Anamorphic lenses for Leica cameras
Today’s article explains anamorphic lenses and specifically anamorphic lenses for Leica cameras. Including; anamorphic lenses for photography and video, pros and cons compared to spherical lenses and sample photos.
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Best Leica camera for anamorphic lenses?
When we talk about like Leica cameras, we normally think about Leica M rangefinder cameras. The anamorphic lenses covered in this article are for Leica L mount cameras like the Leica SL series and Lumix S cameras. L mount lenses will not fit Leica M cameras.
Leica L mount cameras
To recap Leica L cameras, I use the original Leica SL 601 (now my backup body) and the Leica SL2-S. If I don’t mind the APS-C crop factor I have the discontinued Leica CL which is also L mount.
When it comes to L mount you don’t need to limit yourself to Leica. I love my compact Lumix S9 (see video) and I still have the older Lumix S5 too. Used Lumix cameras can often be found at bargain prices, but that said the original Leica SL is also now under £1K (used).
What are anamorphic lenses?
My Sirui 50mm T2.9 YouTube video (below) describes anamorphic lenses in simple terms. In brief, you get more width for the same height as a normal spherical lens based on the squeeze factor. Let’s take a standard 50mm lens as an example.
50mm 1.6x anamorphic lens = Height of 50mm + Width of 31mm (50mm/ 1.6x)
The result is a more cinematic look because you have a longer more narrow image. (Think of it like a Hasselblad XPan photo almost). A 50mm anamorphic lens gives you 50mm height, 50mm compression, 50mm bokeh yet 31mm width. If you were using a standard spherical lens you’d have to try stitching 2x 50mm lens images together side by side for a similar look.
Optical characteristics of anamorphic lenses?
Anamorphic lenses share some common characteristics:
- Footage has cinematic looking black borders top and bottom of the frame
- Points of light will often render as horizontal light streaks (blue, amber, neutral..)
- Bokeh balls look elongated aka. “waterfall effect” (1.6x-2x squeeze especially)
- Anamorphic lenses often render details softer than spherical lenses
- Pin cushion distortion or barrel distortion is more common
- Images are often soft at the edges vs modern spherical lenses
Anamorphic lenses vs vintage spherical lenses
Regular readers will know that I love imperfect lenses for my model photography. For this I often turn to vintage spherical lenses for portraits. Since discovering anamorphic lenses I’ve realised that I appreciate these same imperfections for recording video too.
Many of my earlier YouTube videos were recorded with an iPhone or MicroFourThirds camera (paired with a modern lens). Footage looks over sharpened and very digital. In contrast, more recently I’ve been recording YouTube videos with vintage lenses and anamorphic lenses and the footage is a lot easier on the eyes.
Using anamorphic lenses for video
To give you a visual, these three YouTube videos were recorded using anamorphic lenses and Leica M lenses:
Anamorphic lenses for photography
Based on the characteristics of anamorphic lenses listed above, most photographers will likely prefer standard spherical lenses for photos. Anamorphic lenses just won’t give you perfect images that are sharp corner to corner.
If you want to capture photos with more imperfections such as softer corners, more distortion, interesting lenses flares and perhaps a colour cast, you might enjoy trying anamorphic lenses for photography.
Common features of anamorphic lenses?
When comparing anamorphic lenses to spherical lenses the following characteristics are often true –
- Anamorphic lenses tend to be larger with bigger diameter filter size
- These lenses are often heavier than spherical lenses of the same focal length/ f.stop
- Anamorphic lenses like cine lenses have T.stops not f.stops (more precise measure)
- Unlike many SLR lenses (and similar to rangefinder lenses), close focus is often limited
- Anamorphic lenses have the focus ring at the front and aperture ring nearer to camera
- Lens focus rings (and aperture rings) often have teeth to work with follow focus gearing
Cine lens vs spherical lens
Many of the points listed above for anamorphic lenses are also true for cine lenses. Cine lenses are just spherical lenses designed for filmmaking. Cine lenses have the lens gearing, T.stops and often a common filter size across the lens range for filter use.
On that topic, film makers often rehouse spherical lenses to adapt them for film making. Leica R lenses were a popular choice to rehouse for video use. Leitz Hugo lenses are rehoused Leica M rangefinder lenses and Thypoch Simera C lenses are rehoused Thypoch Simera rangefinder lenses.
