Anamorphic Lenses - Focal Lengths

[DDirector]

So, I am just wondering what the 'perfect' focal length would be for anamorphic lenses.
Looking at renting out a set of the Orion Atlas lenses, but wondering how it differs from the spherical lenses.

Typically, I use spherical 24mm, 35mm, 50mm, and sometimes an 85mm on a Super35 frame.

Atlas Lens Co. currently has the 40mm, 65mm, and 100mm.
Would this be a good set of focal lengths if I'm used to different focal lengths?

Because anamorphics produce a wide field of view, does that mean that choosing a lens with a slightly longer focal length would be better?

 

[Samuel H]

I have doubts about this as well, but I'd phrase them in a more technical way: what does the focal length marked in an anamorphic lens mean? In practical terms, if an anamorphic lens is marked as a 35mm, does that mean that it will have the same vertical FoV of a spherical 35mm? the same horizontal FoV of a spherical 35mm? Or somewhere in between?

 

[Vik Kamenicky]

Hi, basic rule of thumb for 2x anamorphic lenses is divide than focal length by two. This is a rough estimation. 2x anamorphic 50mm will be roughly 25mm spherical, but as I said, it is an estimation, because you should consider the the size of full aperture of 35mm 4 perf is a bigger than S35 3 perf. Also every other digital manufacture has different size for their sensors even though every body is talking about them as S35.

There is a nice easy calculator for you, to have a rough estimation of the FoV of particular lens/sensor in comparison with another lens/sensor.

https://www.abelcine.com/fov-original/

version 2: https://www.abelcine.com/articles/blog-and-knowledge/tools-charts-and-downloads/abelcine-fov-tool-20

 

[Bern Caughey]

The focal length markings on anamorphic lenses indicate the vertical FOV.

A 2x anamorphic with a focal length of 50mm will have the vertical FOV of a spherical 50mm, but the horizontal FOV of a 25mm.

Since anamorphics uses focal lengths longer than sphericals to capture the same FOV the anamorphics produce shallower DOF. A 50mm 2x anamorphic will have the horizontal FOV of a spherical 25mm, but retain the DOF of a 50mm.