BLAZAR APEX 1.33x Autofocus Anamorphic Lenses – First Look

by Omri Keren LapidotSeptember 15^th, 2024

BLAZAR APEX is a new line of anamorphic lenses with a new trick up its sleeve – autofocus. The new APEX line starts with both a 35mm T1.8 and a 50mm T1.8 1.33x S35 anamorphic. These are claimed to be the world’s first autofocus anamorphic lenses on the market. The lenses are available in Canon RF, Sony E, Nikon Z, and FUJIFILM X mounts. As anamorphic filmmaking becomes more popular, it’s nice to see manufacturers rising up to the challenge, making it more accessible and easy to use.

Edit: We are happy to confirm that an L Mount version of this AF Anamorphic lens is coming up too!

BLAZAR, previously known as Great Joy, hasn’t been around for as long as some other lens manufacturers, but they’ve made every second count. Over the last year, the company churned out an impressive set of anamorphic lenses with the Remus series, and now they’re taking a significant step forward by launching what they claim to be the world’s first autofocus anamorphic lenses.

Why aren’t there any other autofocus anamorphic lenses?

First things first – we should acknowledge the complexity of autofocusing an anamorphic lens. Autofocus systems were never built to cope with the extreme distortions created by these lenses, so bear in mind we’re all treading on somewhat untouched soil here. As of now, for example, some cameras disable autofocus when the de-squeeze function is engaged.

Another challenge comes from the cine nature of the BLAZAR APEX. The geared focus ring doesn’t seem to have a direct mechanical link to the moving lens elements, yet it does have distance markings, making the transition from manual to automatic focusing quite challenging. It seems BLAZAR went with a fly-by-wire solution here. When the lens is set to AF mode, focus will follow the subject, but the ring will not move. Once put back in MF mode, the focus will return to the mark the ring is set to.

How does the autofocus work?

Based on our extremely short time with the BLAZAR APEX 50mm T1.8, we can say that it works surprisingly well. We’ve tried it on the brand-new Canon EOS C80, and it seems to track faces and follow subjects as they walk towards the camera pretty well. And, most importantly, the camera did so with 1.33x de-squeeze function turned on. Bear in mind this lens is still a pre-production unit, and there may be some compatibility issues that may require a fix either by BLAZAR or by camera manufacturers. Anyway, I wouldn’t expect it to perform as well as the next Canon, Sony, Nikon, or FUJIFILM native lens. Still – it’s very impressive, all things considered.

Build and ergonomics

The new BLAZAR APEX lenses are relatively compact anamorphic lenses. They share some signature design cues with other BLAZAR anamorphic lenses. The outer barrel is made completely of metal with a bare aluminum front barrel. The focus ring is black, and the rear part of the lens is orange and houses the iris ring. At its back end, we’ll find the mount with full electronic connections and a USB-C port.

Who is the BLAZAR APEX series for?

With a lightweight, relatively compact size, a speculated $1,000-ish price, and, of course, autofocus capabilities, the BLAZAR APEX seems to target a new user base. Traditional anamorphic filmmaking used to require a high level of craftsmanship. Manual focus, some sort of rigging due to lens size and weight, and overall operation weren’t for the faint-hearted.

Price and availability

Pricing is yet to be determined but should be in line with other BLAZAR products, such as the Remus line, so expect it to circle around $1,000. Shipping is due for Christmas, so you don’t need to worry about what to get for your cine-savvy loved ones.

For more information, please keep an eye on Blazar’s website.

Do you think the BLAZAR APEX autofocus anamorphic lenses mark a new age of accessible anamorphic optics? What do you think of hybrid AF/MF cine lenses? Let us know in the comments down below.