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Anamorphic lens

SWPP Photographic Glossary

An optical lens design that produces different image magnification in the horizontal and vertical planes, creating a widescreen or cinematic effect. Anamorphic lenses compress a wide field of view onto a standard frame, allowing photographers and cinematographers to capture expansive scenes without cropping. When the image is later projected or digitally expanded, it restores the correct proportions, producing a wide-aspect image with characteristic oval bokeh and distinctive lens flares. Anamorphic lenses are widely used in filmmaking and photography for dramatic landscapes, cinematic portraits, and artistic visual storytelling.

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