16:9 vs 3:2 open gate
When it comes to anamorphic lenses, if the squeeze factor of the lens is greater than 1.33x (i.e. 1.6x or 2x), these lenses are better suited on cameras which offer you 3:2 open gate.
The term open gate basically means the camera records to the full sensor area, not just a 16:9 crop. 16:9 is the norm for most digital cameras and currently not many camera brands offer 3:2 open gate. Cameras like the Lumix S9 and Lumix S5II (plus newer models) are the exception so are better suited to anamorphic lenses than Leica SL series cameras. (This was one reason why I bought the Lumix S9 camera*).
Leica L mount anamorphic lenses
If you’re looking to buy native Leica L mount anamorphic lenses, the most popular brand is probably Sirui. Sirui makes APS-C or Super35 anamorphic lenses and also full frame anamorphic lenses.
Sirui anamorphic lenses
Sirui offer a range of anamorphic lenses for L mount cameras and other popular lens mounts. Sirui was perhaps the first brand to make affordable anamorphic lenses as historically anamorphic lenses were crazy expensive. Some Sirui anamorphic lens options include –
- Sirui Super35 1.33x (APS-C)(MF) 24/35/50/75mm
- Sirui Venus 1.6x (FF)(MF) 35/50/75/100/135/150mm
- Sirui Saturn 1.6x (FF)(MF) 35/50/75mm
- Sirui new Super35 1.33x (APS-C) autofocus: 20/40mm
Sirui Super35 anamorphic lenses
Sirui Super35 lenses for me are overlooked gems. These lenses are now the cheapest anamorphic lenses on Amazon and although they are described as APS-C, they can be used on full frame cameras too.
Super35 lenses are better suited to video than photos on a full frame sensor as you will see a hard vignette from the smaller image circle. For video, cameras that crop in for image stabilisation such as the Lumix S9 are better than the Leica SL2-S as that removes much of the vignette, especially on longer focal lengths.
After buying the Sirui 35mm f1.8 (yes these lenses are measured in f stops not T.stops) and Sirui 75mm f1.8 I find I need to add perhaps a 10% crop to remove the hard vignette in post.
The advantage of these Super35 lenses verses the current Sirui Saturn lenses (below) is they are f1.8 vs T2.9 which gives much nicer bokeh and more interesting rendering. The main drawback of these older anamorphic lenses is they were only available in the blue flare variant and that is not to everyone’s taste. Personally I prefer the amber flare of my Sirui Saturn 50mm lens but if you love the look of JJ Abrams movies then you’ll appreciate the blue flares.
Sirui Super35 lenses are bigger and heavier than I’d like but offer the cheapest entry point to anamorphic lenses for L mount cameras. If you don’t like the idea of having to crop in post for full frame then you might prefer the Sirui Venus lenses.
Sirui Venus anamorphic lenses
Sirui Venus anamorphic lenses looking similar to the mentioned Super35 lenses above but these are now full frame lenses. Similar to Super35 lenses, Sirui Venus lenses were made in blue flare variants only. If the Sirui Super35 lenses are the best overall value lens then the Sirui Venus line are the best value full frame anamorphic lenses (at the time of writing). Check the Sirui website as they are always doing offers!
I looked at Venus lenses many times but eventually went for the S35 variants instead. If you want something smaller and lighter then skip Venus lenses and look at the current Sirui Saturn lenses.
Sirui Saturn anamorphic lenses
Sirui Saturn anamorphic lenses are a small lightweight alternative to the older Sirui Venus lenses. Fellow YouTubers report that the optical performance is very similar to the sibling Venus lenses except Sirui Saturn lenses now come in both blue flair and amber flair options.
The size and weight of the Sirui Saturn lenses is drastically reduced thanks for the carbon body of the Saturn lenses. The fact that Saturn lenses are only T2.9 allows them to be much smaller than sibling lenses with wider maximum apertures.
See my video on the Sirui Saturn 50mm lens that I used when cycling coast to coast earlier this year. I needed one compact anamorphic lens to record the event so I packed the Saturn 50mm and my Lumix S9 camera.
