[ASK] Isco Red Ultra Star 1.57in F=40mm anamorphic lens

[Winbert Hutahaean]

Hi all,

I was approached by an ex projectionist offering me his (nearly) brand new anamorphic lens, i.e Isco Red Ultra Star 1.57in F=40mm. For a super 8mm projectionist like me this type of lens is not that sought after due to the length and weight. How do you guys as a 16mm projectionist see this lens if he is selling for $195, take it or leave it?

[Joerg Polzfusz]

Hi!
a) There’s a special feature in eBay that lets you check the prices of actually sold items (from the last 6 months). I would assume that 195US$ is cheap.
b) Iscos, especially the newer ones, are always reported to result in sharper images than those usually 40-50 years old other anamorphic attachments. (Note: the red series is the predecessor of the blue series. It should have been available from approximately 1990 on. The blue series is the latest version.)
c) Keep in mind that these Iscos have been designed for 35mm projections in real cinemas. Hence, some of them will only focus properly with a minimum of 6m between projector and screen. (Not sure about your specific model - it might have a minimum of 1.5m.) Also, some of them don’t have a focus ring, but a tiny screw for the focus. (In a real cinema, the distance between projector and screen usually doesn’t change.) Hence, before buying, search the web for the exact specifications of this anamorphic attachment.

[Winbert Hutahaean]

Hi!
a) There’s a special feature in eBay that lets you check the prices of actually sold items (from the last 6 months). I would assume that 195US$ is cheap.

I have met that guy and found out what he is selling is not an anamorphic scope lens but instead a widescreen zoom lens. He uses it for sort of a short throw lens where he can project a scope print in his 35mm projector rather in short distance to the screen.

I don't know if this mean something to 16mm projectionists, but for me it is not.

[Joerg Polzfusz]

So either the name of the lens in the topic name is incorrect, or the anamorphic attachment is still attached to the „normal lens“ as shown in this video:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nKATKGNRF40