Andrew Clunie

I’d probably rent if it’s a fairly high paying job. Although, I never rent usually, and always want to keep whatever I use on a shoot, hehe. I have been using DIY anamorphic for about 7 or so years. I use an Iscorama pre36, but have used other 2x in the past. Nowadays I mix the Iscorama with a modified prime lens to enhance the oval characteristics. I attached some stills from a recent music video to give you an idea of the iscorama. and here is some old footage shot with a Sun 2x which I got for £30 - So here’s some examples of DIY anamorphic in controlled settings, and I think it can really shine. So if you want to keep an anamorphic for all future projects, deffo look into an Iscorama or a 2x setup with rapido clamp, or the aviascope seems OK. Then you have a variety of taking lenses to choose from, and it’s cheap !! But you could always rent a set for the shoot, but I always think that I wanna keep it and use it whenever I want, hence me going the DIY route. Purchasing a single anamorphic prime is also tempting, but it really depends on your budget.

Yep, all the info you need is in this thread. for your first scope, just buy anything. Quite a number of years back I picked up a sun 2x for £30 and shot some decent stuff with it. I got a rectilux and eventually sold it for a modded pre 36, which is nice, sharp, and compact. 2x stretch is a beautiful image.. just beware throwing away resolution when framing for 2.39 on a 16:9 sensor. If shooting 4K and export 1080, it really isn’t a problem. But you mentioned 5d raw which does anamorphic.. you will get lovely results with a 2x. You can go as wide as 58mm FF when cropping to 2.39. So my suggestions are just keep your eyes peeled and get a cheap 2x off eBay.. sankor 16d etc, all those are great to start off. Then purchase a variable diopter when ready.

Hi all. Wondering if anyone has a Redstan ‘vari adapter’ for the iscorama pre36 for sale? Guess not, but it’s worth an ask..

Thanks for the info! Yes I probably will just go with the Tair 11a (easily modded with an oval aperture too which i’d probably want to do). I just went to the Kubrick exhibition in London, and saw he had the takumar 135 2.5 which he adapted to a 35mm film camera.. so instantly wanted it for my collection ha. This was next to the zeiss planar 50mm 0.7 lens from nasa, used in Barry Lyndon. I have the takumar 50mm 1.4, and love the image (a little soft wide open), but the build quality and physical look of the lens is so pretty. Much more so than the Russian lenses. I will be investing in some longer focal lengths soon. Interesting you say you prefer the image with longer focal lengths... something I haven’t really explored as I’m usually shooting 50/58/85 on a full frame. Even wondering about zooms, if anyone has experience with any in particular? I guess it’d have to be a self contained zoom (one that doesn’t extend) and maybe parfocal.. although unsure if that matters if lens is set to infinity. Guess it shouldn’t. Sharpness and overall quality would take a hit, but I might be doing a run and gun promo where a zoom could be useful. edit: straying slightly from my original topic, but a quick search showed me that the Tokina 50-135 2.8 seems like a decent option for Anamorphic shooting (not on a full frame.. i’d be using it on the mini 4.6k.. although having the option to use on full frame is always nice). Maybe even the sigma art 50-100 wouldn’t be a bad shout.. probs bigger, heavier, and pricier.. but no doubt sharper.

Mmm that’s weird.. maybe user fault, or a bad set-up/faulty lens? Appreciate the response !

Hi all.. wondering if anyone has experience with this takumar paired with an Anamorphic lens? I’d be using it with a pre-36... wondering about the general experience.. sharpness.. colour, flaring etc.

Hah, thanks man. Yeah the pre-36 clears 50mm full frame (the widest you can go - any more it will vignette). Richard gale has some nice videos demonstrating this: my Nikon pancake 50mm produces very little vignetting. Ambience was sound design my brother did in post, and I recorded internally on the a7s. Glad you feel some sort of inspiration!

Looks really nice !

Here is the probably the cleanest thing I have shot (a7sii, iscorama pre-36, Nikon 50 1.8): and here is just a montage from my old anamorphic set up (sun 2x, rectilux):

Thanks bro. I used a zhiyun crane 2. It’s a pretty capable little unit. Considering getting the ronin s, but unsure if it’s worth it.

Thanks! A7sii Cheers man. Yes I have to agree... I never actually used the tripod once due to laziness, and I did employ slow mo too much for sure. I even had to speed up some shots as I wanted them normal speed, which was annoying as i could have shot them 4K; I hate having to make the decision of slow mo when filming... wish it shot 4K/50fps so I could decide in post. It was my first time using my new phantom 4 advanced... I LOVE the images - such an insane step up from my Phantom 3 4K.

As far as I am aware, the only upside is size, as it’s very compact, which is pretty nice when on a gimbal/run and gun.

