During IBC 2024, we visited the Blazar booth and had a chance to check out several interesting Anamorphic lens lines, including the 2X full-frame Cato, the upcoming Apex 1.5X super 35mm AF, and the existing Remus 1.5X Anamorphic line.
Blazar- Affordable anamorphic lenses
Originally known as Great Joy, the Chinese manufacturer specializes in creating anamorphic lenses, and after a successful Kickstarter project in 2023 for a 1.8X T2.9 anamorphic lens line (with 3 focal lengths – 35mm/50mm/85mm) the company (under the new name Blazar) released the Remus line with 7 FF lenses going all the way from 35mm to 125mm all with a 1.5X anamorphic squeeze as well as a new 33mm super 35mm/APS-C lens.
The Remus line is available for purchase starting at around $900 per lens.
Blazar APEX 1.33x Autofocus Anamorphic
The most interesting and innovative lens Blazar showcased at the show was the upcoming Apex series. This line will initially include two lenses – 35mm and 50mm T1.6 and T1.8 respectively. Both are 1.33X anamorphic (Blazar claims they are closer in their look to 1.5X) with super 35 coverage but the most interesting aspect about these lenses is the AF support.
Until now no anamorphic lens on the market had AF and the only way to use AF on an anamorphic lens was with a lidar AF follow-focus accessory. With these new lenses, you should be able to focus without following focus just like you do with any other AF lens.
The lens will come in Sony E, Nikon Z, Leica L, and Blazar is hoping to have an RF mount as well in the future (if Canon will allow that to happen).
The lenses should be available around the end of 2024 or in early 2025 (pre-order) at an undisclosed price (probably around the same as the Remus line).
The Blazar Apex AF anamorphic 50mm T1.8 lens
Blazar Cato 2X Anamorphic
Finally, we were shown the Cato line of 2X full-frame anamorphic lenses. The line includes four lenses: 40mm, 55, 85mm, and 125mm (T2.0, T2.0, T2.8, and T4 respectively). All lenses come in EF/PL mounts an 82mm filter thread with a compact design and a relatively lightweight (around 1kg).
Pricing is set at between $1200 and $1400 per lens.
Check out the full LensVid coverage of IBC 2024 on this link—special thanks to our sponsors for IBC 2024 – SmallRig and Hollyland.
Iddo Genuth 
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