Hong Kong’s SLR Magic has just announced the development of two sets of anamorphic primes: 1.33x and 2.0x. The sets are comprised of a $2500 35mm T2.4, a $3000 50mm T2.8, and a $3000 70mm T4. Given that SLR Magic’s previous ANAMORPHOT adapters in both 1.33x and 2.0x have performed rather well, I’d expect these new ANAMORPHOT primes to be very nice indeed.
Hong Kong’s SLR Magic has just announced the development of two sets of anamorphic primes: 1.33x and 2.0x. The sets are comprised of a $2500 35mm T2.4, a $3000 50mm T2.8, and a $3000 70mm T4 (SLR Magic suggests working apertures of T4 – T5.6 on all the lenses).
The 1.33X primes cover S35mm sensors and use PL mounts (and can be adapted for EF); the 2.0x squeeze lenses cover MFT sensors like those in the Panasonic GH4 and come with MFT mounts (format limits are set by the 35mm primes, which have the smallest image circles; the longer lenses cover wider sensors).
Purpose-built anamorphic primes avoid the alignment and dual-focusing issues of separate anamorphic attachments, and will likely offer superior optical performance compared to prime-plus-adapter combos. Given that SLR Magic’s previous ANAMORPHOT adapters in both 1.33x and 2.0x have performed quite well, I’d expect these new ANAMORPHOT primes to be rather nice indeed.
Delivery dates have not been announced, but the lenses will be on display at the Atomos and Convergent Design stands at IBC in Amsterdam later this week, and on the Panasonic stand at Photo Plus in New York in late October.
Full press releases follow:
Hong Kong, China (Sept 9th, 2015) – SLR Magic is proud to announce the SLR Magic ANAMORPHOT-CINE 2x lens set for indie filmmakers.
As a commitment to the film industry, SLR Magic developed the SLR Magic ANAMORPHOT-CINE lenses to deliver the classic contrast, distortion, chromatic, color aberration, and flare characteristics of vintage anamorphic lenses, but with the convenience of a matched lens set without the hassle of aligning and matching lenses to the already popular SLR Magic Rangefinder with Anamorphot adapter combination.
To achieve the much loved scope aspect ratio, which gives a very pleasant, epic effect, filmmakers must crop off the top and bottom of standard 16:9 footage when using spherical lenses with modern digital cameras. As a result, 25% or more sensor/negative information is discarded.
This 2x anamorphic lens help filmmakers to maximize their image quality by preventing this loss of vertical resolution. The unique 2x squeeze factor uses the entire 4:3 sensor/negative area to achieve the desired 2.66:1 aspect ratio. The SLR Magic ANAMORPHOT-CINE 2x does this by compressing a 100% wider field of view to fit the width of the 4:3 sensor/negative without compressing image height.
The SLR Magic ANAMORPHOT-CINE 2x create a unique “artifact” such as horizontal lens flare, commonly referred to as anamorphic streaks, and may create slightly elongated bokeh. Over the history of cinema, these same stylish effects have contributed to the cinematic “look” of epic motion picture photography. Characteristics that shape this anamorphic “look” come from “front-mounted” anamorphic designs such as the SLR Magic Anamorphot while “rear-mounted” anamorphic designs have more suppressed anamorphic characteristics.
The SLR Magic ANAMORPHOT-CINE 2x lenses will be available for viewing at:
The IBC show in Amsterdam, Netherlands from September 11-15 in the Atomos booth in Hall 9 Stand D.25 and in the Convergent Design booth in Hall 11 Stand A.38
The Photo Plus show in New York, USA from October 22-24 in the Panasonic Booth 445
Technical Data:
SLR Magic ANAMORPHOT-CINE 35mm T2.4
SLR Magic ANAMORPHOT-CINE 50mm T2.8
SLR Magic ANAMORPHOT-CINE 70mm T4
Lens Type: Anamorphic lens
Squeeze factor: 2x
Camera mode: 4:3 Anamorphic
Objective front filter thread: Φ82
Mount: micro four thirds
Lens Coating: Multi Coated
Close Focus: 3’6
Weight (oz./g): 47.9/1,360
Length (cm): 19.25
Diameter (cm): 10
Suggested aperture setting: T4-5.6
Image Circle: mFT for 35mm T2.4, S35 for 50mm T2.8 and 70mm T4
MSRP:
$2,499 for SLR Magic ANAMORPHOT-CINE 35mm T2.4
$2,999 for SLR Magic ANAMORPHOT-CINE 50mm T2.8
$2,999 for SLR Magic ANAMORPHOT-CINE 70mm T4
Andrew Chan, Product Manager
Hong Kong, China (Sept 9th, 2015) – SLR Magic is proud to announce the development of the SLR Magic ANAMORPHOT-CINE 1.33x lens set for indie filmmakers.
