What makes the best lens for anamorphic photography?
Get ready to go wider in your photography with the help of an anamorphic lens.
Anamorphic photography goes one step beyond traditional wide-angle photography by giving a dramatic cinematic effect to your images. Cinematographers started using anamorphic lenses because these lenses provided a wider field of view than traditional 35mm-film camera lenses. Anamorphic lenses achieve this by “squishing” images horizontally.
Now, thanks to modern lens technology, you can get this same effect using your DSLR. By using an anamorphic lens created for DSLR photographers, you can take advantage of a wider field of view and a dreamy depth of field worthy of the silver screen.
How to choose the best lens for anamorphic photography.
If you’re ready to start playing with anamorphic photography, you’ll need to choose the right anamorphic lens. What you choose will depend on your camera, budget, and how you’re planning on shooting. Here are the key features that you’ll want to look for:
- Type of lens mount: Some anamorphic lenses are built just for DSLR photographers, while other lenses are made for cinema cameras and will require an adapter to use on a DSLR.
- Size and weight: If you’re shooting on a DSLR, you’ll want to find a lens that is smaller and lighter than a typical cinema lens.
- Single or dual focus: Dual-focus systems are a bit trickier to manipulate, but they cost less than single-focus systems — you’ll have to weigh cost versus functionality.
Whether you’re choosing a lens built for a DSLR or using a cine lens with an adapter, there’s an anamorphic option to fit almost every budget and camera system. Anamorphic photography blends the art of the still image with the magic of the movies — it’s a great way to reinvigorate your creativity when it comes to experimenting with photography.
Explore what more you can do with Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom to create dramatic image effects and make your anamorphic photography look like stills from the next blockbuster film.