Anamorphic adapters guide

Modern adapters (new, with official prices)

Sirui 1.25x Anamorphic Adapter: $299

Designed for Sirui's own 1.6x Venus primes, giving 2x in total (per Sirui). Full-frame coverage, blue flare. Sirui's store lists RF, L, E and Z versions. The cheapest route to 2x in our data: see cheapest 2x.

SLR Magic Anamorphot 1.33x-50: $429 (out of stock)

From SLR Magic's product page: 1.33x squeeze, 62 mm rear thread and 77 mm front filter thread. It has its own focus ring with "normal" and "near" ranges. SLR Magic recommends taking lenses of at least 50 mm on full frame, 35 mm on Super 35 and 20 mm on MFT, with a front element no larger than 50 mm. SLR Magic’s store lists it as out of stock as of our last snapshot.

Blazar NERO 1.5x: $999

A 1.5x front adapter from Blazar's store, listed for full frame. Flare colour: unverified.

Laowa 1.33x Front Anamorphic Adapter: ~$699 (not tracked)

Amber, blue or silver flare. The price is from our research snapshot of Laowa's store; we cannot track Laowa automatically because laowacine.com blocks automated requests.

DZOFilm Marlin expander: rear, not front

The Marlin goes between lens and camera rather than in front. In our data it is a 1.6x expander that converts S35 lenses to full-frame coverage, launched at $1,159 (camera mount) / $1,699 (PL-PL). DZOFilm's store now lists a Marlin 1.4x at $799 (PL to E, RF, L or Z). We have not confirmed whether it is a different product or a replacement, so treat it as unverified. Expanders are not anamorphic adapters; they do not squeeze.

Vintage adapters (used market)

• Kowa / Bell & Howell 2x: a projection adapter. It needs a separate single-focus unit, because the adapter and taking lens would otherwise both need focusing.
• Iscorama 36 / Pre-36 1.5x: a 1.5x adapter with collector-level used prices.
• Century Optics 1.33x 16:9 converter: a cheap entry point. Model names are unverified.

Classic taking lenses for adapters include the Helios 44-2, Jupiter-9, Super-Takumar 50mm and Canon FD 50mm f/1.4. See buying used for a checklist.

Adapter or anamorphic primes?

Adapters add length and weight to the front of the lens, can vignette on wide lenses, and often need two focus adjustments. Purpose-built primes like the Sirui 1.33x ($199) cost less than most adapters and focus normally. For many shooters the primes are simpler; the adapter route mainly makes sense if you already own good taking lenses.