What is an Anamorphic Lens?

As the popularity of drones only continues to grow, so do their possibilities. The advantages and features of drones are especially prevalent in film and video, as UAV-piloting has made capturing the perfect aerial shot so much easier than before, and so much more accessible as well. With more people picking up droning either commercially or as a hobby, new lenses are available to change and further elevate the quality of your image. One of these lenses is an anamorphic lens.

Known for their square shapes and horizontal lens elements, Anamorphic lenses are much different than your everyday “spherical” lenses. They offer a wider horizontal field-of-view by adding more data, thanks to a larger magnification ratio. Essentially, they maximize the sensor to its full power. With a slight “bursting” effect as well, anamorphic lenses help recreate epic, cinematic images through your drone. This extended aspect ratio of 2:40:1 is perfect for capturing wide naturescapes, sprawling cities, or any other footage where you want to show your audience the full picture.

Advantages

Besides their Hollywood-level widescreen, anamorphic lenses also present light flares in a special way. They’re more horizontal, given the shapes of the lens, and will appear much more smooth and professional. While we’re talking about smooth video, anamorphic lenses are also lightweight and don’t weigh down your drone anymore than any other standard lens. Plus, despite the wide ratio, anamorphic lenses won’t distort video!

Filmmakers, from industry titans to indie creators, love the anamorphic lens because it lets them include more footage without sacrificing quality or resolution. They get a cinematic crop (think those classic movie black bars) as well as futuristic, stylistic effects like lens flares. In addition, anamorphic lenses are known for a “bokeh” effect, where the video’s subject begins to blur out of focus and the footage has a shallower depth of field.

Where can I buy an anamorphic lens?

Right now, there’s not a huge amount of anamorphic lenses out there, although that certainly could change in the future! Anamorphic lenses traditionally have been quite pricey, however, some companies are making smaller versions to be compatible with devices like phones. One of these companies, Moment, has begun to venture into UAV technology by creating an anamorphic lens that is compatible with DJI technology.

Check out the video below if you’re interested in seeing Moment’s lens in action.

The product currently sells for $179.99 on Amazon.com

Get Certified to Fly Commercially

The Dronegenuity Part 107 Test Prep Course does a deep dive into all of the topics that are covered on the FAA’s Part 107 Exam. This exam is required for drone users who intend on using their drone commercially. In other words, if you intend on making money with your drone, this course sets you up to take the FAA’s exam and get your certification. We’ll cover topics such as FAA regulations, weather, radio communications, sectional charts (of course), the national airspace system, and more. Enroll now to take your first step towards FAA certification.




Learn More 

We’d love to hear from you if you want to learn more about the benefits of aerial drone photography for the real estate industry. If you’re interested in obtaining your Part 107 Commercial Drone License or other drone training courses, please contact us at Dronegenuity today! We offer professional aerial photography services, performed by FAA licensed drone operators for customers of all sizes. All of the work that we do is completely customized and we make the process simple and convenient.

About the Author

Katherine Lombardi

Katherine hails from Middletown, NJ, and is a freshman at Smith College in Northampton, MA. At Smith, she studies Economics and Government. It’s no surprise that she’s interested in international movies - she’s seen over 70 of them! At Dronegenuity, she creates digital marketing content: she writes copy for various online articles; and dedicates herself to assorted projects. She joined Dronegenuity in January of 2021, and can’t wait to get some hands-on experience at a start-up with a great mission!