a blog by Matthew Duclos
If you’ve ever browsed forums or joined a Facebook group for budget anamorphic lenses, there’s two things you’ll find in an abundance; Micro 4/3 cameras, and Frankenstein rigs held together with adapters and gaff tape. But now there’s a cure for one of those… The Vazen 1.8x Anamorphic Prime Lens.
Continue reading “Vazen Creates Native Anamorphic Prime for Micro 4/3”
Swiss camera manufacturer ALPA has taken a big leap into the world of motion picture lenses by reviving the Switar brand. Their initial set of prime lenses will consist of a 35mm T3.5, 45mm T2.8, 55mm T3.5, 80mm T2.0, 140mm T2.8, and 210mm T4.0. The most pronounced feature of this new set is their massive 70mm image circle intended for motion picture use with medium format systems from the likes of Fujifilm, Hasselblad, and Phase One. Let’s take a closer look at what ALPA has planned for the Switar brand.
Continue reading “ALPA Brings Switar Back to Cinema”
Swiss lens company Irix is set to begin offering cinema lenses starting with their 150mm T3.0 Macro 1:1 lens. The Irix line of prime lenses, while limited, seem to be ideally situated for a future in cinematography thanks to their high quality, fully manual design.
Continue reading “Irix Begins Cine Line With 150mm Macro”
In recent years, vintage lenses are consistently being hunted down by cinematographers for their nostalgic look and “in-camera quality.” Sigma noticed this trend which led to the development of their new line of primes. Introducing the Sigma Cine Classic Art Prime lenses.
Continue reading “Sigma Introduces Classic Line of Primes”
Musashi Optical Systems is a fast-growing optical company based in Japan. Musashi specializes in design, manufacturing and sales of 4K and 8K optics for broadcasting and cinema industries, various types of custom-made lenses, and beam-splitters for industrial camera manufacturers. Musashi also makes quite a few accessories for the ENG lens industry including a very clever B4 to PL adapter as well as some lens control units for pairing ENG lenses with more cinematic cameras.
Continue reading “Duclos Lenses Brings Musashi Brand to US”
If you haven’t heard of Caldwell, you’re not alone. Brian Caldwell has been designing specialty optics for decades under different names or for production by other manufacturers. His latest project to be released is called the Chameleons – a flexiable 1.79x squeeze for both Super 35 and Full Frame / Vista Vision formats. We sat down with Brian to get a closer look at what makes these new primes unique.
Continue reading “Caldwell Chameleon – Flexible Anamorphic Primes”
During NAB 2019, Zeiss kept their promise to continue adding focal lengths to their Supreme line of cinema prime lenses. This time a duo of high speed primes capping both ends of the current Supreme range – 21mm T1.5 and 135mm T1.5
Continue reading “Zeiss Supreme Family Gains 21mm and 135mm”
Tokina joined the cinema market with their Vista Primes which were met with open arms for their excellent image quality and coverage. But for many cinematographers, the lenses lacked character or personality. They were simply too clean or “clinical” as I’ve come to refer to them. But that changes with the Vista One primes.
Continue reading “Vista One – More Character from Tokina Cinema”
Another pre-NAB announcement – Canon’s new Sumire Primes feature 7 focal lengths with pleasing character and a native PL mount. Read on for more details.
Continue reading “Canon Introduces the Sumire Primes”
It’s that time of year. Just ahead of NAB 2019, Fujinon has announced a pair of brand new high-end cinema zoom lenses with a generous image circle capable of covering the entire range of modern large format motion picture cameras.
Continue reading “Livin’ Large with Fujinon’s Premista Zooms”
Famed British lens re-housing company True Lens Service based out of Leicester, UK has adapted one of the must lust-worthy lenses from the photography world, to the realm of cinematography.
This weekend, the Sigma Corporation of America is celebrating its new facility opening in Burbank, CA and boy do they have your day booked!
Register for one, two, or all three events taking place on Saturday, November 3rd 2018 at 148 South Victory Boulevard, Burbank CA 91502. Continue reading “SIGMA Arrives in Burbank”
Laowa, a Chinese lens manufacturer known less for their marketing and more for their unique, thoughtful optical creations, has decided to break into the parallel world of motion picture lenses with their first ever purpose-built cinema zoom lens.
Continue reading “Laowa to Introduce Dedicated Cinema Lenses”
During IBC 2018, Leitz Cine announced the development of a whole new set of twelve prime lenses designed for Full Frame/Vista Vision format as well as a brand new pair of cinema zoom lenses also designed for large format cinematography.
Continue reading “Leitz Cine Announces Plans for New Cine Primes and Zooms” 
Originally reported by Jon Fauer at FDTimes, Servicevision has announced a new line of spherical large format primes, the Ultrascorpia 70, during IBC 2018. Fauer reports the lenses will be “light, small, and fast”. The look that these lenses will provide will be “silky smooth, film-look, excellent for digital sensors” said Andres Valles, owner of Servicevision.
Continue reading “Servicevision Announces New T1.4 FF Primes”