Isco Anamorphot 8/1.5x

• Alias: Baby Isco

• Anamorphic Adapter by Isco Precision Optics GmbH
• Fixed Focus
• Mount: 24 MM

As the name states, this is a 1.5x stretch, trademark of Isco optics, super tiny lens, weighting only 60g! Fortunately it has front threads - tiny 30.5mm threads - and it usually comes with two diopters (which are way too strong at +2 and +4). The rear threads are 24mm fine pitch (0.5).

This one was originally meant for Super 8 cameras, so the small lens size wasn't a problem, but when using it on the A7s2, I had to go with the 2.2x crop mode, meaning this is not a lens for full frame cameras and large sensors in general, being a much more suitable alternative for smaller sensors such as MFT. I reckon it probably does wonders on a BMPCC.

Without diopters, using this adapter is a pain. It's rather soft until f/5.6 or slower at any focal lengths, so the step up ring for the filter threads was a must so I could use lower powered diopters besides the original +2.5 and +5 that came with it. When that is fixed, the image quality improves considerably. A cheap +0.5 and +1 diopters will do wonders if you're using this adapter.

This baby flares. The Isco Anamorphot has a very pronounced and distinctive orange flare. It's completely different from what you usually get by using fixed focus adapters such as the Century Optics. Also, it's a good change for the Isco lenses because they usually don't flare!

As a Super 8 adapter, the Iscomorphot doesn't like big sensors. I shot it on the A7s2 crop mode (2.2x) and it was barely vignette free at 35mm, with glare around the corners when lighting is too strong. 28mm already shows dark edges. That means that if you're using this lens on full frame, you're gonna be vignette free from 80mm and up, which is not friendly at all. I would stick with a smaller sensor and a wider range of focal lengths.

Focus was hard if not close to infinity, so I used diopters for every single shot. When the taking lenses are stopped down to f/5.6 or slower, focus becomes easier, and the flares are very pleasing. Due to the combination of small rear element and full frame lenses, there were losses in light transmission. These were noticeable especially at night, when it didn't make a difference if the taking lens was at f/1.4 or f/2. Focus was even harder at faster apertures and bokeh was very subtle. Again, the flares were still awesome. This was the first lens I wished I had a small sensor camera, so I could achieve its full potential.