When it comes to optics, Sirui has made a name for itself delivering some intriguing pieces of filmmaking gear, includingits smartphone 400mm telephoto and anamorphic lenses.
The company has set its sights once again on anamorphic glass, only this time, it's not for your mobile device.
Sirui's new 50mm Anamorphic Lens was specifically designed to cater to filmmakers and videographers who want to create cinematic widescreen images but don't have the budget to do so. It features a small, lightweight, rugged design, F1.8 aperture, 1.33X squeeze factor, 2.4:1 widescreen aspect ratio, and a crazy low retail price of $699 (you can get it for as low as $599 on Indiegogo right now).
There is one drawback, though...
...It's an APS-C lens.
With so many filmmakers opting for full-frame cameras these days, it is a little bit of a drag that this lens was designed for APS-C cameras with X, E, and M 4/3 mounts.
However, cameras like the Fujifilm X-T3, Sony a6500, Panasonic Lumix GH5, or even the Z Cam E2 are all popular and very powerful models for fans of the smaller sensor size and will work with this lens.
Check out this video to get an idea of what this lens can do.
And here's a video that gives you a glimpse at how the lenses are made.
Our favorite weird lens expert, Mathieu Stern, offers his take on the lens in this video.
And here, Darious Britt reviews Sirui's new 50mm Anamorphic lens.
We haven't gotten our hands on one of Sirui's new anamorphic lenses, so it's not for us to say whether it's good or not. However, we can say that it's exciting to see anamorphic capture becoming more and more democratized because not everyone can easily get their hands on a Cooke, ARRI, or Zeiss anamorphic package, or shell out two grand for a single lens.
And sure, an affordable full-frame anamorphic lens would've really hit the spot, and a 2X squeeze would've made the Sirui lens really, really tasty, but...you know...baby steps, friends.
Tech Specs
- Lens Structure: 11 Elements in 8 Groups
- Filter Spec: M67x0.75
- Aperture Blades: 10
- Rotation Angle of the Focus Ring: 143.6°
- Aperture: F1.8-F16
- Max. Diameter: 68.2mm /2.69inches
- Frame: APS-C
- Diameter of the Focus Ring: 61.7mm /2.43inches
- Shooting Distance: 0.85m-∞
- Total Length (Lens Cap Not Included): Approximately 106.6mm/4.20inches
- Focus Method: Manual Focusing
- Weight: Approximately 560g/1.23lbs
- Maximum Magnification: 1:15.38(V), 1:20.17(H)
- Lens Mount: SONY E-Mount FUJI X-Mount, and M 4/3 Mount
Pricing and Availability
The Sirui 50mm F1/8 Anamorphic 1.33X Lens retails for $699, but it is for sale at $599 if you make a pledge on Indiegogo.
Shipping is expected to start in February 2020.
Source: Sirui
