Sirui 100mm T2.9 1.6x Full-Frame Anamorphic (PL/EF) Review

The market for affordable full-frame anamorphic lenses has become incredibly crowded, but Sirui continues to carve out a distinct niche with its Saturn series. The 100mm T2.9 1.6x follows the 35mm's lead, prioritizing an impossibly compact and lightweight design above all else. This focus on portability is its defining feature, opening up possibilities for gimbal, drone, and run-and-gun work that were previously impractical with heavier anamorphic glass. It transforms anamorphic shooting from a specialized, crew-heavy endeavor into a viable option for solo operators and small teams.

Optically, you should expect the trade-offs inherent in this budget-friendly category. While it delivers the desirable 1.6x squeeze for a classic cinematic aspect ratio, along with characteristic oval bokeh and flares, it is not a technically perfect lens. It embraces character over clinical sharpness, so users should anticipate some corner softness and focus breathing. These are not necessarily flaws but rather part of the aesthetic compromise for achieving this look at this price point and weight. The 100mm focal length itself is a great addition for portraiture and creating compressed, dramatic backgrounds, rounding out a very specific yet compelling lens lineup.