Are Super Affordable Anamorphics Soon to be a Reality?

Credit: Samyang
Samyang, best known for exceptionally affordable lenses, is working on 2x anamorphics for the cinema market.

Korean camera site Kofic has released images of new 2x anamorphic lenses from Samyang/Rokinon, the company behind the popular Xeen primes among many other offerings. While early details are scarce, this is an exciting development as the increasingly competitive world of spherical cine lenses starts to spill over to anamorphic.

Credit: Samyang
From what information is available in these images, these will be full on 2x anamorphic lenses, designed to work with 4x3 sensors. Based on the body design these will be larger than the Xeen primes, and considering the price premium anamorphic brings with it, we're going to guess these come in the $4500 to $5000 range.  That would let Samyang make a premium over the roughly $3K a piece spherical Xeen units, but still undercut the currently most affordable 2x option, the Atlas primes. Of course, there are other options in 1.33x anamorphics like the SLR magic primes, which are better suited for 16x9 sensors, but those don't have the appeal of the classic 2x squeeze.

No word yet on the branding (if it will be Xeen or yet another name), or pricing, or focal lengths, or specs. But, if Samyang is able to pull this off, fans of anamorphic shooting should start getting excited.     

Your Comment

12 Comments

Yes. All of the yes.

July 2, 2018 at 9:29AM

4
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Chris Kas
Jack of all trades
523

yea boi!

July 2, 2018 at 2:21PM

0
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Logan McNay
Cinematographer
345

blackmagic. get your 4:3 aspect ratio bits in gear already.

July 2, 2018 at 4:27PM, Edited July 2, 4:27PM

28
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Vincent Gortho
none
1432

not excited. rokinon should of never made those garbage xeen lenses. they already had cine primes. now their anamorphic had to be more expensive.
who else can start the revolution and provide $2k anamorphic glass?

July 2, 2018 at 4:31PM

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Vincent Gortho
none
1432

Whoa

July 2, 2018 at 7:15PM, Edited July 2, 7:24PM

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I get 2x with my adapted Schneider projector lens. Super sharp. Covers full frame when used with an 85mm lens. Bought it for $125.....

July 3, 2018 at 6:25AM

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Joseph Arant
Writer
566

If they solve the chromatic aberration and edge softness problem that cheap anamorphics have - this will be quite the achievement!

July 3, 2018 at 6:36AM

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which lens, how did you adapt? Using Sony A7 series...

July 5, 2018 at 2:27PM, Edited July 5, 2:28PM

16
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Look up the SCHNEIDER KREUZNACH CINELUX ANAMORPHIC 2x PROJECTOR LENS, then just get a step up adapter for your 85mm lens and screw to the front. Not sharp until at least f2.8, mindblowing @ f5.6....also, you will need rails, it's heavy.

July 8, 2018 at 12:37AM, Edited July 8, 12:38AM

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Joseph Arant
Writer
566

Does the GH5 have a 4/3 option for anamorphic? Yes I know a speedbooster will be required.

July 5, 2018 at 2:07PM

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I don't know in what kind of world $4,5k is called "affordable"... For the majority of people (without funding and stuff) it is still miles away from that... So, I considered this post as some sort of click bait.

July 5, 2018 at 11:13PM

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Arnold Veeman
Music Composer | Film Editor
168

Everything NoFilmSchool posts is super click-baity. Once in a while, you will get yourself an original article, but yeah, don't hold your breath...

July 9, 2018 at 10:14AM

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Joseph Arant
Writer
566