An affordable anamorphic lens adapter for DSLR and mirrorless cameras, offering authentic anamorphic look with 1.33x squeeze factor at accessible price point.
The Budget Anamorphot Look
The SLR Magic 1.33x creates an authentic, practically oriented anamorphic look:
The 1.33x Squeeze Factor:
The image is compressed horizontally by a factor of 1.33, resulting in a widescreen aspect ratio of approximately 2.00:1 to 2.35:1 – a good compromise between classic 16:9 and extreme Cinemascope.
Characteristic Visual Effects:
- Oval, horizontal bokeh shapes in out-of-focus areas
- Recognizable horizontal lens flares when shooting into light
- Characteristic vignetting (darkening of the image corners), especially at wide apertures
- Slight chromatic aberration and color fringing on high-contrast edges
- Visible flare behavior and optical artifacts
- Certain visibility of the adapter's construction (appearing authentic)
Practical Characteristics:
- Significantly shorter equivalent focus field (reduced depth of field)
- Light loss of 1-1.5 stops
- Visible vignetting at wide apertures
- Manual focusing required (no autofocus with adapter)
Psychological and Emotional Impact:
The look is immediately recognizable as anamorphic and signals cinematic ambition. The practical limitations are often perceived and accepted as artistic features, especially in independent and auteur cinema where authenticity and honesty matter. The look feels "real" – not perfect, but authentic.
Technical Details
The Anamorphot is manufactured in three main variants: 1.33x-40 (compact), 1.33x-50 (standard), and 1.33x-65 (large format). The front opening varies between 40mm and 65mm in diameter. Weight ranges from 280g (40 version) to 680g (65 version). The optical construction uses five lens elements in three groups with multi-coating for reduced reflections. The focus range extends from 0.85m to infinity with an 82mm filter thread. Mounting is done via clamp rings with various diameters (52mm to 82mm) onto the host lens.
History & Development
SLR Magic introduced the Anamorphot in 2013 as a cost-effective alternative to professional anamorphic lenses. The Hong Kong-based company responded to the increasing demand for anamorphic looks in the independent film sector, where classic Panavision or Cooke optics were not budgetarily feasible. In 2016, a revised version followed with improved coatings and reduced vignetting. In 2019, the series was expanded with close-focus variants, enabling focusing from 0.4m.
Practical Use in Film
The adapter is often combined with 85mm or 135mm host lenses, as shorter focal lengths lead to excessive vignetting. Typical camera setups include the Sony A7 series, Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera, or RED cameras. The workflow requires manual focusing, as autofocus systems are impaired by the adapter. The characteristic horizontal lens flares and oval bokeh circles are created by the asymmetric refraction of light. Several independent productions, such as "The Florida Project" (2017), have used SLR Magic Anamorphots for selected sequences to achieve organic anamorphic artifacts.
Comparison & Alternatives
Unlike native anamorphic lenses, the Anamorphot offers flexibility by combining with different host lenses, but it produces more optical aberrations and light loss (approx. 1-1.5 stops). Modern alternatives include Sirui 1.33x Anamorphots or Moment Anamorphic adapters. Professional solutions like Atlas Orion or Cooke Anamorphic/i offer superior optical quality at significantly higher costs. The SLR Magic is suitable for creative experimentation and low-budget productions where the characteristic anamorphic look is more important than optical perfection.