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Laowa Nanomorph 1.5X Anamorphic Primes

Phil Holland

Phil Holland

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Officially launched today Laowa has come up with very, very compact 1.5X Anamorphic Primes called Nanomorph.

They are going the Indiegogo route to do the thing. Notably these are very affordable:
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/laowa-nanomorph-world-s-smallest-anamorphic-lens

These are S35 1.5X and are very ideal for ultra lightweight and compact setups.

At launch there are 27, 35, and 50mm focal lengths all coming in at T2.4.

I have seen these on RED Komodo and a Sony FX6 (in S35 mode) at this point in time. I just returned from the Koerner Lens Summit in PNW and recently beyond various mirrorless mounts, they also will be available in EF and perhaps most notably PL. It's important to know the mirrorless mounts will be smaller than the EF and PL versions. To give you an idea of what I'm saying, the mirrorless versions will have a 60mm outer diameter while the EF and PL will feature an 80mm OD. Pros and cons to both in that way if think of it.

They have some interesting character, distortion is present for sure, but they are really about being super portable.

Personally hoping for a couple longer focal lengths in this set down the line.

While I was at the lens summit I grabbed a few shots of the lenses in my hands, but this is probably the best way to visualize the scale of them:

phfx_laowaNanomorphSize.jpg
 

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Here's a "First Impressions " video on a Red Komodo

Laowa NANOMORPH | First Impressions

by Tyler Edwards

 
Ordered a set of the EF/PL mount version. Hopefully the rear lens elements aren't too deep to preclude using them on my EF Kippertie Revolva, but even if they are, it's not the end of the world as I can just use a regular EF-RF adapter and front NDs instead.
 
These are pretty appealing. Kinda odd collection of focal lengths, though, right?
 
Anamorphic on handheld gimbals becomes a thing now. Same as Anamorphic on drones.



 
Couldn't resist getting the set of these in RF for the Komodo. The size is just incredible.
 
kevin_laowa said:
27 + 35 + 50 are available to order now. 65 and 80 will be later this year.
Click to expand...

I'm on the edge on these ones, but I can't decide on amber or blue flares. I would have liked the flares a little less extreme, but the size of these is just so compelling.

Blue flares will be kind of normal and some have said that blue flares are less "noticeable" than other colors, but the amber ones seem to blend together with light sources better, except for pure street lights or white lights.

I really have no idea what to decide, both have pros and cons equally. If I'm after less extreme flares, which one should be preferred?
 
I'm thinking on purchasing a set of "affordable" anamorphics, mainly for personal projects, (can always rent the higher end stuff), but would like to know your opinions on the best squeeze factor to go for. The bigger number (2x). seems to provide the arguably prettiest image, but I'm looking at both 1.8X and 1.6X Full Frame options, specially for Raptor. What squeeze factor would give us bigger resolution capture on Raptor? I know, a bit off topic here, but felt like a good place to ask !
 
Christoffer Glans said:
[...] but the amber ones seem to blend together with light sources better, except for pure street lights or white lights.

I really have no idea what to decide, both have pros and cons equally. If I'm after less extreme flares, which one should be preferred?
Click to expand...

I bought the amber Vazen 28mm and after shooting with them for a while, I'm glad I didn't go with the blue ones. Why? Because I was shooting mostly interiors with them, with neutral to tungsten light colors. The amber flares are much less 'intrusive' than seeing blue streaks coming out of yellow light bulbs, or worse, candles. However, a close-up of a candle where you clearly see the blue core of the flame, blue flares could also be somewhat natural and give it an interesting color contrast compared to everything just yellow and orange if that's the main lighting in the scene. So I don't think there is a recipe a la, when shooting this, take amber, and for that, go with the blues...

Amber is less spectacular, less 'classic' but also requires less getting used to that 'scifi' look, IMO.
That said, once I have to deal with city traffic at night, I'll probably get the blue version for cars driving towards the camera but use amber for cars driving away. It will be a dilemma when cars drive on both lanes in opposite directions, but then it probably depends on the story what I'd choose :)
Overall, amber is more on the 'calm' side, blue more on the 'lively' side, and in that almost regardless of the light source color.
 
Alex Zeder said:
I bought the amber Vazen 28mm and after shooting with them for a while, I'm glad I didn't go with the blue ones. Why? Because I was shooting mostly interiors with them, with neutral to tungsten light colors. The amber flares are much less 'intrusive' than seeing blue streaks coming out of yellow light bulbs, or worse, candles. However, a close-up of a candle where you clearly see the blue core of the flame, blue flares could also be somewhat natural and give it an interesting color contrast compared to everything just yellow and orange if that's the main lighting in the scene. So I don't think there is a recipe a la, when shooting this, take amber, and for that, go with the blues...

Amber is less spectacular, less 'classic' but also requires less getting used to that 'scifi' look, IMO.
That said, once I have to deal with city traffic at night, I'll probably get the blue version for cars driving towards the camera but use amber for cars driving away. It will be a dilemma when cars drive on both lanes in opposite directions, but then it probably depends on the story what I'd choose :)
Overall, amber is more on the 'calm' side, blue more on the 'lively' side, and in that almost regardless of the light source color.
Click to expand...

Yeah, it's a pickle for me. It's also that it's less common with amber since if doing a shoot with better anamorphic but using the Komodo with a gimbal and these matches better if the flares are blue. But then again I find the flares a bit too much one these, it's the only downside I can see because the rest is so awesome, close focus, less distortion, weight and size etc.

It would have been nice if there was some other coating that would reduce the flares more. I don't mind flares but as soon as a shot has many light sources it looks like a parody JJ Abrams movie. If a set of three lenses cost $1000 more just to get less visible flares I would gladly pay that extra for it, so it's either to get blue flares and match the common look of anamorphic lenses or amber flares for the unique look.

With less intense flares these would have been perfect lenses for anamorphic looks.
 
Christoffer Glans said:
It would have been nice if there was some other coating that would reduce the flares more. I don't mind flares but as soon as a shot has many light sources it looks like a parody JJ Abrams movie. If a set of three lenses cost $1000 more just to get less visible flares I would gladly pay that extra for it, so it's either to get blue flares and match the common look of anamorphic lenses or amber flares for the unique look.

With less intense flares these would have been perfect lenses for anamorphic looks.
Click to expand...

Looks like they've read this and added the silver flare version today:

[21 Jun UPDATE] We are happy to tell everyone of you a NEW Silver flare version is available!
The silver version provides more control over the flare colour and it renders a more subtle and neutral flare. Cinematographers can now get the perfect look for different styles of productions.
Click to expand...
 
Alex Zeder said:
Looks like they've read this and added the silver flare version today:
Click to expand...

Yeah, really cool. Are these considered the more "subdued" ones as well or are they coming later?
 
To me, the video looks like they're the only anamorphics I've ever wanted to use, less attention grabbing effect and especially the flares color matching the light sources. Gonna wait for the full set of five though.
 
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I changed my set to the Silver versions the moment I saw Phil post up about them. So excited some anamorphics with neutral flares will be available that are super compact. And actually look like they have some pretty interesting character.
 
Yeah, the neutral/silver flares versions are the best bet so far (it’s actually crazy how blue/amber the others get with their corresponding light sources and colour temp). Still seem a little “filter anamorphic” to me, but at the price/size/sensor coverage that’s more of a nitpick.

1.8x would’ve been welcomed/preferred but not at the cost of being a variable squeeze (ala GreatJoy). Still want to try all of them to pick the best all-rounders of these new low budget anas.

Any word on an ~85mm or 100mm?
 
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