Van Diemen Anamorphic: anamorphic lens attachment (1963–1975) with 2:1 compression, four glass elements, and distinctive horizontal lens flares.
Technical Details
The Van Diemen Anamorphic utilizes an asymmetrical cylinder lens system composed of four glass elements, featuring a horizontal compression of 2:1 while maintaining unaltered vertical imaging. Focal lengths range from 35mm to 100mm, with a minimum focusing distance of 1.2 meters. The system achieves an aperture of T/2.8 on the 50mm version and weighs 1.4 kg. The characteristic blue anti-reflective coating and oval aperture blades produce the typical horizontal lens flares from point light sources.
The anamorphic lens is mounted as an adapter in front of standard spherical lenses and features a proprietary bayonet mount with a rotation lock. Three main variants exist: Type A (1963-1967) for Mitchell and Arriflex cameras, Type B (1968-1973) with improved optics, and Type C (1974-1975) with reduced weight.
History & Development
Van Diemen Optical introduced the system in 1963 as a cost-effective alternative to Panavision and CinemaScope. Founder James McKenzie originally developed it for Australian productions that required access to widescreen technology without licensing fees. International breakthrough came in 1968 with its use in George Romero's "Night of the Living Dead."
Production ceased in 1975 after approximately 200 units were manufactured. Van Diemen Anamorphics are now traded as vintage optics.
Practical Use in Film
The system was used in genre films of the 1970s: "Mad Max" (1979), "The Texas Chain Saw Massacre" (1974), and "Dawn of the Dead" (1978). The optics produce distortions at the image edges and a warm, slightly yellowish tone in skin tones.
Workflows require 1.5 stops of overexposure to compensate for light loss. Special matte boxes are necessary due to the oval front lens. The system exhibits focus breathing and demands precise focus pulling.
Comparison & Alternatives
Van Diemen Anamorphics display stronger chromatic aberration and lower edge sharpness compared to Panavision optics. Modern systems like the Cooke Anamorphic/i series offer higher optical precision but eliminate the characteristic optical aberrations.
Budget adapters such as the SLR Magic Anamorphot do not achieve the specific imaging characteristics of Van Diemen optics.