SLR Magic 2x Anamorphot CINE 35mm T2.4 Review

The SLR Magic 2x Anamorphot CINE 35mm T2.4 is a budget-priced anamorphic lens designed for Micro Four Thirds shooters chasing that classic widescreen look. With a 2x squeeze factor, it delivers a 2.66:1 aspect ratio on native Four Thirds sensors and 2.35:1 on 16:9 crops, producing the oval bokeh and horizontal flares that define anamorphic cinematography. The lens features geared focus and iris rings machined to 0.8 MOD cinema standards, making it compatible with follow focus systems and matte boxes via its 82mm filter thread.

At 1,400 grams and nearly 100mm in diameter, this is a substantial piece of glass that requires solid support. The T2.4 maximum aperture is reasonably fast for an affordable anamorphic, and the 11-blade iris should produce smooth, pleasing out-of-focus rendering. The 3.5-foot minimum focus distance is workable but not particularly close for a 35mm equivalent focal length. Manual focus only and a rotating front element during focus are standard trade-offs in this price bracket, and the lack of electronic communication means no lens metadata for hybrid shooters. The included hard case is a nice touch for protecting what is ultimately a specialized tool for filmmakers committed to the anamorphic aesthetic on a tighter budget.