragm Blades
• No Autofocus
• No Stabilizer
• 53 cmMin Focus Distance
• 270° Focus Rotation
• Filter Thread: None
• 14.8 x 10.3 x 7.3" Dimensions: 
• Weighs 4.6 Pounds

Pros

• High-Quality Anamorphic Aesthetic
• Multiple Focal Lengths Available

Cons

• Heavier and Bulkier than Some Lenses

Best For

• High-End Cinematic Productions

Price

• $9,995.00

8. SLR Magic Anamorphot CINE 352XMFT T2.4

Image credit: bhphotovideo.com

Specifications

• MFT Mount
• 2x Anamorphic Squeeze
•  11/10 Elements/Groups
• 11 Diaphragm Blades
• No Autofocus
• No Stabilizer
• 1.1m Min Focus Distance
• Focus Rotation: N/A
• 82mm Filter Thread
• 100 x 192.5mm in Dimensions:
• Weighs 1360g

Pros

• Strong Anamorphic Squeeze (3.52x)
• Professional T2.4 Aperture

Cons

• Higher Price Point

Best For

• MFT and PL users

Price

• $2,099.00

9. Moondog Labs 1.33x Smartphone Adapter

Image credit: moondoglabs.com

Specifications

• 37 mm/clip on / bayonet Mount
• 1.33x Anamorphic Squeeze: 
• Elements/Groups: N/A
• Diaphragm Blades: N/A
• No Autofocus
• No Stabilizer
• Min Focus Distance: N/A
• Focus Rotation: N/A
• 37mm Filter Thread
• Dimensions: N/A
• Weighs  33g

Pros

• Affordable Anamorphic Option
• Enhanced Cinematic Aesthetic  Especially for Mobile Filmmakers

Cons

• May Require Additional Accessories for Stability

Best For

• Mobile Filmmakers and Videographers

Price

• $150.00

10. Cooke Anamorphic/i Prime Lens

Image credit: cookeoptics.com

Specifications

• PL or LPL Mount
• 1.8x Anamorphic Squeeze
• Elements/Groups: N/A
• Diaphragm Blades: N/A
• No Autofocus
• No Stabilizer
• 90cm Min Focus Distance
• 270° Focus Rotation
• Filter Thread: N/A
• Dimensions: 24 x 36
• Weighs 4.2 kg

Pros

• Reliable Build and Precision Engineering
• Wide Range of Focal Lengths Available

Cons

• Not widely available

Best For

• Professional Filmmaking

Price

• Available upon request

Photo by Jakob Owens on unsplash

Why You Need Anamorphic Lenses?

1. Lens Flares

Anamorphic lens flares create beautiful flares on the lens within the image. Such flares add dramatic and stylistic features to your shots, hence improving visual storytelling and aesthetics.

2. Bokeh

Anamorphic lenses usually create a beautiful and peculiar kind of oval bokeh (out-of-focus areas), in such a way that the blur in your background complements the cinematic feel in your footage.

Photo by Kal Visuals on unsplash

3. Depth of Field

Anamorphic lenses have the ability to provide a shallower depth of field, hence your subject will pop against the blurred background. It isolates your subject and helps your shot get a lot of depth.

4. Fall Off

Anamorphic lenses feature natural vignetting or "fall off," at the edge of the frame, which helps draw the observer's eyes into the centre, inspiring a cinematic ambience.

Photo by Sharegrid on unsplash

5. Focus Roll Off

The focus roll-off is smooth between in- and out-of-focus transitions with an anamorphic lens. This helps provide a typical look for the cinema, and it is also way easier to direct a viewer's focus.

6. Distortion

Anamorphic lenses will provide barrel distortion, especially at wider focal lengths, so it brings that new and interesting visual "flavor" to the table. If you need to correct it, you may do so during the post-production process.

Photo by Volodymyr Proskurovskyi on unsplash

7. Focus Breathing

Anamorphic lenses are known to present the so-called focus-breathing effect i.e., a change in focal length always occurring while changing focus. This can either be used by filmmakers creatively or can be reduced with more expensive anamorphic lenses.

8. Wider Range of View

Anamorphic lenses will enable you to get a wider angle than spherical lenses of the same focal length and aperture. This expanded view is exactly what you need to capture the grand sweep of that landscape or an epic movie scene.

9. More Vertical Resolution

Anamorphic lenses squeeze more visual information onto the sensor than would otherwise be possible, yielding higher resolution in the vertical dimension when desqueezed in post-production. This added resolution is very helpful when trying to get detailed and immersive images.

Conclusion

Anamorphic lenses are essential filmmaker tools necessary for adding a great deal of artistic possibilities to their craft. From lens flares to unique depth of field, they help enhance storytelling and also elevate visual aesthetics. Hopefully, this guide­ helps you find the ideal anamorphic lenses with features convenient for your photography needs.