Schneider ES Cinelux Anamorphic 2x MC

• Anamorphic Adapter by Schneider
• Double Focus
• Mount: 68 MM

This adapter doesn't have a focus ring, you focus using the little screws on the front of the lens, which makes it hard to work with if focusing is needed, Features a focus locking screw.

There are a few versions of this lens, one of them with a lip over the optics which is the less preferred one. There are also golden and black versions.

As I said many times before, I'm not a huge fan of cumbersome projection lenses, so they were never too high on my list of pending reviews. Then I got this Cinelux with my FM and it would be rude of me to waste this opportunity.

There's not much cool story behind these, as they are modern anamorphics, designed for 35mm film projectors. Schneider is the company that bought Isco some time ago so their glass is top notch. Being modern, a little too much top notch. First warning of this video is about the multiple versions available. This one - which seems to be the most compact one - is the ES version, but there's the WA, for wider angles I assume, and the Super Cinelux, which has a horrendous front lip that will mess up your life, so avoid at all costs.

Sometimes these Schneiders come with a spherical projection lens attached to the back. For the purposes of this review, just take that off and combine the anamorphic with any taking lenses you might regularly use. The anamorphic block has the same diameter all throughout. Getting to the tech specs, this is a 2x stretch scope, with no front thread for filters and non-standard rear thread. You're gonna need a clamp to attach this adapter to your taking lens.

I wouldn't consider this a useful lens for shooting WITHOUT a single focus solution. The reason for that is the ES Cinelux has no focus ring. Focus is adjusted by these two screws at the front of the lens. I can't even imagine how to work this on set as double focus setups are already tough. This is just stupid. Long story short, get a single focus solution. Rectilux, Rangefinder or FM. Otherwise, don't even bother with this anamorphic.

Alignment relies on the clamp - here I'm using the lens collar from the FM lens. Since the flares on this one are pretty subtle due to multicoating, check both flares and bokeh for alignment. The easiest way to mount this lens is probably using a lens collar (this one, for the Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro has the exact same diameter as the Cinelux) and attaching that to 15mm rails.

Resolution and sharpness is when the modern aspects of this lens shine. With a big rear element and multicoating, the Cinelux performs nicely even at fast apertures around 50mm, and quite decently across the frame. Performance drops as the lenses grow longer, being quite soft at 85 or 135 at their maximum aperture. Stop them down a bit to f/4 or 5.6 and things get better. They're long lenses, that shouldn't be much of a problem. I'm using the Contax Zeiss set as taking lenses so they don't bring in too much personality into the charts.

Flaring is when the modern aspects of this lens DON'T shine, quite literally as flares are muted and almost non existent. They have a saturated - but not alien - blue color that is very pleasing.

For a 2x scope, the Cinelux is more on the long side, not usable at 40mm even with 2.4:1 aspect ratio. 50mm makes this possible, but barely, with vignette trying to creep in. If you remove the FM, that should clear it. At 58mm you have more leeway with the FM and can go an easy 2.4:1, or 2.66:1 accepting a bit of dark corners. As usual, full 3.56:1 shooting only works from 85mm and up.

The ES Cinelux has some good points, but overall it doesn't have anything that excites me too much. I'm not crazy for sharpness and the lack of natural flares are downsides for me - but not for everyone. 2x bokeh is nice. This adapter demands a single focus solution, asking for good money just to make it usable. On the other hand, the simplicity of the setup and reliable results are great points. Just mount it on rails so it's aligned for good and go out to shoot - no need for crazy mods or tweaks. Definitely a good lens for starting out in anamorphic and getting nice, moody images out of any camera.