Anamorphic Lenses Doc Filmmakers Can ACTUALLY Use?

SIRUI Saturn Anamorphic lenses (Use code 'LUCSATURN' to get an extra 5% off )

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Are anamorphic lenses finally an option for run and gun film crews? All the traditional obstacles—weight, size, and astronomical price—are removed with these Surui Saturn primes. But are they worth the investment?

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CHAPTERS

0:00 - Intro
1:01 - What are anamorphic lenses?
3:00 - Main downsides for doc shooters using anamorphic
4:15 - Hands on the Sirui anamorphic lenses
5:00 - Comparison with spherical lenses
6:25 - Using the lenses in a Doc like situation
9:44 - Flares & bokeh
11:37 - Results of the test
13:30 - Why the lenses are not right for every project
15:00 - Why I really like them

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[NeonShores]

3:2 open gate is the key, really want these for my S5II but can only rent for now. Sony really needs to support anamorphic better and offer open gate.

[juanenco]

I have the Lumix S5 IIX with Sirui saturn 50 / 75 mm and I no longer feel like using my spherical lenses. To take advantage of the potential of these lenses, it is best to do it in 3:2 Opengate.

[owenjenkinsofficial]

I'd love to see these compared to the Blazar Remus set if you ever get a set. They definitely differ in character and look and it would cool to see them in action on the right documentary. I have a Sirui and like it, but the Blazar character really goes crazy (which could be a bit to much for some) but I like having some more exciting lenses for the shoots that benefit from the anamorphic distortion!

[kylosalvesen]

13:27 this only applies for the horisontal plane, in the vertical plane they are 35/50/75 (correct me if I`m wrong)
I would love sirui to release some 1.33x squeeze factor full frame lenses. I had the 35/50/75 of the first gen anamorphic they released, but they don`t cover FF

[bommelsstuff]

btw. have you seen the UURig foldup filter holder ? with them on the 50 or 75mm you can get super fast closeups with diopters which is super easy and fast on set

[ItsMidasProductions]

You might find better results shooting raw which would record more of the full sensor, getting you a better desqueeze. Sony really needs to support open gate. Their sensors are more than capable

[DenysLukoshkin]

I had a chance to "play" with these during IBC. My biggest issue with them is minimal focusing distance of 3 feet (0.9 meter) and Sirui doesn't produce diopters

[chronic-lore]

I was thinking of getting these exact lenses for some more unique commercial and personal work! Great to see your thoughts on them.

[bommelsstuff]

i love these lenses more and more, personally i think these lenses are extremely underrated. I had the Blazar A set + the 85mm, i have two vazen full frame, the saturn set, the venus 50mm and some vintage anamorphics, Blazar Nero and while many affordable anamorphics have deal breakers for some projects, be it the weight, the lack of sharpnes, weird characteristics that are cool for some things but literally deal breakers i feel like the saturn have no deal breaks, sure they could have more character but you can add optical drift in davinci and it has enough character imo. but it is als shorp and clean enough for techy projects ... they are amazing

[waynosfotoscameras]

I have the Blazar Remus 1.5 squeeze. I have the most simple rig. Monopod with lens on my R3, view/shoot in the squeezed format. Just use the push in/magnify button to manual focus then hit record. Works absolutely fine!

[owenjenkinsofficial]

I think with the latest firmware update for the fx6 that came out in May of '24, there is a 1.5x option which would maybe get you a closer desqueezed look in camera while shooting!

[DerekSalyer]

I'm super interested in trying out some anamorphic lenses. I picked 7artisans vision series lenses to use on my C70, and absolutely love them. I really want to try out their anamorphics also now.

[WhySteve]

What is the math behind working out the aspect ratio and equivalent focal length?

[yfilms]

I love Sirui anamorphic lenses! I prefer the beautiful blue streak but I'm "warming" up to the gold streak versions that are out there. Thanks as always for sharing!

[GlennZucman]

Thanks, Luc! I've never owned or used an anamorphic lens, but like so many others, I've thought about them many times. The issue for me is that we live in a world of 16x9 screens. I have no idea what the number of hours of content consumed on 16x9 displays vs hours in movie theaters is, but I have to imagine that despite the egos of famous filmmakers, the overwhelming majority of film and video works are consumed on 16x9 screens. Therefore, any time you use a non-16x9 aspect ratio, you simply give your viewers a smaller image. Yes, wide aspect ratios have a vast cinematic feel. A 2.35:1 piece on a 16x9 screen might be vast, but mostly it's small. Projects shot in something like 1.85:1 have such small black bars at top and bottom that they don't feel small and do have a bit more cinematic feel. But beyond that, I feel like wide-screen projects might look great to a few theater goers, and then are just diminished viewing experiences for the like-it-or-not much larger viewing audience at home.

[ETFootprints]

Cropping spherical isn't poor man's anamorphic, It's called shooting cinemascope. Hollywood directors do it all the time. Anamorphic has "characteristic" that not all people want (flare, breathing, distortion, soft corner etc). Sony camera lacks of open gate so 1.6x and 2x is way too wide. I'd suggest to use 1.33x for 16:9 sensor. C'mon Sony.

Hey Luc! I bought diopters and a flip up diopter holder to get closeups that is super helpful

[JimKilgo]

Just bought the 35mm to give it a go. I recently switched to the Nikon system using the Z8 what external monitor would you recommend to use with the Z8 so that I can de-squeeze the preview while shooting?

[jamesbruce]

I have had mine for about a year. I love them for both video and photography. I do wish there was a 20mm version. They work great on my S5IIs.

[morgantams]

Hey Luc. What sunshade are you running on your monitor?