Lomo Square Front Anamorphic Lenses

Lomo Square Front Anamorphic Lenses are among the most classic and sought-after vintage anamorphic prime lenses from the 1970s and 80s. These Lomo square fronts are Russian-made 2x anamorphic optics in their original housings, with an additional round front ring for compatibility with clip-on matte boxes. They cover a super 35mm imaging area and use a PL mount.

The 35mm is T2.9 (f/2.4), 50mm is T2.4 (f/2.0), and 80mm is T2.5 (f/2.0). Like most Russian lenses, the focus markings are in meters. Care should be used when calibrating focus motors, and low-torque settings should be used.

Their relatively small size makes them well-suited for handheld work. The Lomo Square Fronts are a “front anamorphic” style. They have a pronounced horizontal focus breathing, and have some imperfections in squeeze ratios (particularly in closeups). We advise pairing them with a diopter set for versatility, as well as improved close focus performance. They have traditional anamorphic horizontal blue flares. The 35mm has moderate barrel distortion. All three lenses are a bit soft wide open and sharpen up considerably around T3.3.

As with all anamorphic and vintage cinema lenses, we strongly encourage a camera prep day before your production begins. Your particular combination of camera, accessories, and shoot requirements may need additional hardware or other considerations.