Vazen has announced its 3rd full-frame anamorphic lens, which is the 135mm T2.8 1.8X, and thus completes the full set that includes the 50mm, 85mm. Furthermore, Vazen offers a special price on the entire set: $20,000. Let’s sum it up.
Vazen 135mm T2.8 1.8x Anamorphic
The 135mm is the most recent in Vazen’s 1.8X full-frame anamorphic lineup. As stated by Vazen: “The new 135mm T2.8 is designed to cover large format cinema cameras like RED Monstro, RED V-Raptor, ALEXA LF, Kinefinity MAVO LF, and Z-CAM E2-F8 fully. The lens delivered outstanding sharpness, even at wide open, which is unparalleled by other PL/EF anamorphic lenses with a similar squeeze ratio”.
The goal is to balance the anamorphic characters as well as the resolution of the image. The 1.8x squeeze can produce a cinematic widescreen 2.39:1 aspect when paired up with 4:3 sensors. When paired up with 16:9 sensors, much less data (than 2X anamorphic lens) is needed to be cropped away to create the desired 2.39:1 ratio.
Vazen
Design and structure
The new 135mm features a relatively compact and lightweight design. It has the same focus and aperture position as the 85mm for easy lens switching on set, and a consistent 86mm front filter thread is handy for ND filters or diopters installation. Vazen adds that the 5’ (1.52m) close focus distance allows the lens to produce some extremely creamy depth of field. The front diameter is a standard 95mm for matte box mounting. The entire lens is built up of aluminum and the independent aperture and focus rings are incorporated with 0.8 mod cine gears. The lens is available in an interchangeable PL and EF mount.
Full anamorphic set completed (almost)
With the release of the 135mm, Vazen has now completed its 3-lens set (50mm-85mm- 135mm) and it’s currently working on a wider lens to complement the set. They have also released a new proprietary 3-lens hard case, which will be included for those who ordered the 3-lens set.
Anamorphic Look & feel
According to Vazen, all the 1.8x anamorphic lenses feature a front anamorphic design. It delivers a buttery smooth oval bokeh, signature blue, but not oversaturated, horizontal flare, and the widescreen cinematic look. The lens also features a wide 32.2° horizontal field of view (similar to a 75mm spherical lens) and the closest focusing distance is 5 feet (1.52m) from the sensor as explained above. As for the imagery that this glass produced, check out the test footage below:
Why choose a 1,8X squeeze ration?
Vazen explains its choice to adopt a 1.8x squeeze design: “The goal is to balance the anamorphic characters as well as the resolution of the image. The 1.8x squeeze can produce a cinematic widescreen 2.39:1 aspect when paired up with 4:3 sensors. When paired up with 16:9 sensors, much less data (than 2X anamorphic lens) is needed to be cropped away to create the desired 2.39:1 ratio”.
Price and availability
Each lens costs $8,000. However, the 3-lens (50mm + 85mm + 135mm) FF set is currently offered at $19,999 (a $4,000 discount compared to buying all three lenses alone) with a proprietary 3-lens hard case. Vazen claims that this is currently one of the cheapest 3-lens full-frame anamorphic lens sets available on the market.
Closing thoughts
Vazen glass is well made. Moreover, $20,000 for a full-frame 1.8X anamorphic set which includes three focal lengths seems like a fair deal. As for the look, some filmmakers complain about the over-intensity of the blue streaks which looks more industrial than cinematic. Others love it. It’s a matter of personal preference regarding the anamorphic look. Have you watched the test footage? What are your thoughts about the anamorphic look of the Vazens?
