An anamorphic lens is a specialty lens used in cinematography that affects how images are projected onto the camera sensor. It consists of a regular spherical lens and an anamorphic attachment or an integrated lens element that distorts the optical field. Anamorphic lenses project a version of the image that is compressed along the longer dimension, usually by a factor of two, while spherical lenses project images onto the sensor without affecting their aspect ratio. Anamorphic lenses maximize the use of the sensor by fitting more footage onto it, allowing for wider aspect ratios than would otherwise be possible with traditional lenses.
Anamorphic lenses have a unique design that has implications for image quality. They produce a more immersive aspect ratio of 2.39:1 and oval-shaped bokeh, and fewer aberration issues than spherical lenses. They also create out-of-focus points of light that appear as vertical ovals rather than circles, and an increase in horizontal angle of view, both in proportion to the squeeze factor. Anamorphic lenses are commonly employed to add extra visual interest and composition to images that wouldnt be possible through conventional lenses.
Anamorphic lenses are used to compress the width of an image, making it appear narrower than it would with a more standard widescreen lens. This allows for more of the picture to be taken vertically than would be attainable through a normal aspect ratio. Anamorphic lenses are often identified by their reduced sharpness, increased distortion, and falloff, and they produce far more dramatic lens flares due to the extra glass inside the body.
In summary, anamorphic lenses are specialty lenses used in cinematography that compress the image horizontally, allowing for wider aspect ratios and more immersive images. They have a unique design that produces oval-shaped bokeh and fewer aberration issues than spherical lenses. Anamorphic lenses are commonly employed to add extra visual interest and composition to images that wouldnt be possible through conventional lenses.
