8mm Forum: Can you identify this anamorphic lens?

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Topic: Can you identify this anamorphic lens?

Winbert Hutahaean
Film God

Posts: 5468
From: Nouméa, New Caledonia
Registered: Jun 2003

posted October 10, 2011 06:46 PM

Please see the picture below. This is Kowa Anamorphic 35. So I guess this is for 35mm. But can we use this for super 8mm?

Why the lens is so long compared to other anamorphic lens I ever seen?

What is your review with this lens?

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Winbert

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Joerg Polzfusz
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 815
From: Berlin, Germany, Europe, Earth, Solar System
Registered: Apr 2006

posted October 11, 2011 05:16 AM

Hi,

as this lens is very long, I assume that it's a complete projection lens (and not "only" an attachment). So it wouldn't fit a Super8-projector. Even if it's an attachment (e.g. that's screwed into a projection lens on your pictures) and fits a Super8-projector, my guess is that it's minimum focus-distance is at least 10m...

Using Google with "Kowa Anamorphic 35", I found an ebay-auction with a "Kowa Prominar Inflight Anamorphic 35 1.5x Lens". This lens is listed in the Super8wiki: http://super8wiki.com/index.php/Anamorphic_Lenses . However searching for "Kowa 35" on that page, I also found a "Kowa PA-35 (In-Flight)" (with "PA" most likely being the abbreviation for "Prominar Anamorphic")... And both lenses might only be marked "Kowa Anamorphic 35" on the lens. So "your" Kowa might have a squeeze-factor of "only" 1.5x or 1.75x!

Jörg

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Jean-Marc Toussaint
Film God

Posts: 2392
From: France
Registered: Oct 2004

posted October 11, 2011 05:38 AM

There's what looks like a Kinoton/Philips aperture plate in the picture, next to the lens, so this should be an anamorphic attachment screwed to a primer for a 35mm machine.
You can use a scope lens meant for 35mm in front of a super 8 projector if you build a stand for it, in essence, optical elements are the same but your throw should be long enough to avoid vignetting.

--------------------
The Grindcave Cinema Website

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Winbert Hutahaean
Film God

Posts: 5468
From: Nouméa, New Caledonia
Registered: Jun 2003

posted October 11, 2011 11:14 AM

Hi Joerg and JM,

Thanks for your replies.

I also think that this lens are installed in the projector instead of attach in front of a projector like we do with super 8mm.

But do you guys think that the first front part of the lens (which "Kowa Anamorphic 35" is written) can be released from the whole lens making it to become a single anamorphic lens that we can put in front of super 8mm projector?

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Winbert

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David Kilderry
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 963
From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Registered: Feb 2006

posted October 11, 2011 08:23 PM

This is a common combo lens for 35mm projectors. The silver backing (prime) lens simply screws off then you can use the anamorphic in front of a Super 8 projector with a suitable stand. These are large lenses and much larger than the compact anamorphics like the Schneider and Isco.

There are plenty of these on ebay at reasonable prices.

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Winbert Hutahaean
Film God

Posts: 5468
From: Nouméa, New Caledonia
Registered: Jun 2003

posted October 12, 2011 11:26 AM

Thanks david,

Now I am puzzling with this Ebay:

Kowa Anamorphic sold for $20

And this one too:

Another Kowa anamorphic attachment for $20.5

Is this the same item.....??

why is so cheap??

what does attachment mean?

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Winbert

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Joerg Polzfusz
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 815
From: Berlin, Germany, Europe, Earth, Solar System
Registered: Apr 2006

posted October 13, 2011 05:22 AM

quote:
why is so cheap??

... because these are the low prices as before the video-crowd discovered that they could also use anamorphic attachments on their video-cameras... however most of these large devices can only be used for projecting (minimum distance between projector and screen, weight, bulkiness, ...), so their price remained unchanged...

quote:
what does attachment mean?

There are two designs:
1) You can get anamorphic "all in one" lenses.
2) And you can get "consists of two parts"-kits with a "normal lens" and an extra anamorphot. The anamorphot gets somehow attached to the "normal lens". Hence this separate anamorphic part is normally called "attachment" - especially when sold without the "normal lens".

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Winbert Hutahaean
Film God

Posts: 5468
From: Nouméa, New Caledonia
Registered: Jun 2003

posted October 13, 2011 10:10 AM

Thanks Joerg,

So I guess what I need to install in front of my super 8mm projector is an "attachment".

Just for the side of story, this lens is offered in a local online site (Kijiji) and has been sitting at the same place since July without any offer. The seller decreased the price to become $175 (a pair) on September.

2 days ago I was tempted to buy but prefer asking you guys first here before making a decision. I put my question here, and rang the owner yesterday. It has gone!

I believe someone deciding to buy after I put it here. Otherwise why it has been sitting for months without any offer. Coincidence? Nah....

Lucky me that I have you all here and you can give better explanation what is needed, and more than that I was googling and found this lens not that worth ....but $20 !!!

I feel lucky today. [Wink]

--------------------
Winbert

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Martin Jones
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1269
From: Thetford , Norfolk,England
Registered: May 2008

posted October 13, 2011 10:39 AM

Winbert,
Not wishing to labour the point... but PLEASE REMEMBER when you find an Anamorphic attachment be ABSOLUTELY SURE that it has a "squeeze" ratio of 2X.
Anything else will not give you the correct images from 8 or 16 mm film prints.
Martin.

--------------------
Retired TV Service Engineer
Ongoing interest in Telecine....

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Joerg Polzfusz
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 815
From: Berlin, Germany, Europe, Earth, Solar System
Registered: Apr 2006

posted October 14, 2011 06:23 AM

quote:
So I guess what I need to install in front of my super 8mm projector is an "attachment".

Correct. Unless you get hold of an Isco "all in one lens" called "ISCOMORPHOT 8/2 x". (Haven't heard of any other "all in one lens" for Super8-projectors. Unfortunately Isco also produced some attachments with this name, so getting the "correct" item on the second hand market is a royal PITA.)

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