Rack focussing is the problem, limiting you to either focus through, or Iscorama.

You're not going to get an Iscorama for a $1000. So focus through is your only choice for rack focus. That leaves you with LA7200, Century, Optex and Soligor (generic).

The LA7200 is the most versatile, getting you in the 14mm range, and better quality. But, getting a diopter to cover that massive front element is problematic. Meaning close focus and wider apertures are limited. The one choice you do have is some custom rigging of a 72/77mm diopter. This won't cover the field ov view at WA, but should get you in close from 28mm upwards, which is where you'd typically start to use close focus anyway. It won't help you for low light WA though. You will be able to source a LA7200, diopter(s) and step down rings for under $1000 if you're patient.

The other focus throughs won't give you the large front element headache, but they're a bit softer in the corners and won't go as wide.

The optex does look tempting, as its really lightweight. does it also have the typical flares? what is the focusing distances on it?

What I dont currently understand: If I chose an anamorphic adapter with independent focusing, would this be possible without a diopter? if not, what are the advantages?

@fatpig
The Optex has a 1.33x squeeze ratio and produces more subtle flares than 1.5x or 2x anamorphic adapters. However, if you point it directly at a bright light, ala Spielberg, it will give you long horizontal flare beams.

Anamorphic adapters typically use two lens elements to produce a non-focused wide-angle adapter with different magnification ratios in horizontal and vertical directions. To produce sharp results, the astigmatism of the two lens elements must be aligned to converge close to the focal plane of the normal lens that you're using with the adapter. The "focus" ring on an adjustable adapter allows you to converge the anamorphic elements manually.

On a fixed anamorphic adapter, the lens elements are set to converge at infinity and typically have a working range down to about 6-8 feet. You can use a diopter in front of the adapter to pull it in for close-focus shots. The Optex happens to have a rear anamorphic lens element that can be removed and put back in an inverted position, which makes it work in close-focus range without needing a diopter.

@fatpig
No, it's not what I'd call a fisheye effect, more like a curvature in the plane of focus at either side of the frame.

The effect you're speaking about at 0:19 is distortion caused by anamorphics.

An anamorphic adds in many ways a wide-angle adapter. The field-of-view of the lens is widened horizontally by the amount from the anamorphic. A 1.33x adapter (LA7200, Optex and so on) at the wide end (14mm) will give you a FOV 1.33x times that horizontally, having the same as a 10mm lens, plus it adds a lot of barrel distortion.

Cine-anamorphics has a 2x factor. This is why people say you get less depth of field with an anamorphic: You adjust to the comparable focal length of your horizontal field-of-view. So if you wanted to use a 25mm, you would put on a 50mm (or 35mm in the case of 1.33x anamorphics). Look at a film like "Poltergeist", which uses A LOT of wide-angle and you will see distortion like that all over the place.

Thanks for the input, ill try some research, it seems the LA7200 is not as extreme in panning shots, maybe caused by the larger optics with less curvature?

hey lpowell, that does not seem to be a problem too bad on the optex. if the barrel distortion comes from the taking lens..
do you know the close focus of the optex?

lpowell, thanks for the precise info! is it correct, that, if I would zoom in slightly / take something like a 35mm prime lens, the problems on the edges would be gone?

The Bolex Moller 16/32/1.5x is absolutely epic, and I'm claiming it the best dual focus anamorphic available.

Following attributes:
- 1.5x like the Iscorama
- As sharp as a sharp thing (possibly as good as Isco - although no direct experience)
- Great performance right to the edges
- Focuses to a bit under 3.5ft
- Doesn't soften at wide apertures (tried down to 1.4 on Canon FD 50/1.4)
- Doesn't vignette on a Canon FD 28/2mm lens (52mm thread)
- With modification to clamp I think it will get to 24mm (possibly even 20mm with the Panny 20/1.7, Voigt 25/0.95 might be interesting!)
- It's quite small and light (compared to Kowa Prominar 8Z/16H and Iscorama)

So any negatives?
- Well, it can't rack focus, but we knew that.
- The mount is a little odd and makes hard work of getting the rear element as close to the front element of the taking lens. There is a thread though (via a removable collar for mounting on projector) that might be a step down ring possibility.
- They're quite rare

I bought mine for about £550 from Canada.

I've not tested lens characteristics for flare and blooming yet, so more to come later. I'm very please with it, can you not tell? :-)

Tim