Anamorphic Shootout

so in final cut i just clicked "anamorphic 16x9" on the time line settings and it actually stretched it correctly.

is that 1.5x stretch?
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Alright so im looking through my Live remote window with the anamorphic lens on. is there a way to do a live 1.5 stretch so i can preview before i shoot. if not are there any live monitoring programs that do this with the 7d?

also im waiting for my marshall v-lcd70p hdmi monitor to come in the mail it has 15:9 is that for unsquishing footage?


the 36 is a 1.5x squeeze
 
so in final cut i just clicked "anamorphic 16x9" on the time line settings and it actually stretched it correctly. is that 1.5x stretch?

OK. One simple way to do it is to change the height dimension. (NOT by CROPPING...just change the size) So, in CS4....all you do is go to the effects that are for motion, go to the height dimenson...uncheck the box that locks the aspect ratio...then (with a 2x lens)...you just change the height dimesion FROM 100 percent, to 50 percent. I believe with a 1.5 lens, you change if from 100 percent to 75 percent. This effectively "squeezes" the footage.

Alright so im looking through my Live remote window with the anamorphic lens on. is there a way to do a live 1.5 stretch so i can preview before i shoot. if not are there any live monitoring programs that do this with the 7d?

I'm not sure about this one....I will say that after a while, it's rather easy to shoot with the footage compressed....you get used to seeing it and framing it. :) Good luck with the other pursuit...let us all know what you find out.

Good luck!
 
I like to edit in Premiere at 1920x1080 and simply change the pixel aspect ratio of the project. You can choose a variety including 1.33, 1.5 and 2.0.

This has the advantage of not changing ( shrinking or enlarging) the footage in any way, so your footage is not degraded and you can edit faster.

Then when I'm done, I export the 1920x1080 footage, and use VirtualDub (resize filter, Lanczos algorithm) to scale to whatever square pixel size I require. VirtualDub is much better at resizing than Premiere.

To get the right size in square pixels for your anamorphic footage, do one of these:

Multiply the horizontal pixels by the squeeze factor.
Divide the vertical pixels by the squeeze factor.

FYI, I unsqueeze my Isco footage to 1.33. Even though it's supposed to be a 1.5x lens, I find that 1.33 looks absolutely fine and leaves me with an (approx) 2.39:1 aspect ratio, which may be more desirable for many people than the 2.66:1 that 1.5x gives.
 
I like to edit in Premiere at 1920x1080 and simply change the pixel aspect ratio of the project. You can choose a variety including 1.33, 1.5 and 2.0.

This has the advantage of not changing ( shrinking or enlarging) the footage in any way, so your footage is not degraded and you can edit faster.

Then when I'm done, I export the 1920x1080 footage, and use VirtualDub (resize filter, Lanczos algorithm) to scale to whatever square pixel size I require. VirtualDub is much better at resizing than Premiere.

To get the right size in square pixels for your anamorphic footage, do one of these:

Multiply the horizontal pixels by the squeeze factor.
Divide the vertical pixels by the squeeze factor.

FYI, I unsqueeze my Isco footage to 1.33. Even though it's supposed to be a 1.5x lens, I find that 1.33 looks absolutely fine and leaves me with an (approx) 2.39:1 aspect ratio, which may be more desirable for many people than the 2.66:1 that 1.5x gives.

Thanks for that hyalinejim! Cool to see a different workflow.... :) I'll have to give this a try.
 
yes, inputing the squeeze ratio into the clip properties is fine.
that's exactly how i do it too in vegas as it allows to retain the best resolution throughout the whole project.
 
Where can one find the anamorphics for sale and also how are you adapting them to the cam? Do they mount on to he front of a lens using a certain sized thread depending on the lens or what? Sorry I am a little late on the anamorphic game. But that's what I love about this forum, I know you guys will catch me up to date.
 
Where can one find the anamorphics for sale and also how are you adapting them to the cam? Do they mount on to he front of a lens using a certain sized thread depending on the lens or what? Sorry I am a little late on the anamorphic game. But that's what I love about this forum, I know you guys will catch me up to date.

you've got a bit of reading to do to catch up as the game leads to pretty much a myriad of options and custom DIY fixes unless you're lucky and wealthy enough to outstand the fierce competition over ebay on a few selected gems that work out of the box...
this thread started the current craze : http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=177819
a quick primer on alternatives : http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=182386
good luck on your squeezed footage journey !
 
