Sirui has shown off its new Saturn V2 anamorphic lens series at the Shanghai P&I Expo, giving us an early look at what could be one of the most interesting anamorphic releases of the year.
The new full-frame lenses are set to launch in September and will include 35mm T2.9, 50mm T2.9 and 75mm T2.9 options. The range is expected to be available for Sony E, Canon RF, Fujifilm X and L-Mount.
The big talking point is Sirui’s new rotatable optical structure, which enables the lens to switch between horizontal and vertical shooting modes without losing the distinctive anamorphic look.
That means vertical footage can still retain the horizontal squeeze, elliptical out-of-focus rendering and characteristic horizontal flare effects that filmmakers usually associate with traditional widescreen anamorphic shooting.
Sirui is pitching the Saturn V2 as a particularly useful solution for creators working across both conventional cinematic formats and the increasingly important world of vertical video.
With short-form platforms becoming a major part of modern filmmaking and content creation, the ability to move between horizontal and vertical shooting while keeping the same anamorphic character could make the Saturn V2 a very versatile option for hybrid creators.
The new series features a 1.6x anamorphic squeeze ratio and a T2.9 maximum aperture across all three focal lengths, while Sirui has also standardized the lenses around a 62mm filter thread.
The compact design is another important part of the package, especially for filmmakers using smaller mirrorless cameras, gimbals or lightweight rigs where traditional anamorphic lenses can quickly become cumbersome.
If Sirui can deliver on the promise shown at the Shanghai P&I Expo, the Saturn V2 series could be a genuinely exciting evolution of its anamorphic lineup.
A compact full-frame lens that can adapt its optical orientation for both horizontal and vertical shooting feels particularly well timed – and with three practical focal lengths arriving in September, this could be one of the more intriguing cinema lens launches to watch over the next few weeks.
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