SANDMARC Anamorphic Lens

With camera technology on mobile phones increasing at a rate of knots its becoming easier for people to shoot high quality images and videos straight from their device, I have used a DSLR for years but on my last weekend break away I left it at home in favour of relying solely on my smart phone.

SANDMARC create premium products compatible with iPhone, GoPro, DJI and DSLR cameras, aiming to give you the best images whatever your medium and whatever your price range. The Anamorphic Lens kit comes in models suitable for iPhone 11 pro max, 11 pro, 11, XS Max, XS, XR, X, 8 Plus, 7 Plus, 8 and 7.

So, what is an Anamorphic lens, well in old school film terms it was a way of squeezing a wider image onto a standard frame, this results in a distorted image that can be corrected after the shoot, in modern day terms it is similar to a wide angle lens but with a distinctive cinematic style. We received the iPhone 11 edition which comes with the Anamorphic Lens, iPhone 11 standard case, clip-on mount, lens pouch and front and back lens caps, the first thing you will notice is the high quality craftmanship, everything feels strong and durable without adding too much weight to your phone (46g).

The lens is a 1.33 anamorphic lens that lets you shoot ultra-wide aspect ratio cinema style footage with oval bokeh and horizontal lens flares, this type of imagery is popular on the big screen, particularly notable in the JJ Abrams Star Trek franchise which is covered in the signature lens flares and soft edges, it can give a romantic, aged and futuristic feel to the end product, for example La La Land, Pulp Fiction and Blade Runner.

This lens is Drama PL and Scape ND filter compatible with some minor vignetting when using filters, the glass used is multi-element and multi-coated, the patented thread is design for the direct filter mounting system with an 40.6mm outer thread and 17mm inner thread. The SANDMARC has an Aspect Ratio of 2.4:1 video and 16:9 panoramic and a 113° field of view, it is just 23.6mm in height making it easy to store in your pocket and is compatible with 40.5mm step-up rings. There are two mounting systems to choose from, either the compatible phone case which gives you a sturdy hold or the mount clip for quick changes between lenses. The clip covers a small portion of your screen, but this didn’t affect our use, however when using a gimbal, film grip or steady cam you may find some of it sneaks into the frame due to the wide-angle nature. One more thing to mention is you will need to software to correct the distortion on the image, the FilmicPro app or Premier/final cut pro for example. The SANDMARC Anamorphic lens produces a gorgeous anamorphic imagery, its low cost, low weight and high-quality construction make it a great choice for budding film makers and photographers out there. RRP $159.99

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