Shooting tests with a round test target and reproducing the perfect circle in post is the tried and true way to see what the real squeeze factor is on these lenses.

Some people are deliberately leaving the image just a little "tall" or slightly squeezed since it gives some subliminal "this is cinema" clues to the viewer, and in general flatters faces that are of course vertically oriented, and thus thinner. Not so pleasing when you actress puts her head on a pillow, however.

google "anamorphic mumps" for some background on the challenges faced in the 1950s that seem to be re-appearing sixty years later.... with less powerful performers doing the complaining.

There are so may televisions in sports bars, etc set to the wrong aspect ratio that audiences have gotten used to seeing things squished, stretched and otherwise mangled.... it's no surprise these days to find myself being the fly in the ointment when i go over to someone's house to see a film on video and have to point out to them they have been watching things hideously distorted and not even noticing.

It's fine to manipulate and cheat, and distort for aesthetic reasons but be professional and at least be aware of what you are doing. You may need to know someday how to get it really right!
 
I understand everything except where you ar getting the lenses from I underStand the iscorama 36 is very rare and prob. Will never get my hands on one. But I am loving the look of that kowa. I am uderstanding that they are mounted on the front of a lens, but what I want to know is if you have the isco 36 and you mount it on the front of a 50 is that now and 86 plus the 1.6 crop factor?or is that not how it works? Got everything else. HHL are you noticing any light loss?
 
the isco being a 1.5x squeeze, you'd get an equivalent lens of about 35mm in horizontal for 50mm vertical on fullframe if i'm correct.
then take into account the additional 1.6x crop factor for the 7D... you'd lose less than a stop hopefully (never measured that up but it's okay)

btw, there seems to be a lonely Kowa 8Z looking for adoption at the bay...
 
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then you might want to look out for a Kowa Scope Lens
HINT HINT ;)
depending on your country, searches like Kowa anamorphic or Kowa 2X give different results too.
also beware as kowas are many so do not get those that only focus down to 50 ft
 
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There are so may televisions in sports bars, etc set to the wrong aspect ratio that audiences have gotten used to seeing things squished, stretched and otherwise mangled.... it's no surprise these days to find myself being the fly in the ointment when i go over to someone's house to see a film on video and have to point out to them they have been watching things hideously distorted and not even noticing.

Don't even get me started! We have a TV station here in Ireland that often shows the ads at 14:9 and the content at 4:3, except the guy asleep in the TV studio forgets to press the button that switches between the two....and I'm screaming "Change the f*ing aspect ratio!!!"
 
@HHL i'm curious about your Panavision Superama rear size (with thread?) and how it attached to the Nikon DX 55-200 or was it handheld ?
also very interested by your hypergonar tests as there are numerous different models with various brackets and dimensions.
those were pretty common here in France but mostly heavy overweighters with long throws designed for showing movies at the theatres.
 
@HHL i'm curious about your Panavision Superama rear size (with thread?)

Yes it is threaded. It is NOT a standard PITCH how ever. The Sankor has the same problem. Basically, the only real viable option is to glue the nearest size step up ring. In this case, (I just measured it...I don't currently have this one, so yes it was handheld)...it would be 43-52mm step up ring. (It is BARELY under 43mm) So basically the way to attach it is to glue the ring to the Anamorphic lens, then screw the anamorphic lens to the standard lens. Here is an example. (Sankor 16C)

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showpost.php?p=1744967&postcount=123

also very interested by your hypergonar tests as there are numerous different models with various brackets and dimensions.
those were pretty common here in France but mostly heavy overweighters with long throws designed for showing movies at the theatres.

I am also looking forward to the Hypergonar tests. I have shot some hand held stuff and it appears (at first glance) to be VERY promising. Anything outside of 15 feet is some of the CLEAREST, SHARPEST footage I've seen out of ANY anamorphic lens to date. PLEASE don't see this as a final evaluation. I MUST get some equip to support this lens and do some proper testing and comparison...but I am VERY excited to do so. (The support is coming from India, so it may be several weeks yet.) YES there are MANY models and dimensions....I hope that my solution for support will be encompassing enough to work for you, (if you end up getting on). As for long throw....true, BUT then lens that I have is shooting fairly close without a diopter. I get an exact distance and post when I get the support. (I'll post pics too)

...France? So when am I going to drop by and crash on your couch? :)
 
HHL are you noticing any light loss?

I varies between lenses. Yes there is light loss with all of them. Sorry I can't be more specific, but....yes there is light loss.
 
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