tonydtv

So where does the focus take place?

More fun footage. Didn't do the 3x or 4x of the wides, mainly because of the logistics of safely mounting that much weight to the front of the lens. So here's a build with a different taking lens (43-86mm nikkor, fixed at 86), a different anamorphic adapter (Bell & Howell single focus anamorphic w/ focusing diopters removed [dat flare tho]), and a better PVC housing. Sorta.
 

 
Actually, the first few clips were before I got the pvc snug, so its free-lensy. Majority of close focus shots were between 1 and 5 feet. The super close shot of the pup at 1:25 was inches away.
 
As requested, pic of the build:
 

 
The anamorphic adapter is held on by tape, not the strongest connection. Had to cradle the anamorphic block and the taking lens in the same hand just in case they came apart. Even with my other hand handling the wide angle block, I didn't want to risk the stress more glass would've put on the build, so I held off on the additional wide angle adapters. Next time!

Not sure I follow your plan. Would this enable single focusing or would you still have to double focus?

Scored a Vivitar .43 Wide Angle and a 20+ Tessar diopter today at a small camera shop. Tinkering soon. Very interested.

That is EXACTLY what I used in my build for the second video!
 
Now having bought that ridiculous spinning disk contraption for my XL1 doesn't feel so stupid...

samples now:
 

 
+10 achromat and two 0.6x wide angle adapters = much shorter travel between achromat and wide angle block = less vignetting, less breathing (but still there) + keeping infinity focus intact.
 
All the shots close focus to between 1 to 5 feet. Also built a wonky PVC housing, so while the elements are aligned better, they're still a little off.

Well since we're hammering away at this, I'll chime in.

I'm all for the democratization of technology. I saw these (FM whosawhatzit) and immediately started pouring over patents and the such, shortly finding that Iscos are afocal blocks with a variable diopter in the front. So here we have to individuals capitalizing on this "revelation." God Bless America. I, on the other hand, and planning on finding a cheaper solution with some "surplus" (surplusshed.com) and some shoddy test builds. Lucky for me, I have a friend that currently has a satellite (imaging, of course) in orbit and he's more than happy to hash out some details. Once I have some concrete findings, I'm sharing it with the world wide web. Every creative can benefit from this.
 
Preach on @tonydtv!

The stretch factor changes with your focus. If I remember it right, the stretch factor they put on the lens is for infinity focus.

The stretch factor changes with your focus. If I remember it right, the stretch factor they put on the lens is for infinity focus.

They have a variable power diopter in front of normal anamorphic elements that are fixed set at infinity focus. The variable diopter consists of a Plano-concave lens all the way towards the front then a Plano-convex lens then the anamorphics. The focus ring moves the the two Plano lenses closer and further apart varying there power. When the two Plano lenses are touching they have a 0 power when at their max they have a .5 power in the case of the iscos. The design and concept is simple but finding lenses large enough to work on anamorphic adapters is not easy. I have tested and seen this first hand on an isco and with some cheap demostration lenses and was able to make it work with a Kowa. It worked in concept but the quality was not so good. Also in theory the lenses I used should have had a 0 power when together but they didn't so it lost infinity focus. 

Also, if you do go the isco route, check the pictures of the lens barrel! Some focus to 5 feet and some only focus to 15 feet.