Venus Optics Announces Four New Proteus 2x Anamorphic Lenses
In January, Venus Optics unveiled its brand-new collection of premium Laowa Proteus 2x Anamorphic lenses, including 35mm, 45mm, 60mm, and 85mm T2 primes. The company has recently unveiled another quartet of Proteus 2X lenses, adding 20mm, 28mm, 100mm, and 135mm focal lengths to its cinema lens range.
The series now comprises focal lengths ranging from 20mm to 135mm, considerably expanding Laowa’s anamorphic lens possibilities for filmmakers. The four new Laowa Proteus 2x Anamorphic Series lenses have the same T2 maximum aperture as their predecessors. According to Laowa, the widest 2x anamorphic lens created for Super35+ sensors is the 20mm Proteus lens.
The 28mm prime will have about the same dimensions as the 35mm and 45mm lenses, which are 182 millimeters (7.2 inches) long and weigh about 2.4 kilograms (5.3 pounds), but Venus Optics hasn’t released full specifications for all four of its new lenses. The diameter of the 28mm lens is 116mm (4.6 inches), while the diameter of the 35mm and 45mm Proteus primes is 119.6mm (4.7 inches). The 20mm lens doesn’t have exact measurements, but based on Laowa’s teaser image, it appears to be roughly the same size as the new 28mm lens.
The new 100mm lens should weigh about the same at 2.9kg (6.4 pounds), while being slightly longer than the 85mm lens at 260mm (10.2 inches) against 240mm (9.5 inches). Like the 20mm lens, Laowa has not revealed exact details about its new 135mm Proteus lens, but from Laowa’s official image, it appears to be the same size as the 100mm lens.
The four new Proteus lenses are similar to the existing Proteus lenses in many ways, including their constant 2x squeeze ratio, despite having somewhat different size. The Proteus 2x lenses give a traditional widescreen anamorphic look that works with 4:3 or 6:5 ratio image sensors to provide a 2.66:1 or 2.4:1 aspect ratio after de-squeeze. This is possible at any focus distance thanks to their optical features. According to Venus Optics, the footage can be completely used in movies or cropped to a 2.39:1 ratio with “minimal loss of resolution.”
The Super35 lenses can be used on full-frame picture sensors without suffering a significant loss in image quality or sharpness because to Laowa’s 1.4x full-frame expander.
All Proteus lenses’ optical designs, which make them high-end cinema lenses, prevent focus breathing, which occurs when the angle of vision changes as the user changes the focusing distance. However, the first four Proteus lenses in Laowa’s focus breathing video exhibit some slight focus breathing.
The four new anamorphic lenses have a back focus adjustment mechanism, just as the Proteus 35mm, 45mm, 60mm, and 80mm lenses, which enables users to tune the rear focus of the lenses to prevent any shimming. Filmmakers may rapidly switch between lenses without having to adjust their gear system because to the new lenses’ use of the same unified gearing position. The aperture and focus gear both employ 0.8 mod gears and have standard 114mm filter threads and 114mm filter outer diameters. The lenses have a 300-degree focus throw and can be ordered with either metric or imperial focus scales. All Proteus lenses have a 10-bladed aperture diaphragm in terms of aperture.
The four new Laowa Proteus 2x Anamorphic Series lenses are expected to ship in late 2023. The Laowa Proteus 2x anamorphic lenses are available in three flare varieties: amber, blue, and silver. Laowa hasn’t opened preorders for the four new Proteus lenses, but they will also cost $4,999 each. It’s reasonable to expect that there will be multiple-lens sets available once the lenses can be ordered. Like the 35-80mm lenses, the new Proteus lenses will be available in amber, blue, and silver flare color options.