As a commitment to the film industry, SLR Magic developed the SLR Magic ANAMORPHOT-CINE lenses to deliver the classic contrast, distortion, chromatic, color aberration, and flare characteristics of vintage anamorphic lenses, but with the convenience of a matched lens set without the hassle of aligning and matching lenses to the already popular SLR Magic Rangefinder with Anamorphot adapter combination.
To achieve the much loved 2.35:1 scope aspect ratio, which gives a very pleasant, epic effect, filmmakers must crop off the top and bottom of standard 16:9 footage when using spherical lenses with modern digital cameras. As a result, 25% of sensor/negative information is discarded.
This 1,33x anamorphic lens help filmmakers to maximize their image quality by preventing this loss of vertical resolution. The unique 1,33x squeeze factor uses the entire 16:9 sensor/negative area to achieve the desired 2.35:1 aspect ratio. The SLR Magic ANAMORPHOT-CINE 1.33x does this by compressing a 33% wider field of view to fit the width of the 16:9 sensor/negative without compressing image height.
Modern professional cinema cameras have large sensors capable of capturing an image in the 2.35:1 format directly, using spherical lenses, but film makers still desire the anamorphic “look” which often limits them to using rare vintage lenses. These present a number of difficulties in practice such as size, weight, lack of close focus, availability, and high price. We sought to overcome such issues with the SLR Magic ANAMORPHOT-CINE lenses.
The SLR Magic ANAMORPHOT-CINE 1,33x create a unique “artifact” such as horizontal lens flare, commonly referred to as anamorphic streaks, and may create slightly elongated bokeh. Over the history of cinema, these same stylish effects have contributed to the cinematic “look” of epic motion picture photography. Characteristics that shape this anamorphic “look” come from “front-mounted” anamorphic designs such as the SLR Magic Anamorphot while “rear-mounted” anamorphic designs have more suppressed anamorphic characteristics.
The SLR Magic ANAMORPHOT-CINE 1.33x lenses will be available for viewing at the IBC show in Amsterdam, Netherlands from September 11-15 in the Atomos booth in Hall 9 Stand D.25
Technical Data:
SLR Magic ANAMORPHOT-CINE 35mm T2.4
SLR Magic ANAMORPHOT-CINE 50mm T2.8
SLR Magic ANAMORPHOT-CINE 70mm T4
Lens Type: Anamorphic lens
Squeeze factor: 1.33x
Objective front filter thread: Φ82
Mount: Aluminium PL or Titanium PL compatible with optional EF adapter
Lens Coating: Multi Coated
Close Focus: 3’6
Weight (oz./g): 38.8/1,100
Length (cm): 13.5
Diameter (cm): 10
Optional accessories: PL to EF adapter
Suggested aperture setting: T4-5.6
Image Circle: S35 for 35mm T2.4, FF for 50mm T2.8 and 70mm T4
MSRP:
$2,499 for SLR Magic ANAMORPHOT-CINE 35mm T2.4
$2,999 for SLR Magic ANAMORPHOT-CINE 50mm T2.8
$2,999 for SLR Magic ANAMORPHOT-CINE 70mm T4
Andrew Chan, Product Manager
Disclosure: SLR Magic has sent me ANAMORPHOT adapters for previous reviews, and has not requested that I ship them back (I have asked about returning them, and was told not to bother). Andrew Chan sent me the press releases, but hasn’t promised me any primes for review. There is no other material connection between me and SLR Magic, and no one has offered me any inducements to write up these lenses.