For many content creators, especially those working with mirrorless or DSLR cameras, the high cost and weight of anamorphic lenses can be a significant barrier to entry.
But Chinese lens manufacturer Blazar is looking to change this dynamic by offering its new Cato 2x series of full-frame cine lenses representing a bold step in making high-end cinematic lenses available to a broader audience.
Image Credit – Blazar
Previewed at the NAB (National Association of Broadcasters) show in 2024, Blazar’s Cato 2x anamorphic lenses are available in four focal lengths: 40mm, 55mm, 85mm, and 125mm.
What’s particularly striking about the Cato 2 line is that they are not only competitively priced but also incredibly lightweight, making them the lightest anamorphic cine lenses currently available.
The Cato 2x lenses boast constant apertures ranging from T2 to T4, allowing for excellent light control. The 16-bladed iris used in the lenses contributes to a beautifully smooth, round bokeh that is often highly sought after in cinematography.
This characteristic helps to soften out-of-focus areas of the shot, adding a dreamy, cinematic quality to the image.
In addition, these lenses offer a focus rotation of 210°, and the aperture ring rotates between 71.7° and 83.5°, depending on the lens. This design facilitates precision in pulling focus, especially during critical, dynamic shots.
Image Credit – Blazar
The Cato series enjoys a 2x anamorphic squeeze factor, which enhances the cinematic widescreen effect that is on full-frame and large-format cinema platforms, with the lenses covering an image circle of 28.8x24mm for the 40mm and 55mm lenses and 36 x 24mm for the 85mm and 125mm models.
A unique feature of the Blazar Cato lenses is their natural silver flare. This neutral flare can be enhanced during filming by manipulating light sources light sources directed toward the lens, offering filmmakers additional creative control over their shots.
These lenses also display barrel distortion along the entire focal range, similar to Blazar’s earlier Remus 1.5x anamorphic lenses, providing a consistent visual aesthetic across the board.
Image Credit – Blazar
Weight is another important aspect of the Cato series. Weighing between 898 grams and 1020 grams (1.98-2.2 lbs), these are the lightest 2x anamorphic lenses in the marketplace.
This lightweight design allows filmmakers greater versatility, whether they’re shooting handheld, using gimbals, or incorporating these lenses into rigs like the DJI Ronin 4D with counterweights for balanced shots.
Furthermore, the Cato lenses have a standardized 85mm front diameter, allowing for easy attachment of focusing gears, matte boxes, and 82mm filters.
Image Credit – Blazar
Pricing and availability
Blazar is positioning the Cato 2x series as an affordable option for creators looking to elevate their visual storytelling with the entire four-lens set available with interchangeable EF or PL mounts for a preorder price of $4,599.
Individually, the 55mm, 85mm, and 125mm lenses each retail for $1,299, while the 40mm wide-angle model is priced at $1,499. Blazar is set to ship three of the lenses in November 2024, with the 40mm wide-angle lens scheduled for release in February 2025.
[source: Blazar]
Order Links:
BLAZAR LENS CATO 40mm T2.4 Full Frame 2x Anamorphic Lens (B&H)
BLAZAR LENS CATO 50mm T2.0 Full Frame 2x Anamorphic Lens (B&H)
BLAZAR LENS CATO 85mm T2.8 Full Frame 2x Anamorphic Lens (B&H)
BLAZAR LENS CATO 125mm T3.2 Full Frame 2x Anamorphic Lens (B&H)
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