Vazen caught a lot of people's attention last summer at CES 2019 with a 40mm T2 lens dubbed "the world's first 1.8x anamorphic MFT prime." Now, the company is adding a second lens to that line, a 28mm T2.2 1.8 anamorphic prime that retails at $3250.
With an aluminum body, this lens is lighter and more compact than Vazen's 40mm—in fact, at 1.59 lbs., it ended up being the lightest 1.8x anamorphic lens in the world. And because it's small and lightweight, it makes traveling with it, shooting on gimbals, or capturing handheld shots less of a chore.
According to Vazen, you can expect sharp images from this lens (even wide open). Its 77mm front filter thread makes using ND filters, diopters, and other accessories easy, and features like independent aperture and focus rings allow more experienced, professional filmmakers to have more control over their final images. It's also got a 72-degree horizontal field of view and focusing distance of 2.7".
Of course, the front anamorphic design gives you all of the hallmarks of anamorphic lenses: oval bokeh, horizontal lens flare, and that cinematic widescreen look. It also boasts a "much more complicated" 1.8x squeeze design, as opposed to the popular 1.33x, and delivers a widescreen 2.39:1 aspect ratio when shooting with MFT cameras, like Panasonic's Lumix G series (including the GH5), Z-cam E2, and Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K (supports the BMPCC4K's new anamorphic mode, too).
Now, with so many filmmakers and hobbyists committing to the switch to full-frame cameras, it might seem kind of strange to want to drop over 3 grand on an MFT lens, no matter how beautiful and powerful it is. However, there are still certain benefits to shooting on cameras with smaller sensors, namely when it comes to weight and size, and if your work requires you to be nimble and quick—or if you're just a fan of MFT shooters—then spending a lot of money on a high-quality, small, and lightweight anamorphic lens is a no-brainer
If you want to see Vazen's new anamorphic prime in action, check out the videos below.
Technical Specifications
- Focal Length: 28mm
- Min. Focus: 2.7’ (0.82m)
- T-stop range: T/2.2 – T/16
- Filter Thread: 77mm
- Front Diameter: 80mm
- Dimensions: 3.2”x4.2” (80 x 107mm)
- Weight: 1.59 lbs (0.72kg)
- Mount: Micro Four Thirds M43
Pricing and Availability
This 28mm T2.2 lens retails for $3250 USD, but if you buy both the 28mm and the 40mm, you can save $400 off your purchase. The lens is available now from authorized resellers and on Vazen's website.
Also, Vazen isn't done adding to their 1.8x anamorphic line. The whole set will contain 3 focal lengths, including the 28mm and 40mm, which have already been released, as well as a 65mm, which is expected to be out in a few months.
Source: Vazen
