Kristian Hampton explains how to shoot at the cinematic 2.35:1 aspect ratio, with the help of the SLR Magic Anamorphot adapter
It’s common to see filmmakers digitally cropping their 16:9 footage to create that cinematic widescreen look. However, one of the drawbacks of doing this is that those cropped sections of the image, captured in camera, have now been wasted.
So why not simply shoot anamorphic? Well, in the past the main reason has been that it can seem like a daunting task to filmmakers who have never touched the format before, especially since anamorphic lenses tend to be relatively expensive.
Cue the SLR Magic Anamorphot adapter – adapter being the key word. It attaches to the front of your aspherical lens, increasing the field of view by 33% (when using the Anamorphat 1.33x; more so with the 2x version), and records this increased field of view by compressing it to 16:9.
Once you’re in the edit, you simply tell your NLE to interpret this footage as anamorphic. And bingo: you’ve got that widescreen look without compromising your image resolution.
Key features – SLR Magic Anamorphot Adapter 1.33x 50:
- Anamorphic lens adapter designed for cinematography
- Increases image resolution and detail by squashing image horizontally by a factor of 1.33x
- Creates 2.35:1 images on 16:9 sensors
- Features a 77mm front filter thread and a 62mm rear thread
- 58mm, 52mm, and 49mm adapter rings provided
- Produces effects unique to anamorphic lenses: horizontal flare, streaks from light sources, and ellipsoidal bokeh
- Produces a shallower, more cinematic depth of field
Click here to order the SLR Magic Anamorphot 1.33x 50 adapter
About the Author
Kristian Hampton is Wex Photo Video’s Technical Editor for Pro Video. A video specialist who has worked in corporate studios for companies such as Vodafone Group and PwC, as well as working as a freelance grip on various TV productions and features. He also runs Krade Media, providing enterprises with production services. Follow Kristian on twitter @KrissHampton
