I've been reading this forum for awhile, and this specific thread for a few days. I've created a login just now to comment...

The idea of some kind of combination unit that provides a 1.33X expansion but with the "look" of a 1.5X-to-2X in terms of artifacts (bokeh, flare) is very appealing to me.

My own personal preference for my own work is to be able to achieve a standard widescreen aspect ratio of 2.39:1 while utilizing as much of the image sensor (preferably every pixel!) as possible. This would mean a 1.33X expansion for currently-available modes on the GH2.

I realize that simply by using standard lenses and cropping/expanding appropriately in post, I can achieve the same aspect ratio, and depending on the optical quality of an anamorphic adapter, the end result of cropping/expanding without special lenses/adapters may actually be superior. However, I do believe that with a 1.33X anamorphic lens of sufficient quality, I can achieve a wide aspect and great resolution.

But I fully understand and respect those who are searching for the "look" of anamorphic, and therefore require a 1.5X or larger expansion, and that issues of not using all of the image sensor (because of cropping/expansion in post) are less important than the artistic considerations.

But if we can have a single lens product that does it all, or at least simulates the effect with a degree of quality which is superior to used/aftermarket/adapters found on eBay, such a product would serve everyone well.

I would realistically pay in the ballpark of $1200 for an anamorphic lens like that, preferably in the 25mm (50mm full frame equivalent) or a bit wider. Someone else mentioned 17mm.

Others have also suggested offering multiple lenses with different lengths but otherwise identical looks, such as 25mm, 50mm, etc. There was the suggestion of producing a modular system with matched lenses, so that the anamorphic portion only needed to be purchased once. I have no idea if this can be realistically accomplished, but if a complete base package (with one lens) started at $1200, I could see eventually spending $600/each on companion lenses in the additional sizes.

That being said, for me personally my priority is a good, sharp, complete anamorphic lens with a 1.33X expansion in the 17mm-25mm ballpark. Anamorphic artifacts are secondary (especially lens flare which tends to be overdone.)

I am currently an owner of the SLRMagic 12mm, so I have put my money out there to try lenses from smaller vendors before. I have mixed feelings about that lens (a topic for another day) but it's always in my camera bag and gets used where appropriate every few weeks.

Thanks for soliciting comments... this has all been very interesting reading and quite educational. (There was a lot about anamorphics I didn't realize before reading all this.)

I did some tests now with the camcorder simulating the field of view and the focus behavior of a 50mm prime lens. i could get it to focus through the anamorphic adapter using a two single lens design. this reminds that previous design i talked about, one cilindrical achromat double doing the squeeze and one positive esferical achromat double to allow the focus. multicoating will be a must due to more lenses results in lots of unwanted reflections. a single lens adapter can work without muticoating but two or more lenses design cannot.

For me to develop this adapter will be so expensive and time comsuming and i cant go on with the idea. this is a job for @slrmagic and other bigger manufacturers.

I got a new idea, maybe a good solution for improve the IQ in the anamorphic adapter. Instead of design just one adapter for all prime lenses from 14 to 50mm with focus through, probably it will be better to develop three adapters, one for 14/17mm, one for 20/25mm and one for 45/50mm. i got this idea because to get focus in the adapter when changing focal lenght can be an issue. but if the adapter is calibrated to the 50mm focal lenght it can be used with shorter focal length because longer focal lenghts tends to have a more far minimum focus distance. Maybe slrmagic can select two or three lenses like 20mm 1.7 and 45mm 1.8 and design two or three adapters specific for each of them, this will avoid slrmagic to develop the prime lenses and will allow people to use lenses they already own or can by for an affordable price.

I will do my tests with the GH2 with the 14 lenses i am waiting to be ready to test. if i found the GH2 can use the single lens anamorphic adapter i will go on, but if i found the GH2 cannot be used with a single lens anamorphic adapter i will stop developing and i will go on just with the anamorphic adapter for small camcorders.

I removed some messages here.

So, here are the rules of this topic

1. This topic is about suggestions for SLR Magic
2. It is not topic about anamorthic lenses in general
3. It is also not a topic for fights that is better. It is not up to you to decide.

for me if srl magic want to sit at the table with the majors firm, builds 2x ... if you want to play with the consumer is 1.33 x

I decided to give a try in the two elements anamorphic adapter i developed in previous posts. i did the design for 7 new lenses. so now there is 21 lenses designs on the way. Enough for now.

i will try to make it work on vintage lenses from 17 to 35mm and with lumix 14-42mm and also canon aps 18-55mm if i can borrow it.

I need to say someting... all the tests i did until now was done with some negatives and positives esferical lenses i have here from 35mm adapter times... i did not do tests with the cilindrical lenses yet (they are in the lab and i will get them soon). but in theory the behavior of a negative esferical and a negative cilindrical are similar and this makes me belive it will work. But there is a chance i am doing all wrong, oh God help me not break my face in the wall! I love diy and development!

