Valentine's Day2025🌹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?
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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.
-
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
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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.
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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
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
