The Californian lens manufacturer Altas Lens has been offering professional 2x anamorphic lenses in the Orion series for several years - they were used, for example, in the Netflix production "Don't look up". Now another anamorphic lens series has been announced, which is a bit cheaper in comparison - each focal length here is said to cost ,995, while the Orion optics are priced at ,999.
The new Mercury series offers a 1.5x compression factor and is suitable for full-frame sensors, aspect ratios of 2:1 / 2.25:1 / 2.66:1 / 2.4:1 can be achieved depending on the sensor format. In total, the series will include six PL-mount focal lengths, starting with a 36mm T2.2, 42mm T2.2 and 72mm T2.3, with a 54mm, a 95mm and another telephoto focal length yet to be determined still to follow.
Image characteristics are said by Atlas to have a vintage look in geometry with good optical and color performance, warm lens flares and largely suppressed chromatic aberrations.
Weighing between 1.1 and 1.6 kg, the Mercury lenses are also lighter than those in the Orion series. Length ranges from 11.2 to 16.2 cm, and the front diameter is 95mm.
The Altas Mercury series will be presented at IBC in September, but will not be available until 2023.
;)