Laowa 7.5mm f/2 + SLR Magic Anamorphot 1.33x + GH5 + Ronin-SC = pretty!
14The SLR Magic Anamorphot 1.33x 50 is a great way to get anamorphic-looking footage on a budget, but it does have its drawbacks; namely it's very difficult to get proper wide angle shots with it. This is because, even on Micro 4/3 cameras like the Panasonic GH5, using it on any lens wider than about 20mm results in you seeing the barrel of your lens in the frame. This means you have to crop in, with means you end up with a tighter image.
I've been looking for a wide angle lens I can pair the Anamorphot with to still allow me to get wide landscape shots. I had some success for the Olympus 12mm f/2, but now a new challenger has arrived; the Laowa 7.5mm f/2. This ultra wide non-fisheye lens catches everything, including lots of the Anamorphot barrel in the frame. But, by shooting in 4K, it's possible to crop in to get a 1080 image that still retains detail and, crucially, is still very wide.
Just a few days before the UK enter lockdown, I ventured out to a nearby lake to shoot some tests, and also try mounting this rig to the lightweight Ronin-SC gimbal, to see if it could handle it.
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