Ukrainian manufacturer of anamorphic cinema lenses based in Kharkiv, known for the Apollo system with rotating astigmatizer focusing.
Xelmus was founded around 2012 by Oleg Krasyuk in Kharkiv, Ukraine. In a city that has been under daily shelling since 2022, this small team builds world-class anamorphic lenses. That alone deserves respect.
What Makes Xelmus Different
Most affordable anamorphic lenses rely on variable front diopters for focusing — easier to build, but with compromises in chromatic aberration and close focus. Xelmus took a different approach: the Rotating Astigmatizer, a focusing system patented by Panavision in 1954. Two counter-rotating cylindrical elements keep the horizontal image axis stable while the spherical optics move linearly. The result: no horizontal breathing, extremely short minimum focus distances, and a look otherwise only known from Panavision glass.
The Product Lines
The flagship is the Apollo 2x Anamorphic series — nine focal lengths from 24mm to 180mm, full-frame capable from 40mm, all in PL-mount. In 2025, the Aura series was added: Super-35 optimized, cleaner in look than the Apollo, at a lower price. Both lines are hand-assembled in Kharkiv.
On Set
Apollo lenses weigh between 1.7 and 2.9 kg each — light enough for Steadicam and gimbal. The minimum focus distance of 38 cm is exceptional for anamorphic lenses. DPs use this for intimate close-ups with full anamorphic oval bokeh, without needing to screw on diopters. The housings come in white, red, and black — a nod to the Apollo moon missions.