Anamorphics with Mirrorless Cameras

D

DDirector

Veteran
Im curious to know how I would go about shootin anamorphic with mirrorless cameras.

Im looking into the Orion Anamorphic Series lenses (2x) crop
Normally its done with a 4:3 sensor to get 2.35:1

Is there a camera that can record 4:3 for anamorphic (now or in the future)?

Cutting the sizes doesnt seem to be a great solution as youll be chopping off the parts where the anamorphics shine
 
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I think the GH5 can do what you want - not 100% though as I don't own one.

If the budget is there for the Orions though, why shoot with a mirrorless?
 
It looks like the GH5 is your best option. You could pair it with SLR Magic Anamorphot-CINE lenses.

With that said, does your project really require anamorphic?
I appreciate how anamorphic maximizes your camera's resolution and yields an ultra wide aspect ratio, but I don't appreciate the extra cost for a look that most viewers couldn't discern from cropped footage shot with spherical lenses.

With modern cameras oversampling 4K DCI or greater, I don't see a need for anamorphic from a resolution standpoint.

You might like some of the characteristics of anamorphic, like elliptical bokeh and horizontal lens flares, but they can be faked in camera with spherical lenses.

It's a lot cheaper to convincingly fake the Anamorphic look, so I would look into that before committing to shoot anamorphic.
 
Well its more then the elliptical bokeh and flares though. The desqueeze creates a interesting distortion that you cannot similate with moving images easily or at all.
 
Polaroid22 said:
Well its more then the elliptical bokeh and flares though. The desqueeze creates a interesting distortion that you cannot similate with moving images easily or at all.
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Yeah, Im interested in its characteristics. You cant fake it like that.
I tried it out and its just meh.

We use various cinema cameras (but they arent my personal cameras) so I was wondering if it would be possible on a mirrorless for smaller productions but still with those cinema quality lenses.
Would rather invest in anamorphic than spherical cine lenses. Its my preference
 
You should have no problem with anamorphic on a mirrorless. It's not ideal per se, since the mirrorless sensors are so often under super 35. I like alot of the weird distortions you get on the edges of the anamorphic lens, which you will lose somewhat with the smaller sensor. I beieve the GH5 has an anamorphic 4;3 mode, and the Pocket 4K likely will have via a firmware update at some point.
 
Akos Baranya said:
GH5S has in-body de-squeeze so you can monitor it properly, don't know if the GH5 has it as well or not!
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"Monitor it properly" is subjective in my book!

I guess I have just gotten spoiled by trying to have a nice monitoring solution available when I shoot.
Very seldom do I use the little built-in camera monitor for the work I do.

But then again I guess it's the norm in 2019 to run around shooting hand-held anamorphic with a 5 pound lens attached to a tiny camera body while using the built-in monitor?
 
I do have a monitor that has a de-squeeze :)

So, if a camera does not offer to record in 4:3 like the GH5 as you guys are saying and only 16:9, what can I do?
 
Use a 4:3 camera if you want to use those Orion 2X anamorphic lenses.

A used ARRI Alexa 4:3 camera can be purchased for about $2K more than one of those lenses you are looking at.
 
DDirector said:
I do have a monitor that has a de-squeeze :)

So, if a camera does not offer to record in 4:3 like the GH5 as you guys are saying and only 16:9, what can I do?
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You can always blow the footage up so you lose the extra resolution on the sides. set up a custom frame guide in your monitor to frame for this. Here's something I shot a long while ago on the GH2 with 2x anamorphic lenses: The Hobo Menace.

Lost a whole lot of resolution to get the proper ratio, but that's less of an issue now with 4k native cameras.
 
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