Todd-Ao 35

1. Overview

The Todd-AO 35 is a 2x anamorphic prime lens with a 35mm focal length from the early 1970s, developed by the US manufacturer Todd-AO. It belongs to a series of vintage anamorphic optics designed for professional 35mm feature film use and is today traded as sought-after character lenses on the rental market.

2. Characteristics

Flare behavior according to CINEFLARES datasheet:

• Types: Streak, Oval, Anamorphic Spot
• Colors: Blue
• Intensity: Strong

Linked Pattern Entries:

• anamorphic-streak
• oval-flare
• anamorphic-spot

3. Creative Use

With T1.4, the lens is fast for vintage anamorphic standards, making it usable for available-light-adjacent setups. The 2x squeeze delivers classic oval bokeh ellipses and pronounced horizontal blue streaks – the flare behavior is strong and difficult to tame, making it less suitable for controlled studio setups than for productions seeking precisely this uncontrolled character. Barrel distortion is noticeable at 35mm and should be accounted for in post-production. In rentals, it is usually offered through specialized vintage lens houses, less often in the standard inventory of large rental companies – those planning to use it should book early and check the condition of the housing.

4. Specs Overview

5. Status Tracker

• [x] Datasheet extracted (DOM-direct, 2026-04-20)
• [ ] Overview formulated
• [ ] Creative use researched
• [ ] AI-Illu or manufacturer photo (with attribution)
• [ ] Translations (9 languages)
• [ ] Import via import-lexikon.mjs