Any news about the Century Optics anamorphic for DVX?
- Thread starter Aejaz
- Start date
HorseFilms
Look ma no hands
The last I had heard was that they weren't coming out with one, but I'm not exactly in the loop on that.
Barry_Green
Moderator
I'm pretty sure they abandoned the project. Once "Squeeze Mode" came out, it really took away some of the impetus of developing a custom anamorphic lens for the DVX. And now with the HVX and native 16:9, there seems to be even less market room for a $2,000 optical anamorphic for the DVX.
Yeah, I think the ship sailed on that one two years ago.
Bill__Turner
Well-known member
Sorry I did not see this post sooner. Barry is correct. We prototyped several designs and encountered issues that would make the manufacturing of a superior unit very problematic. We were also concerned about size and weight ( as well as cost).
Clearly first the squeeze mode on the DVX100A followed by the introduction of 16:9 cameras ( which we knew were coming) created a situation where continued developement did not make sense to us and the project was stopped.
We know there is some interest in using an anamorphic on a 16:9 camera to achieve 2.35 Scope, but this is a very limited demand. The advent of HDV/HD camcorders requires even higher performance optics.
While we are considering having our Parent Company, Schneider Kreuznach in Germany look at the issue (they have a great deal of experience with designing and manufacturing anamophic lenses) I am not hopeful that a product would result.
As an aside, Panavision did extensive evalutations of anamorphics for HD with Lucas on the first HD captured Star Wars a number of years ago. Their conclusion was that the aberations caused by the anamorphics could not reasonably be overcome on the small (to them) 2/3rd's inch CCD's and that better results could be achieved cropping and enhancing etc in post.
Bill Turner
Schneider Optics
Century Division
Clearly first the squeeze mode on the DVX100A followed by the introduction of 16:9 cameras ( which we knew were coming) created a situation where continued developement did not make sense to us and the project was stopped.
We know there is some interest in using an anamorphic on a 16:9 camera to achieve 2.35 Scope, but this is a very limited demand. The advent of HDV/HD camcorders requires even higher performance optics.
While we are considering having our Parent Company, Schneider Kreuznach in Germany look at the issue (they have a great deal of experience with designing and manufacturing anamophic lenses) I am not hopeful that a product would result.
As an aside, Panavision did extensive evalutations of anamorphics for HD with Lucas on the first HD captured Star Wars a number of years ago. Their conclusion was that the aberations caused by the anamorphics could not reasonably be overcome on the small (to them) 2/3rd's inch CCD's and that better results could be achieved cropping and enhancing etc in post.
Bill Turner
Schneider Optics
Century Division