Why Do We Choose to Shoot with an Anamorphic Lens？

Well, stop trying in Photoshop or Lightroom and start looking at the lenses you use. With an anamorphic lens, you can get the cinematic look you want.

Ⅰ. What is an anamorphic lens?

Cinematographers use the anamorphic lens to capture widescreen images on a 4:3 sensor. These lenses capture a squashed anamorphic widescreen image onto the sensor. Thus editors don't have to crop the image (and lose valuable information). And they just stretch it to widescreen in post-production. For example, when shooting a 50mm anamorphic lens, the vertical field is as if you were shooting a 50mm spherical lens. However, the horizontal field is much wider. Typically, it's twice as wide, but it depends on the lens you're using.

Ⅱ. Why should we use an anamorphic lens?

It is Hollywood style. Most movies these days have an ultra-wide aspect ratio. The most common ratio is 2.39:1. But the aspect ratio is only one of the reasons for the distortion. With an anamorphic lens, you can capture wide-angle images with a super shallow depth of field. This is the epic movie "Hollywood feel" we've longed for. This style can make your photos stand out. Another feature of this lens is the unique horizontal lens flare that creates a mysterious atmosphere. Finally, there's the horizontally stretched bokeh ball. This is another feature that makes the anamorphic lens so popular.

Ⅲ. How to shoot with an anamorphic lens?

You don't need to be a photographer to use an anamorphic lens. You can use anamorphic clips to mount anamorphic lenses on prime lenses. You focus on the prime lens first, then the anamorphic lens. However, this takes some practice, especially you want to focus on objects that are not in the center of the frame. It's easier to shoot the landscape with an anamorphic lens first. Once you get used to it, try shooting some anamorphic portraits.

Filmmakers can use a spherical or anamorphic lens. Anamorphic shots produce oval-shaped lens flares and bokeh. Also, a shallower depth of field creates a more cinematic feel. Projectors of an anamorphic lens stretch the image to a 2.40:1 aspect ratio. Thus you will keep the full resolution and image quality of the movie. So how do you mount an anamorphic lens? You have to install an anamorphic lens on a prime lens. For this, you will need a deformation clip with screws. These are used to create a cinematic look, but the key to creating an authentic cinematic look is the use of the anamorphic lens. Your photos will give them a unique touch. Everyone will ask you, "How did you do it?"