Stacking anamorphics?

[Joerg Polzfusz]

Hi!

The Chinese company „Great Joy Lenses“ suggests to screw their 1.35x attachment into an anamorphic lens (1.33x + 1.35x = 1.8x or 1.5x + 1.35x = 2x). But does this make sense, especially when projecting? The mathematical logic is clear. But what about light loss, reflections, vignetting, …?

https://greatjoylens.com/1-35x-anamorphic-adapter/

Thanks
Jörg

[Joerg Polzfusz]

The only case where this would have made sense to me is when having films shot with a Hypergonar 8 or similar anamorphics with a factor of 1.75x. The majority of them is sooooo small (diameter-wise) that they are causing heavy vignetting on e.g. my Bauer T610. AFAIK there are only three anamorphics that are large enough to allow a useful zoom-range (the British Magnarama and the "in flight entertainment“ anamorphics from Isco and Kowa). And they are all hard to find. But instead of paying bazillions for the Magnarama, I might have simply stacked two cheap 1.33x anamorphics, e.g. from Vormax. Okay, this way, I would have ended up with 1.77x, but I guess that it would have been close enough.

[Maurice Leakey]

For many years, working in the older cinemas, we used the Kalee Varamorph lens.
This, as it says, had the provision of being able to alter the "squeeze" ratio.
A beautiful piece of kit.

A KALEE Ltd. VARAMORPH Magnification 1:38 1.5 2 Lens, model number V23/2968 | eBay

[Brian Fretwell]

I first saw one of those on a projector in a museum in Oban, whilst waiting for the ferry to Mull, big but beautiful. I think there is one to be seen on the shelf behind Noel in The Footage Detectives every week.

[Maurice Leakey]

The lens was manufactured before widescreen ratio was introduced.
The idea was that the lens stayed in place at all times for standard 4.3 films and any degree of squeezed scope picture.

Later, when widescreen came in it was necessary to have two prime lenses, one for non anamorphic, and one other lens with the Varamorph in front. And, of course, a change of backing plate with different size apertures.