Blazar Mantis Anamorphic Lenses: A Modern Take on Anamorphic Shooting

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If you’re looking to achieve an anamorphic look without the weight, cost, or complexity of traditional cinema glass, the Blazar Mantis Anamorphic Lenses are a really interesting option. Now available to hire at Aimimage, they offer a modern, lightweight approach to anamorphic shooting while still delivering that distinctive cinematic feel.

A More Accessible Anamorphic Look

The Blazar Mantis series is built around a 1.33x squeeze factor, designed specifically for full-frame cameras. This allows you to achieve a widescreen aspect ratio (around 2:1) while maintaining usability across modern sensors.

What’s interesting is that despite being 1.33x, the lenses are designed to mimic the feel of stronger anamorphic glass. Thanks to features like an oval iris and optical tuning, they produce oval bokeh, horizontal flares, and added image depth that feels closer to a 1.5x or even 2x look.

Full Frame Coverage, Lightweight Build

One of the biggest advantages of the Mantis range is that it’s built for full-frame coverage, making it compatible with cameras like the Alexa LF, Sony Venice, and other large-format systems.

At the same time, the lenses are relatively lightweight and compact compared to traditional anamorphic glass. This makes them much easier to use on:

Handheld setups
Gimbals
Smaller rigs or tighter shooting environments

Each lens also shares a consistent front diameter and filter thread, which helps speed up lens changes on set.

A Practical Set for Real Shoots

The Blazar Mantis range typically includes focal lengths such as 25mm, 35mm, 50mm, 75mm, 100mm, and 135mm, giving you full coverage from wide to telephoto.

They also offer:

Fast apertures (around T2.0–T2.4 across the set)
180° focus rotation for precise pulling
Interchangeable mounts (PL, EF, RF, E, and more)

All of this makes them a very practical choice for productions that want anamorphic character without slowing down the workflow.

What Do They Look Like?

In terms of image, the Mantis lenses strike a balance. They’re not overly clinical, but they’re also not heavily vintage. Instead, they give you:

Clean images with added character
Subtle flares (often with a warm/amber tone)
Controlled softness and pleasing fall-off
Natural depth that enhances separation

This makes them a good fit for commercials, music videos, branded content, and narrative work where you want a cinematic feel without going too stylised.