@photonewspn | photographynews.co.uk
GEAR / 43
The Hollywood look made easy AF! Anamorphic lenses might be unknown to the stills-only diehards, but to filmmakers they are the gold standard. These lenses deliver a classic Hollywood Cinemascope
Sirui has broken new ground by launching the world’s first range of full- frame anamorphic lenses with autofocus, at an attainable price. The Astra series is available individually or as a matched set of 50, 75 and 100mm lenses for £2639, all featuring a fast T1.8 maximum aperture.
They are offered in Sony E, Leica L and Nikon Z mounts. For solo shooters in search of the easiest and most accessible route into anamorphic filmmaking, the Sirui Astra series represents a genuine step forward. Nowadays, there are plenty of manual-
focus anamorphic options to choose between, but Sirui’s implementation of autofocus remains unique. The only current limitation is a lack of wider-focal-length options, though given Sirui’s track record, that may not be the case for long.
widescreen look with oval bokeh and horizontal flares, but are all-manual and historically very expensive.
Rendering is one of the lens’s standout qualities, with a more organic look rather than being bitingly oversharp
Verdict Overall rating 8/10 The Sirui Aurora 35mm f/1.4 and 85mm f/1.4 are two of the most interesting affordable primes available. The 35mm is the all-rounder that you’ll rarely take off your camera, while the 85mm is a superb portrait specialist with beautiful rendering. Together, they demonstrate just how far Sirui has come as a lens manufacturer – and prove that photographers no longer need to spend a fortune to enjoy high-quality f/1.4 glass. spot between budget lens options and truly headline glass. They offer premium handling, fast apertures, serious image quality and bagfuls of photographic character without demanding flagship-level prices. 85mm can be susceptible to flare in strongly backlit situations and neither lens reaches the optical perfection of premium models. However, they are much more affordable. The Aurora pair occupy a sweet photography. We tried them on some current and previous-generation Sony Alphas and the eye detection AF works reliably. Focus operation is also quiet enough for occasional video use. While they may not quite match the fastest professional sports lenses since there’s some serious glass and metal to shift, we never found speed an issue. There are compromises. The
BORN TO SHINE From wide-angle scenes to short- telephoto shots with creamy bokeh, the Sirui pair both deliver
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