GH2 How do you shoot with an anamorphic lens?

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I am looking at a nice deal on a Kowa anamorphic lens (although I can't really find any info about the lens except that which the seller posted). But something bothers me a bit about the anamorphic lens, how do you shoot with it - I mean how do you focus, frame etc since (I assume) the video output on the screen (the flip out screen) will be compressed horizontally? Or is it a case of setting the right aperture (to get the curve DOF right) which gives a deeper DOF to help with the focusing, and practice practice practice?

Just wondering.

BTW: Kowa Prominar Anamorphic 8-b 1:1.9 f=13mm. Lens is about 90mm high. Might this be a projection lens? The price is good for it, IF its usable - actually the price I think is good that even if I really don't like it or it doesn't work, it wont bother me - besides I have a ton of 35mm cameras that I bought over a year and now it just lies there since the camera I was after I got as a gift anyway :Drogar-Thinking(DBG
 

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You're going to have to mount it onto an exisiting lens. I was able to pair a Lomo anamorphic squarefront optic to a 50mm lens with glued on step rings. So you can do something similar. If using a projection lens though, you're going to have a large minimum focus distance (10 feet or so) if you don't have a diopter. And of course you will have to focus the taking lens, AND the anamorphic lens, which is a pain...but with some practice is second nature.
 
What exactly are the advantages of shoot anamorphic and then squeezing vs. just cropping off the unwanted parts of the frame? Increased resolution?
 
anamorphic lenses have a specific look, and they give off nice flares. Watch some films that were shot anamorphically and you will see the difference.

also yes, if you were using a 4:3 sensor, or piece of film you would use the entire vertical of the sensor/frame to get the highest resolution.
 
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An anamorphic newbie have we?
I suggest you look at EOSHD's anamorphic guide. It sucks you gotta pay for it but he seems to be getting good credit for it. Although it's entirely feasible to Google the info or other forums such as Cinema5D
 
I'm not familiar with using anamorphic, but I can usually tell when I see a clip that was shot with an anamorphic lens. They produce the most beautiful horizontal blue flares. Magic bullet looks has an anamorphic filter thats decent, but it's still not the same as a real one. An example of one my favorite anamorphic flares is in Apocalypse now. When their sitting around the camp fire with bobby duval, the night before he drops their boats up the river. Thats a beautiful scene shot anamorphically
 
Thanks for the comments - I'll go see on the other forums on how the shooting looks on the screen cause I'm interested in the practical side of filming with the lens - how do you frame when everything is squashed on the screen?

As for the lens in the attached picture - no-one knows anything about it?
 
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