My 5D shoots in 16:9. I need a lens that will stretch it to 1.24:1. So, yeah, a 1.33x will be my choice.

I should add that I don't care much for lens flare or any other side effects of anamorphic. All I want is a wide vista done with 40mm or longer lens. I don't like the look of wide lenses (35mm and below).

Another poster posted a link to an image taken with Hawk lens. Yep, that's pretty much the look I am trying to get. A 50-70mm lens with 1.33x anamorphic adapter will give that look.

http://i.imgur.com/sxG9m.jpg

If you can junk the adapter and build a solid lens, more power to you!

Hello All,

I came across this thread and just feel that any genuine interest manufacturers take in this particular area should be encouraged, so thank you SLR Magic! (Do I get lots of free stuff for saying that? Hmm… One can only hope)

I’m not going to pretend I’m an expert. Why do that when I can pretend I don’t know a thing and not get into trouble for it? Seriously, please bear that in mind with anything I say.

Currently there are (for many here, I suspect) very few realistic options available for going down the anamorphic route and it is a route. This means, as previous posters have noted, that what is available out there is not only often impractical to some degree (having two lenses to focus!), but is also only available to the highest bidder. Personally I’d be glad of any change and even if it does mean I have to accept some trade off, it's probably better than feeling like your being held to ransom on ebay.

From a real selfish point of view (the point of view someone takes when they haven’t handed over their money yet… hint, hint…) I’d like something that would work well with a BMCC.

I want an affordable (that doesn’t mean cheap) adapter, or ideally a series of lenses to give the anamorphic route a fighting chance. For me it hasn’t been given one. It seems to me that anything that offers consistency also allows for usability. This is key and a series of lenses would do that. Granted, an adapter has it’s own pluses too, but from a manufacturers point of view I guess it may mean that there are even more unknown quantities to deal with i.e customers (joke). Either way I don’t want to film clips that can’t be used in some kind of project. You'd hope any route you go down would offer some progression.

What also is key is that the properties you are actually aiming for with anamorphic are maximised. That’s been discussed here of course. The only thing I’ll add to that is that flares are less of a factor for me than effect in terms of resolution is. It seems to me that what appeals to most about the anamorphic route are the properties which may make digital more “filmistic”, whatever that is? To add character, perhaps give space and borrow resolution from?

Just the idea of optical compression seems so interesting, but I’m not sure how that marries exactly with digital pixels rather than full on chemistry? Would be grateful if anyone could enlighten me further?

That’s me done. I don’t expect the earth, I’m just happy to find my own way around it. Even if it means crawling.

Thanks.

The GREAT NEWS is: the chances for me to develop the anamorphic adapter for GH2 and other dslr increased so much!

I would like to thanks @Vitaliy_Kiselev for this amazing website because it is more than a hack development and test, it allow all of us to improve movie making in all aspects.

I would like to thanks @slrmagic for his initiative on discussing the most wanted anamorphic and let all of us to show our opinions. i am shure all our posts will help them to develop the product we dream, because slr magic have the knowledge and technology to do top quality products for top quality movie making.

I would like to thanks @redstan for encouraging me on my idea of developing an anamorphic adapter and also for the name he gives to it: Apefos Scoperama

From now i will start a new topic destined to the Apefos Scoperama development: http://www.personal-view.com/talks/discussion/4560/apefos-scoperama-anamorphic-adapter-development-topic

Be welcome to read and participate.

Has anyone tries SCHNEIDER ES CINELUX ANAMORPHIC 2X MC Lens with GH1/2? Any experience, info, suggestions...?

The info I got is about 7cm diameters of the glasses and about 10-11cm length of the body. So, obviously not big and heavy.

Also, the anamorphic adapter itself is the upper part on the picture (to the deattached line).

@producer I researched it a bit now. It seems to have good IQ, but it only focuses to 1,7 meters and you have to use an allen wrench to focus it. That sounds like a bit of a hassle...

Here's a topic about it: http://www.personal-view.com/talks/discussion/2818/es-cinelux-anamorphic-2x-mc-test/p1

What I watched as a result with this anamorphic adapter looks nice.

Would anyone explain in details about the focusing mentioned many times? I don't have experience with such an anamorphic adapter, so once I do the focus with the prime lens (50mm 1.4), then need to do separate focus with this anamorphic adapter too?

Two years ago I tried very big and heavy anamorphic adapter with my Canon HV30 and there were not issues with focusing, actually without any touching and adjustments on the adapter.

Please, anyone who is very known, explain and describe about that matter, I think it will be very good for all the users here, even that the topic is not exactly about that.