Close focus diopters for anamorphic lenses
As mentioned above, one limitation of anamorphic lenses is often they will not focus closer than around 0.8m. This is particularly a problem with wider lenses such as my 35mm S35 lens. For this you need to get yourself a set of close focus diopter lenses (like screw-on filters). I bought my set on Amazon for under £20! These are a must have for anamorphic lenses and I use mine constantly for recording B-roll clips for YouTube.
PL lenses adapted to Leica L mount
Many photographers view Leica M mount lenses as the perfect choice to adapt to mirrorless cameras as these lenses fit almost any camera brand. The same is said for PL mount when looking at cine lenses for film making. PL mount is often the go-to choice for filmmakers as again these lenses can be adapted to most cameras via the correct adapter.
Blazer Mantis 35mm T2 1.33x
After buying the new anamorphic lens from Mantis I invested in a Viltrox PL-L adapter so I could mount PL lenses to my Leica SL2-S and Lumix S9. The lens I got was the Blazar Mantis 35mm T2 1.33x PL lens.
Blazar Mantis lenses are the first lenses to feature an oval aperture which gives the effect of a 2x squeeze factor and nicer bokeh. Mantis lenses have a native 1.33x squeeze factor which is well suited to 16:9 sensors like the Leica SL2-S yet the 2x squeeze bokeh so a win-win formula.
Blazer Mantis vs Sirui
Comparing the Sirui 1.33x vs Blazer Mantis 1.33x the Mantis lenses give multiple benefits:
- Mantis lenses focus closer: MFD of 0.48m for 35mm and 50mm lenses
- Bokeh has a 2x squeeze look for bigger longer bokeh balls
- 2x squeeze effect gives the look of more compression too
- Mantis lenses come in amber flare if you prefer that to blue flare
- Mantis lenses have barrel distortion which I find more pleasing than pin cushion.
- Blazar lenses have softer edges compared to Sirui so a more interesting look
My 100 years of Leica roadtrip video shot with the Blazar Mantis 35mm T2:
Picking the right anamorphic lens for you
When considering anamorphic lenses look at criteria that is most important to you:
- Lens flares: Blue or amber (or neutral)
- Squeeze factor: 1.33x, 1.6x, 2x etc (1.33x is better for Leica SL)
- Size and weight: Sirui Saturn are the lightest (currently)
- Lens mount: PL, L or your specific camera brand
- Filter size: Often 67mm, 77mm or larger (Will it fit your filters/ matte box?)
- Close focus: Blazar Mantis lenses focus closer that Sirui lenses
- Optical performance: Clean images corner to corner or prefer imperfections?
- Lens budget: Price wise the Siri lenses are the cheapest option
Drawbacks of anamorphic lenses for photography
Although we might think of anamorphic lenses for video you can of course take photos with them too. The main drawback when using anamorphic lenses for photos is the need to de-squeezing every image in post. If you use Adobe Lightroom like me, I shoot in RAW, upload my images to Lightroom, add my MrLeica preset and then export my favourites to Photoshop. (Apparently if you use CaptureOne software you can de-squeeze all images in a single click which is much faster).
Benefits of anamorphic lenses for panoramic images
Cameras like a Leica SL2 or Leica SL3 have 47 megapixels and 60 megapixels so this is more than enough pixels if you want to crop into your image for panoramic shots. If you use cameras like my Leica SL2-S or the original like SL, then 24MP is less ideal for heavy cropping.
The benefit of using anamorphic lenses is it squeezes your full 24MP (in the case of my Leica SL2-S) into a panoramic image without wasting any megapixels. No cropping required. The images I captured with my Blazar Mantis 35mm lens also seem to have a lot more character then if I shot the same image with a similar 35m spherical lens. I’ll let you decide.
Leica + anamorphic lens sample photos
The following photos were shot with my Leica SL2-S and Blazar Mantis 35mm T2 1.33x crop lens, RAW + MrLeica preset added and de-squeezed in Photoshop –
Patreon photoshoot
If you’re interested in photographing people then check out my Patreon. For the car photoshoot I arranged with Kim, Patreon buddies Tobi and Thomas were also there –
Best anamorphic lenses for photography?
