SIRUI 50mm T2.9
Image courtesy: SIRUI

Over the past couple of years, lens manufacturer SIRUI has released a range of high-quality and competitively priced anamorphic lenses. However, SURUI designed this new lens for APS-C sensor cameras. Additionally, it’s the company’s first full-frame anamorphic lens.

Aspect ratio

The SIRUI 50mm T2.9 full-frame anamorphic lens has a squeeze factor of 1.6x. This will deliver a 2.8:1 aspect ratio final image when filming with a 16:9 sensor. When used with a 3:2 full-frame DSLR sensor, the unsqueezed image has a standard 2.4:1 aspect ratio.

Bokeh and lens flares

With a maximum aperture of T2.9, SIRUI is claiming an exceptional low-light performance for the lens. As an anamorphic lens, you will get great oval bokeh from light sources in the background of your shots. SIRUI’s launch video also shows the sought-after horizontal blue lens flares associated with anamorphic filming.

Build quality

Build quality of the lens is high with an aircraft aluminum housing finished with a premium metal texture. Inside, the lens comprises of 16 elements in 13 groups of German Schott glass. These elements have a Super Spectra Coating to ensure a high level of optical performance.

Cine gears

The focus and aperture rings are geared as you would expect with a cine lens. The aperture ring is also stepless to enable smooth transitions between exposures. However, compared to traditional cine lenses, the focus ring looks to have a short travel.

The lens is available in four mounts: Sony E, Leica L, Canon RF, and Nikon Z-Mount. This does mean it’s not an option for anyone using a Canon EF mount camera — which might disappoint a lot of Blackmagic shooters.

Pricing and availability

SIRUI is initially making the lens available via Indiegogo. Pre-orders are live now. Early birds can pick up the lens at $1199, saving 20% against the regular price. The lens has already reached 9318 percent of its goal.

Pete Tomkies is a freelance cinematographer and camera operator from Manchester, UK. He also produces and directs short films as Duck66 Films. Pete's latest short Once Bitten... won 15 awards and was selected for 105 film festivals around the world.