Development of Samyang Anamorphic Lenses Spotted

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by Tim FokJune 29^th, 2018

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Samyang anamorphic anyone? The many-brand lens manufacture has become renown for budget-friendly products and has now been spotted developing anamorphic lenses in Korea.

Samyang Anamorphic 50mm 1.4 lens. Credit: Kofic

The anamorphic format has been a gold standard for cinema for yonks. Combine this with the unattainable price tag of many lens sets; it is a very popular format that filmmakers seek to use or emulate.

Anamorphic lenses by definition are not cheap – an industry entry-level set (such as Kowas) would set you back around $120K, and there are currently very few options south of this.

DIY methods are never the same, anamorphic adaptors come with drawbacks (such as dual focus barrels); the only real players in the ‘budget anamorphic’ market are Atlas and SLR Magic. Both are not cheap by budget filmmaking standards.

It is therefore eyebrow raising to see the development of Samyang anamorphic lenses; a company renown for its budget-friendly lens lines.

A shot of the monitor also reveals information taken from a Sony VENICE camera in 4:3 mode with x2 desqueeze applied, suggesting these will be 2.0x anamorphic lenses. This is a more conventional format for anamorphic, producing aesthetics many would associate with anamorphic lensing (nice oval out of focus areas). The alternative is a more modern 1.33x factor that works with 16:9 sensors.

Whilst this format is compatible with a wider variety of cameras (any with a standard 16:9 sensor), less-squeeze is applied meaning a reduction in said anamorphic aesthetic.

The same website states that the Samyang anamorphic lenses will be priced 50% less than similar products but no word on the lens mount type.

As there is not a clear market of budget anamorphic lenses, it will be interesting to see what this is referencing.

No word on when anything official will be announced, but we will all be waiting with bated breath I’m sure.

Credit:  Korean film site Kofic and thank you Michael for bringing this to our attention!