When it comes to filming video, there are a lot of different choices to make when it comes to equipment. One of the most important choices is the type of lens you use. There are various lens types available, each with its advantages and disadvantages. So how do you know which lens is right for you?
Below, we'll discuss what an anamorphic lens is and why you might want to consider using one.
WHAT IS AN ANAMORPHIC LENS?
Anamorphic lenses can capture both horizontal and vertical information in a frame. However, they can capture much wider footage horizontally, compressing it onto the sensor. This allows for a much wider field of view than traditional lenses, which, when ‘desqueezed’ gives videographers the widescreen cinema look.
What's even cooler is that anamorphic lenses can be used on both full-frame and crop-sensor cameras. So, if you're looking to get that signature anamorphic look, you don't necessarily need to invest in a new camera body.
The only downside is that traditionally anamorphic lenses have been expensive. Sirui Anamorphic lenses have broken that mould, and Sirui have created a high-performing and budget-friendly Anamorphic range.
ANAMORPHIC LENSES IN CINEMA
Anamorphic lenses are used in filmmaking to give a widescreen look to a film that was shot in a standard aspect ratio. The anamorphic process compresses the image horizontally, so that it can fit onto a standard frame of film.
Anamorphic lenses are often used for their "characteristic" look, including lens flares and other artifacts like oval bokeh. This look has become popular in recent years, and many filmmakers have started using anamorphic lenses to give their films a more cinematic look.
HOW DOES AN ANAMORPHIC LENS WORK?
An anamorphic lens is a type of lens that captures a wide aspect ratio on film or digital sensors. These lenses are used in cinematography and still photography to give images a unique look.
Anamorphic lenses have a unique optical design that allows them to capture a wider field of view than traditional lenses. This is accomplished by using a special barrel distortion that compresses the image horizontally.
The anamorphic look is often characterized by horizontal flares, oval-shaped bokeh, and increased depth of field. Many filmmakers and photographers believe that the anamorphic look lends images a certain "cinematic" quality.
If you're interested in giving your images an anamorphic look, you'll need to purchase an anamorphic lens.
THE BENEFITS OF USING AN ANAMORPHIC LENS
An anamorphic lens has a lot of benefits. The main one is the ability to shoot in widescreen. Compressing the image horizontally onto the sensor allows for a widescreen capture. This preserves resolution when shooting for cinema or widescreen aspect ratios, as you do not need to crop the image to attain the required aspect ratio.
Anamorphic lenses offer a unique look, including flares and oval bokeh. Both give the footage a cinematic look which is synonymous with higher-end productions.
THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF ANAMORPHIC LENSES
Anamorphic lenses come in a few different varieties,
The most common anamorphic lenses are 1.33x, 1.6x, and 2x, and these refer to how much the lens squeezes the horizontal image onto the sensor. For instance, a lens with a 1.6x squeeze ratio will capture 1.6 x the width of the focal length. If a 50mm 1.6x lens is used, the vertical focal length will be 50mm, and the horizontal focal length will be equivalent to 31.25mm.
The Sirui range includes both 1.33x and 1.6x anamorphic lenses as well as a 1.25X adapter allowing for up to 2x on the 1.6x lens range.
HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT ANAMORPHIC LENS FOR YOU
You need to identify the size of your sensor. Anamorphic lenses are available in full frame, Super 35, and micro 4/3 formats, so you need to ensure you're getting the right one for your camera.
In the Sirui range, the 1.33x anamorphic lenses are optimised for Micro 4/3 and S35 sensors, where as the 1.6x range is designed for use on full-frame sensors.
CONCLUSION
Anamorphic lenses are a great way to add a cinematic look to your video footage. They have a wider field of view and a shallower depth of field, which can give your shots a more polished look. They can also be used to change the aspect ratio of your footage, so you can create widescreen shots even if your camera doesn't support it natively.
Whether you're shooting a short film or just capturing some home movies, anamorphic lenses can give your footage a professional edge. So why not give them a try?