Cheers ! I actually only used the Nikon Pancake 50 1.8, with a variety of cheap diopters.

Please do, i’d love to see it. I really would love the terra... maybe slightly out of my current price range, and might just get the a7siii... but the images look incredible. My next pick would be the ursa mini 4.6k, but it’s just too big. Am also wondering if the terra could fly on the crane 2 (or more likely ronin s), stripped back (with only the battery grip) and a small anamorphic setup like the pre-36 and pancake.

Thanks !!

Hello. I recently purchased a pre-36 from a user on here, and used it for a project; a promo for an arts fair, held on the kubrick estate every year. Hope you like it !

That looks beautiful ? Do you have anything you’ve shot it with? And how are you finding the camera?

Nice contributions so far guys.. keep em coming! I just got my pre36 and have rigged it up. Definitely missing the flares from my now sold Sun 2x.. the isco flares in such a boring way.. but the trade off is sharpness, resolution, form factor, and just about everything else ! I’m sure I’ll learn to love the isco flaring, but from my testing so far, it seems a little too ‘clinical’. Anyway, here’s a photo;

Hello all. I’m awaiting my isco pre36 in the post, but was surprised to see very little photos of them rigged up (specifically on Sony a7 cams). Andrew has a few nice photos for sure on his mkiii, and I’ve seen others floating around.. but I just wanted to see how others rigged theirs, and what it looked like. I figured I’d start a thread to see what rigs looked like in general (for reference in case it interested anyone.. it’s also just nerd fulfilment). I can start to get the ball rolling, although this is no longer my rig (I sold it the other day). I’m hoping my isco setup will be much more compact, and nicer to look at. So; post up any anamorphic rig you have. Iscorama pre/36/cinegon specifically desirable to me, but any setup welcome!

Thanks for the reply.. super helpful. I do kind of want to replace at least some of the body, as the isco I’m buying does look a little worn...and I hear what you’re saying about weight and size..definitely the main thing that’s holding me back. I’d like to keep the setup compact as possible, as I mainly run and gun.. I think the best option (for me) is just a proxiscope mod, with Redstan mount (Alan said he’s working on a new vari adapter, allowing optic coupling). This i feel provides the best of both worlds, in terms of focus gear, metal housing (albeit only the front half) and small form factor, with close focus. I’d maybe benefit from the maxiscope, but don’t like the rail mount that cannot be detached, and would prefer the option (akin to the v2 Van Diemen). With this in mind, do you think a Tokina achromat would be worth the purchase? I Would it increase overall image sharpness? Jeez, I haven’t even received my pre-36 yet and am already creating a shopping list around it. I’ll experiment with it when it arrives which will give me a much better idea on my needs.. Your isco looks quite beautiful btw ? Again, thanks for the detailed response.

Tbh, Tito’s video more or less answered my questions, even though I have watch it a few times in the past... I’d be interested if anyone has tried their Van Diemen isco on a Nikon pancake? Or any other 50mm? I don’t actually mind if there is very slight vignetting.. sometimes it looks nice, and cropping to 2:40:1 is a fine solution.. although the Nikon pancake should be fine and possibly produce very little, if any vignetting. I think I probably will go for the Van Diemen service in the near future..

Hi all. I’m hoping to get an Isco pre-36 soon, and am just wondering if the Van Diemen mod is worth it? I’ve seen it might introduce some vignetting with a 50mm on a full frame.. Is this true? (I.e, Takumar 50 1.4, Nikon pancake 1.8). Because I’m weighing up this option, or the proxiscope and Redstan rear mount.. the price difference between this is only about £400-£500. Benefits of the van Diemen mod to me, is that they rehouse the full lens, which is very nice (as isco 36 bodies tend to be a little damaged or worn..), it looks like a very nice cine lens, and I believe the focus throw is also much manageable BUT it also makes the lens much larger and heavier.. The proxiscope seems like a nice alternative, and focuses closer than the Van Diemen mod (if the provided specs are to be taken as gospel). It maintains the small form factor too, which is great, and wouldn’t affect the focal view at all (no vignetting) I’d like other people’s opinions on the matter ? Many thanks !

Great. Yeah I dig them! That’s a decent price.. I’ve seen them go for about £300ish. i bought mine back in the day for £30 ?

Cheers! Yes it is all with the SUN... a lot of people overlook that lens for some reason, and I never see anyone talking about it..I personally love it; it flares so beautifully, and is nice and sharp. I have listed everything including the rectilux/clamps/diopters etc on eBay for £1700, or best offer.

Hey guys.. i’m selling my anamorphic setup, and put together a few random examples to demonstrate what can be achieved with Sony cameras and 2x / rectilux setup. I figured you guys would be interested in seeing, considering it is an anamorphic forum after all ?