Atlas Lens has just announced a new anamorphic series titled Orion Silver Edition (SE). In case you prefer a silver monochromatic flare to the classic blue streak, you might be checking out this new glass, which is significantly pricier compared to the original series. Read more below.
Atlas Orion Series Silver Edition
As stated by Atlas: “The special reserve optics of the Orion SE offer distinctly different aesthetics and visual performance, bringing a fresh take on classic anamorphic characteristics”. According to Atlas, the Silver Edition lenses maintain the modern, mechanically reliable performance that sets the Orion Series apart from vintage anamorphic lenses, all while celebrating aspects of the silver screen cinema era. Precision-adjusted air space tunings paired with bold Silver Edition coatings result in expressive, reactive, yet chromatically refined anamorphic flares unlike any lens before.
The special reserve optics of the Orion SE offer distinctly different aesthetics and visual performance, bringing a fresh take on classic anamorphic characteristics.
Atlas Lens
Why developing the Silver edition?
The concept of the Orion Series Silver Edition was originally born from the desire to create something unique within Atlas’s special optical reserve, and expand the options for “other” flare characteristics. The Orion Series Silver Edition is distinguished from the original Orion series by dynamic, limited-edition anamorphic characteristics such as:
- Neutral flare characteristic: Flares take on the color of your light source, providing more flexibility in expressing the desired look.
- Optimized tuning: Air spacings between elements have been optimized to provide a different focus fall-off (through-focus) characteristic from the classic Orion Series – Standard Orion Series have the Target optimized through-focus set for 50% fore and 50% aft. The Silver Edition has the through-focus optimized to land with the best focus at 25% into the depth of the target focus, with a smooth 75% fall-off behind the target focus.
Dedicated for Super 35
All Orion Series lenses are designed to cover traditional academy aperture, but they can also provide a variety of coverage options for different delivery formats across larger format capture. For edge-to-edge coverage on ARRI LF, Sony VENICE, RED Monstro, and other Full Frame / VistaVision / LF camera sensors, it’s recommended to use the Orions with Atlas 1.6x LF Extender.
Price
The SE set is priced at $89,000.00 plus shipping and handling. It’s almost $15,000 per lens, compared to the original Orions that cost $9,000 per lens. Each Silver Edition set includes 6 focal lengths (32/40/50/65/80/100) and 2 custom Silver Edition ATA travel cases. The SE is only available as a 6-lens set. Atlas Lens emphasizes that as a special edition set with a limited quantity, they want to maintain accessibility to the full range of focal lengths for customers interested in the Silver Edition. As opposed to the original Orions, No deposit required at the time of reservation request. However, reservations are on a first-come-first-serve basis (only 100 sets available).
Sample footage
Below you can find some demo videos (shot by Atlas Lens):
Silver Edition – Visual Demo
F-Stop Comparison
Technical Comparison
Technical Comparison with LF Extender
Initial insights
It’s nice seeing Atlas developing something new and different. Although we’re expecting the 25mm (the prototype was announced two years ago), the Orion Series Silver Edition seems like a cool and new anamorphic approach. Personally, I prefer the look of the originals, but it’s about personal preferences. The SE offers more control about the color of the flare, even though most of the time it’s…silver. Furthermore, the price is not “affordable” anymore ($15,000 compared to $9,000- the initial price was $8,000).
What are your thoughts about the Orion SE lenses? What do you think about its anamorphic characteristics? Comment below.
