Blazar, a Chinese cinema lens manufacturer, has launched the Cato 2x anamorphic cine lenses for full-frame cameras. The world’s lightest full-frame 2x anamorphic lenses, which debuted as prototypes at NAB in April, are now ready for showtime.

As far as full-frame anamorphic lenses go, the Blazar Cato lenses are not only lightweight, but also inexpensive. They are an affordable entry point into anamorphic cinematography.

The Cato lenses have four focal lengths: 40mm, 55mm, 85mm, and 125mm, with apertures ranging from T2 to T4. The Cato lenses are available in PL and EF lens mounts, with each including a 16-bladed iris.

The manufacturer made various adjustments to the Blazar Cato prototypes shown at NAB, including switching to a common 85mm front diameter (each lens accepts 82mm front filters).

These are highly compact and portable 2x anamorphic lenses, weighing between 898 grams for the lightest lens, the 55mm T2, and 1,020 grams for the heaviest prime, the 40mm T2. The 85mm T2.8 and 125mm T4 fall in between, weighing 927 and 940 grams, respectively. With these weights, the lenses should be compatible with a wide range of handheld gimbals.

Each lens has the same 150-degree focus throw, however aperture rotation varies somewhat across the array, ranging from 71.7 to 83.5 degrees.

Unlike some anamorphic lenses with numerous flare color variants, the Blazar Cato series has a neutral silver flare. “Cato lenses flares have a classic, neutral silver tone that evokes the timeless look of vintage anamorphic,” according to Blazar. Cato’s 2x squeeze factor will further enhance anamorphic lenses’ signature oval bokeh.