The Anamorphic battle between cinema lenses, projector attachments, and anamorphic lens adapters is the primary focus of the brand new Media Division Epic Episode SCOPE Chapter Two. After the primary chapter with theoretical necessities of anamorphic taking pictures, the Media Division host Nikolas Moldenhauer takes us on a two-hour-long journey via sensible assessments and way more.
Again in February 2021, I wrote a couple of new Media Division Epic Episode – SCOPE, during which, Media Division host Nikolas Moldenhauer took on the complicated subject of anamorphic lenses. I preserve repeating myself, however each time when Media Division drops a brand new Epic Episode, the filmmaking gear geek in me will get very excited. Whereas MD usually publishes some shorter movies, the primary lengthy episodes get launched roughly each six months. The reason being easy – there may be an unbelievable quantity of hours going into them. Anyway, just a few days in the past Nikolas revealed the second chapter of SCOPE, which offers with sensible assessments of anamorphic lenses, attachments, and adapters. Let’s take a brief take a look at it.
SCOPE Chapter Two – the anamorphic battle
The practically two-hour-long video begins with yet one more Blade Runner spoof. I’ve to confess that Nikolas has gotten actually good with that and other than a slight discrepancy between the unique audio of Harisson Ford and Nikolas’ audio, I might completely consider that he truly acted in Ridley Scott’s film. As with the primary chapter, this video is split into extra completely different elements in order that viewers can simply navigate via it.
The title of the primary half is “Roads to an Anamorphic Picture” and Nikolas explains a bit in regards to the state of affairs in the marketplace in the case of anamorphic cinema lenses comparable to Panavision, Hawk, Zeiss, or Cooke. Whereas some producers solely lease the lenses straight or promote the lenses to pick out rental homes, others supply them to the general public, however the worth phase is way increased than with most spherical cinema lenses. Nikolas additional talks in regards to the completely different facet ratios, resolutions, squeeze components, and which digital camera sensors are probably the most appropriate for taking pictures anamorphic. The primary half additionally lays the inspiration for testing strategies included within the second half.
Testing anamorphic setups
Half two takes up a lot of the video and it’s all about testing completely different anamorphic setups. Nikolas used extra scenes to check every resolution’s capabilities – shut focus, sharpness, focusing, distortion on the edges, and so forth. The studio scene with the armored knight (swordsman Dierk Hagedorn) featured within the first chapter is current right here as properly. With the assistance of the Marmalade production studio and their two robotic arms, Nikolas was capable of shoot the identical motion for each anamorphic setup he examined. With regards to anamorphic cine lenses, he examined the next items:
- P+S Kowa Evolution 50mm
- Lomo Squarefront 50mm
- Atlas Orion 80mm
- Atlas Orion 40mm
There may be additionally an entire phase in regards to the Atlas Orion lenses together with an interview with the lens creators – Forrest Schultz and Dan Kanes – about designing inexpensive anamorphic primes. By the way in which, you possibly can test our review of the Atlas Orion 40mm lens in case you haven’t already. One other attention-grabbing phase is the comparability of the previous Bausch&Lomb Cinescope Baltar lenses and the brand new Atlas Orion.
Subsequent anamorphic options function anamorphic projector attachments. Nikolas talks in regards to the attainable issues and options when utilizing these attachments, that aren’t designed for picture acquisition. He assessments the next attachments:
- ISCO Extremely Star Purple
- H. Chretien Hypergonar 16
- H. Chretien Hypergonar 35
- Bell&Howell
- Kowa 8z
The attachments have been paired with completely different classic lenses with every kind of adapters and DIY options. The final group of anamorphic options contains the anamorphic adapters. These work in the same manner as anamorphic projector attachments, however are typically extra sensible for taking pictures. He examined the next adapters:
- SLR Magic Anamorphot 1.33x 50
- Letus Anamorph-X 1.33x
- Panasonic LA7200
On the subsequent phase, Nikolas pitched completely different options in opposition to one another attempting to indicate that for sure situations, even an inexpensive adapter can create the specified look. For fast-paced anamorphic manufacturing on set, he, nevertheless, all the time recommends going with the cinema lens as it’s a lot simpler to make use of. Particularly in the case of focusing. Most adapters and attachments require twin focusing – on the lens in addition to on the adapter – which makes pulling focus or any environment friendly workflow very tough or unimaginable.
Past regular anamorphic
Within the third half, we get to listen to just a few phrases from Tito Ferradans, who has a variety of information and expertise in the case of taking pictures anamorphic on a funds. Nikolas additionally exhibits some uncommon artistic methods of utilizing anamorphic lenses, as an illustration rotating them to attain a particular look. Final however not least, there’s a phase about anamorphic nonetheless images with Dick Sweeney.
I’m already now trying ahead to the SCOPE Third Chapter, which is able to embrace some sensible examples, lens modifying, coating removing, and extra. Should you like Media Division content material, please take into account turning into a member and assist the creation of the following episodes. I feel the tutorial potential of those Epic Episodes is large.
Do you shoot anamorphic? What sort of resolution do you utilize? What do you concentrate on the Media Division SCOPE movies? Tell us within the feedback part beneath the article.
