Kostas Petsas

If anyone is still interested in diopters, I have a couple of spare +0.5 diopters with 72mm thread.
These are no achromatic doublets; they are single element, but are excellent quality and personally I use them anytime on my Iscorama (with results comparable to the all time classic Tokina +0.4 achromat).
On an Iscorama +0.5 will enable you to get closer than the 2m minimum focus distance of the Isco, in the 1m to 2m range. A second +0.5 stacked will enable you to get a nice close up in the 0.5m-1m range. Usually I have all range covered with only two of those.
As a bonus, these are thinner than the Tokina single element ones, so you don't get vignetting even if you stack 2 of them.
The 72mm thread is nice, since they directly fit on the Iscorama, or on the redstan front filter clamps. I have also used them to get a close up of an eye, with a Canon EF 135mm f2.0 L lens.

http://vimeo.com/70264199
 
I had all but given up on ever finding the perfect 8mm anamorphic lens, but I recently got my hands on what I think is the most rare anamorphic lens that I have ever owned -- the Zeiss Ikon Anamorphot 22/1.5x. It is almost impossible to find any information on this lens. I could not find any pictures of the lens, nor any test footage. In fact, the only reason that I knew that it existed was a tip from anamorphic Godfather Kostas Petsas, who also has one. He compares his Ikon to the Iscomorphot 8/1.5x.
 
Like the Iscomorphot 8/1.5x, it's an 8mm "baby" lens that is fully rack-focusable. The helicoid is smooth and has a very manageable throw, so focusing is no problem at all as you will see in the test video above. The slightly wider diameter actually makes the lens easier to focus the baby Isco, and of course it is much more focus-friendly than the strenuous focus throw of the Iscorama.
 

 
It's a little bigger than the Iscomorphot 1.5x (front filter thread is about 43mm, and rear diameter is about 32mm) but still much smaller and lighter than the Iscomorphot 2x or the Iscorama. It's nice not to have to add in a support system to hold the weight of the additional lens. Coupled with a DSLR, a taking lens with a silver finish and a silver clamp from Redstan, this could be a great stealth anamorphic setup.
 
I think that perhaps the most substantial difference between the Ikon and the Iscomorphot is that the Ikon is usable when the taking lens is wide open (at least at f/1.8). Though it is not razor sharp like the Iscorama, I don't see a limitation here. 
 
The minimum focus distance is impressive. I've been able to focus as close as 22" wide open without any diopters.
 
I haven't really put it through the paces yet, but from what I've seen, the lens has some nice, understated character. It's a lot less smeary than some of the 8mm anamorphics that I have used. The flares are thinly stretched blue ovals, similar to my Moller 32/2x (but I think that I may like the Zeiss flares even more).
 

 
I have been able to use it with my FS100 with a 50mm lens, which is usually my go-to lens when I first get an anamorphic lens. I'll have to test it to see if I can get away with using a wider taking lens.
 
I am excited about this lens. It is the easiest, simplest anamorphic lens that I have ever used and the image is very pleasing. I think that this is a winner. If anyone else has one, I'd love to compare notes.