Anamorphic imaging is about multiple things, but I think we can all agree that the most obvious aspect is the ultra-wide field of view. And anamorphic can get pretty wide. Ever wonder what the widest anamorphic image looks like?
Or maybe what could happen if you take an anamorphic adapter and pop it on top of an anamorphic lens to make an even wider look. Coming from Epic Light Media is a look at one of the widest anamorphic lens images you can create with some options today. They did it with one of their Atlas Orion 2x Anamorphic Lenses and another anamorphic adapter.
If you need to understand how anamorphic lenses work it’s fairly simple. It simply squeezes a wider image onto the image sensor. then in post (or projector for film) you would “de-squeeze” the image to make it look correct to the audience.
In digital it is a little easier though taking a 2x anamorphic lens with a conventional 16:9 image will actually produce an image wider than your usual 2.39:1 aspect ratio. You’ll actually have to crop in. But, Epic Light Media wants to see just how far they can take it.
They took the Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro 12K and popped on the Atlas Orion 100mm 2x Anamorphic Lens. Then, they added the Letus Anamorphic Lens Adapter. This will squeeze the image a lot more, to effectively a 3.33x.
Image Credit: Blackmagic Design
Since this isn’t a standard format you have to actually create your own de-squeeze process. The reason for a custom setup is that because of how distorted the optics can get you can’t just do the math alone to get it looking right. By taking a circle and recording a sample image you can then head into post and de-squeeze the image manually until the circle is back to being a true circle. Now you have your method.
If you are doing this you will realize why anamorphics tend to be longer focal lengths – the squeeze makes it effectively a wide angle lens. You will get an ultra-wide image crammed into the frame.
Examining the image closely you get a lot more exaggerated anamorphic artifacts on the image. The very edges are getting quite weird in the ultra-wide look. It’s certainly fun and just maybe you have a chance to do it for a specific project you will find it could just work for you.
Would you ever try this yourself for a real project?
[source: Epic Light Media]
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