OPTICS
CAMERA
RECORDING
DIGITAL WORKFLOW
3D
CAMERA GRIP
REMOTE SYSTEMS
PANALUX
LEE FILTERS
PANAVISION IMAGING
FEDERAL SYSTEMS
LATEST NEWS
PANAVISION KEY HIRES SUPPORT ADVANCED PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
MEDIA CENTER
E SERIES
EMAIL TO A FRIEND
ABOUT
E series Anamorphic Prime Lenses
Introduced in the 1980s, the E series line of anamorphic prime lenses continue to be the premiere choice of anamorphic lenses for many cinematographers. The E series anamorphic primes were developed to have a higher degree of optical quality than their predecessors, the C series anamorphic lenses. The E series have more sophisticated anti-reflection coatings, newer spherical components, and an optical formula with fewer aberrations.
Because of the improvements in design, the E series lenses are the least likely to produce the “blue line” anamorphic flares. This quality can work for those productions that do not want to be inconvenienced by too many instances of anamorphic flares. The higher quality optical performance of the E series lenses combined with their unique optical clarity has made these lenses a highly sought after group that is frequently dubbed the A set of lenses with many directors of photography.
The E series lenses possess very little fall off on the edge of the frame and the center to edge resolution flatness is excellent. The E series offers an overall sharpness that is undeniably clean yet they do not produce a look that can be interpreted as being too clinical or too sharp. The E series lenses still exhibit true anamorphic artifacts such as disproportional vertical focus breathing, mild barrel distortion (with wide angle lenses), and an apparent compressed depth of field without an excess of flare.
The current set of E series anamorphic lenses includes a 28mm, 35mm, 40mm, 50mm, 75mm, 85mm, 100mm, 135mm and 180mm. These lenses have widest apertures ranging from T2 to T2.8 and close focusing distances from 3 feet 9 inches to 5 feet depending on which lens you are using.
The E series lenses are larger and heavier than the C or G series lenses and are not suited to Steadicam use. Their ideal use is primarily as an A-camera lens in studio mode. However they can be handheld with excellent results.
