A few months ago, Shvabe announced the first Russian anamorphic cinema lenses. The Lytkarino Optical Glass Plant is developing cinema lenses with 40, 60, 80, and 100mm focal lengths. The lenses are equipped with PL-mount and a 2x compression ratio. The weight of the 100mm lens is 3 kg.
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Shvabe developed the first Russian anamorphic cinema lenses
The Shvabe holding of the Rostec State Corporation is presenting a line of Russian anamorphic cinema lenses for the first time at the Innoprom-2024 International Industrial Exhibition. Such lenses, using a complex system of cylindrical lenses, allow shooting a unique ultra-wide frame. Unlike the image obtained using wide-angle lenses, the anamorphic image is not distorted at the edges of the frame and is not darkened at the corners.
Anamorphic lenses began to be used for filming in the last century. This solution allowed directors to fit a wider image into a standard frame of 35 mm film, which a regular lens could not do. The optics "compressed" a larger viewing angle horizontally into a standard area. As a result, due to the lens system, a frame with a close to square aspect ratio produced an image compressed in width. In cinemas, it was again stretched horizontally to fit a wide screen format using a reverse lens.
Today, despite the spread of wide-angle optics, anamorphic lenses are actively used by large film studios due to their high image quality and unique cinematic effects.
The line of the first Russian anamorphic cinema lenses with focal lengths of 40, 60, 80 and 100 mm was developed by the Lytkarinsky Optical Glass Plant (LZOS) of the Shvabe holding. The devices are equipped with high-quality optics and are distinguished by high light intensity, allowing work in low light. The anamorphic coefficient in the lenses is 2.0, that is, the ratio of the vertical and horizontal images is 1 to 2. The devices can be used with digital cameras with a PL bayonet, and adapters are used for other types of fastening. The lenses have an ergonomic design.
"LZOS cinema lenses have no Russian analogues, and they differ from foreign ones in their unique picture. The developments allow for the creation of extended horizontal frames, while maintaining high image quality. Cinematic effects are created using lenses suitable for both video and photography. At the same time, our products will be cheaper than foreign products," said Lev Borisov, Deputy General Director of Shvabe.
The lens with a focal length of 100 mm was tested by Russian cameramen, who noted the good cinematic quality of the new product. The device creates a shallow depth of field, background blur, bokeh and other effects. They can be seen in all films from major film studios.
"Wide-angle optics today are not able to replace anamorphic, because the former does not give such a visual result - the visual effects are "poorer". Despite the high cost of anamorphic lenses, we continue to use them, because the resulting footage is of high quality, volume and effects that cannot be achieved with a wide-angle lens and graphic editors," says creative producer Evgeny Subochev, who organized the filming of the mini-series "Land of Great Opportunities", the film "Ural Derby" and other projects.
LZOS is a leading Russian manufacturer of optical materials and the only plant in the country that produces large-sized ground- and space-based mirrors. Over the years, the plant has manufactured mirrors up to six meters in diameter. Today, these products are successfully used on the most powerful telescopes around the world.
Also in the line of the Lytkarino Optical Glass Plant there are Rubinar lenses, which are suitable for both standard photography and stargazing.
