GEAR BUYERS’ GUIDE
SCHNEIDER-KREUZNACH ISCORAMA schneiderkreuznach.com
clarity improvement and a 0.8M gear ring. The three compact Iscospherical A+ cine primes have focal lengths of 43, 58 and 85mm and a 2.4 T stop. They are a Schneider-Kreuznach version of Dulens Mini Primes, made to match the Iscorama style. That is why the lenses are provided with an Iscospherical Amber Coating (A+) that creates particularly authentic flare. Select accessories can be bought to complete the set, which comes in a handy hard case.
Schneider-Kreuznach’s latest lenses are the Isco4all A+ EF lenses: the world’s first set that can be used for both anamorphic and conventional footage. Isco4all combines three stand- alone spherical cine primes with an anamorphic front adapter. The Iscorama 54 CU-1.5x adapter is considered a classic among anamorphic film fans. And while its vintage look remains the same, the modern version shows upgrades such as a reduced close focus distance of 1.4m,
Pros: Anamorphic and spherical in one
Cons: Limited focal lengths
SIGMA CONTEMPORARY AF sigma-imaging-uk.com
Sigma’s latest AF lens set is the retro-styled Contemporary I series, which come in Sony E-mount and L-Mount. There is now a seven- strong range, and the latest is the £650/$699 20mm f/2 DG DN lens. Many also come in Fujifilm X Mount. The lenses share similar designs, with mechanical aperture rings and knurled metal components, plus a matching lens hood and AF stepping motors. They are resistant to dust and moisture, and the aperture ring can be clicked into the A position to allow you to control the settings from the camera body. Or you can use the metal aperture ring itself, adjustable in third-of-a-stop increments.
The only other control is an AF/MF selector switch. Lenses are not all the same size – even the filter threads are different. The family includes 24 and 85mm f/2 versions plus a 24mm f/3.5, as well as 90 and 45mm f/2.8 lenses.
IRIX
irixlens.com
Pros: Great value, compact AF primes
Cons: Not a matching set
For the look and feel of a cine lens without the huge price tag, Irix has six stunning-quality cine primes. There is an 11mm T4.3 super-wide, as well as a 15mm T2.6 wide-angle option. There are three fast T1.5 lenses in 21, 30 and 45mm focal lengths, and at the long end is a 150mm T3 macro lens which can give 1:1 reproduction for close-ups. It’s also a great short telephoto and costs a seriously reasonable £1190/$1195. The lenses offer amazing build quality and unique features like magnetically attached lens hoods. On some lenses, Irix uses a second focusing ring called the Adaptive Ring for easier handheld use. Pros: Great-value cine primes Cons: Still not a full range of focal lengths
SIRUI ANAMORPHIC mtfservices.com
Sirui offers lenses including different anamorphic series, and all at affordable prices. For just £3452/$3999, you can buy the Sirui Mars anamorphic set of 24, 35, 50 and 75mm lenses in a fitted Peli case for Micro Four Thirds cameras. Then there are the Super 35 anamorphic optics in 24, 35, 50 and 75mm, which come in L-Mount, E-mount, RF, Micro Four Thirds or FZ. These must be used in no bigger than Super 35 mode, as the image circle of the lens simply isn’t big enough. These optics give a 1.33x ratio for a 2.4:1 aspect ratio in 16x9.
Sirui has entered the full-frame anamorphic market with the Venus 50mm T2.9 1.6x lens that costs £1294/$1499. It’s now joined by 35, 75, 100 and 135mm T2.9 versions. The brand also has a 28-85mm T3.2 full-frame spherical zoom for Canon EF and PL mounts.
Pros: Affordable anamorphics
Cons: Limited full-frame range
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