Lens system that compresses a wide image onto a standard sensor, then decompresses during projection—known for its characteristic look.
Technical Details
Anamorphic lenses use cylindrical lens elements that compress the image horizontally by a factor of 2:1. Standard focal lengths range from 25mm to 200mm, with the horizontal compression remaining constant across all focal lengths. The aperture typically ranges between T2.8 and T4, due to the complex lens construction. Modern anamorphic lenses like the Cooke Anamorphic/i series or ARRI Master Anamorphic use 8-12 lens elements in an asymmetrical arrangement. The characteristic horizontal lens flares are created by the cylindrical elements, which refract light differently than spherical lenses.
History & Development
Henri Chrétien developed the Hypergonar system for military periscopes in 1926. 20th Century Fox acquired the rights in 1952 and introduced the system as CinemaScope with "The Robe" (1953). Panavision perfected the technology from 1954 onwards with their Ultra Panavision and Super Panavision systems. In the 1960s, 35mm anamorphic productions became the Hollywood standard for blockbusters. Digital camera manufacturers like RED and ARRI integrated anamorphic de-squeeze modes into their systems from 2007 onwards, enabling live monitoring in the correct aspect ratio.
Practical Use in Film
"Lawrence of Arabia" (1962), "Alien" (1979), and "Blade Runner 2049" (2017) demonstrate the cinematic effect of anamorphic optics. The workflow requires specialized camera assistants, as the depth of field is shallower and focus pulling must be more precise. In post-production, the footage is stretched horizontally by a 2:1 factor. Modern digital workflows use 4K footage in a 2048x858 format, which is de-squeezed to 4096x1716 pixels. Netflix and other streaming providers are increasingly demanding anamorphic productions for prestige projects.
Comparison & Alternatives
Spherical lenses with subsequent cropping achieve 2.35:1 but lose resolution and the characteristic anamorphic look. Super 35mm with spherical lenses utilizes the full sensor width more efficiently but foregoes the typical bokeh and flare characteristics. Modern 1.25x anamorphic adapters like the SLR Magic Anamorphot offer a compromise for smaller productions. IMAX uses horizontal 65mm formats instead of anamorphic compression for maximum resolution.
Current News
Sony has made anamorphic de-squeeze available for more cameras with the FX30 firmware 6.01. Simultaneously, new 12K sensors support various anamorphic de-squeeze factors (1.8x, 2x, 2.39x), expanding recording flexibility. These developments indicate that anamorphic features are increasingly being integrated into standard camera systems.