If you plan to use anamorphic lenses purely for photography then choose based on your preferred look. Sirui Saturn lenses give a cleaner image (more corrected) with a better corner to corner sharpness and resolution. Most other anamorphic lenses tend to have a lot more imperfections as mentioned and more similar to vintage lenses. The Blazar Mantis lens gives a more imperfect look when compared to my Sirui Saturn lens.
Lumix vs Leica cameras for photos
Benefits of Lumix cameras over Leica for anamorphic lenses is you have anamorphic IBIS and in-camera de-squeeze. This lets you see to compose your image in-camera without needing to approximate your composition based on the squeezed image showing in your EVF.
Lumix vs Leica cameras for video
When it comes to video, in addition to the above benefits of Lumix vs Leica, Lumix gives you the open gate sensor so if you use 1.6x-2x squeeze lenses you capture a deeper image rather than just a thin strip.
When I use my Leica SL2-S with anamorphic lenses I approximate via the squeezed image in the EVF. I can still see enough to focus and compose without needed in-camera de-squeeze but this is better with 1.33x squeeze lenses vs. 1.6x or 2x. (Otherwise the image in the finder is only a thin strip). A popular work around if using a Leica camera with anamorphic lenses is to just visualise your frame using an additional external monitor.
External monitors for anamorphic lenses
As mentioned, Lumix cameras have the benefit of in-camera de-squeeze meaning you can view a 1.6x squeeze factor lens on your screen or through your EVF and you’ll see the final image and composition. With that said if you are shooting video it’s easy to view via an external monitor with a 5″ screen or 7″ screen instead of your little 3″ flip-out camera rear LCD. As Leica cameras don’t offer de-squeeze I find these screens a great solution.
Small screens are more portable but bigger screens are easier to view:
- Smallest – iPhone + Wireless CineView Nano
- Similar size but plugs straight into camera – 5″ screen
- Largest – Too big for my overseas cabin bag – 7″ screen
My video rig set up
To see my full video rig set up with monitor and follow focus, check out this YouTube video below. This is my camera setup when using anamorphic lenses for video.
Full video rig breakdown with links
Here are links to some of the products I use when shooting video –
- Follow Focus – https://smallrig.com/r/0UZWLJ
- Matte Box – https://smallrig.com/r/2RBQQR
- V-Mount Battery – https://smallrig.com/r/2EFB33
- Battery mount – https://smallrig.com/r/K3X1AD
- Handle – https://smallrig.com/r/D698EJ
- Cage – https://smallrig.com/r/WXCJTO
- Grip – https://smallrig.com/r/Q9FRAK
- K&F Concept Magic Arm – https://geni.us/RAYVBPQ
- Manfrotto Larger Magic Arm – https://geni.us/taXU
- Ulanzi Phone Tripod – https://geni.us/61L2bH
- Ulanzi Glide Tripod (Big) – https://geni.us/uneaJd
- Fotopro Compact Tripod – https://geni.us/EMKWj
- Accsoon CineView – https://geni.us/onaHzHE
- Freewell Filters – https://bit.ly/3ST71DP
- K&F Filter – https://bit.ly/4lqQ8gt
- Lumix S9 Camera – https://geni.us/Zqq5KB
Spherical lenses for video?
Currently I’m experimenting with using various Leica M mount spherical lenses to shoot video for YouTube. (Perhaps I’ll write a follow up post what is the best Leica lens for video). The benefit of Leica M lenses is they are much smaller than big heavy anamorphic lenses. If I can get a similar character look albeit without the anamorphic lens flare, bokeh and squeeze factor, then it gives me a much smaller setup for my overseas trips. (There is also Leica R lenses which are popular with filmmakers).
Current favourites
At the moment my favourite modern spherical lenses for video are the Thypoch Simera line. Available in Leica M mount as rangefinder coupled lenses I use the 21mm, 28mm, 35mm, 50mm and 75mm lenses. These lenses are also made for filmmakers as non-coupled lenses using the same optics but with gearing on the lens housing for follow-focus. Called Thypoch Simera C lenses in collaboration with DZO Film, if I can get one of these lenses to test for YouTube I will.
Questions?
I appreciate that anamorphic lenses are not a common topic when it comes to Leica or photography so if you’ve got any questions, feel free to contact me. You can find me on YouTube, Instagram or follow my journey with photography here.
Thanks
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