Kowa 16H on Angenieux 12-120 T2.2 for anamorphic filming on Arriflex 16BL

[Diego Collado]

Hi all,

Has anyone tried getting a Kowa 16H or something like a Sankor 16-D or similar on the Angenieux zoom for anamorphic filming on Standard 16mm with the 16BL? Although I like the frame size of Standard 16, I'd really like to get that wide image for a short I'm preparing and given the limited budget of our production, I'm inclined to keep using the 16BL I own (which isn't the most practical solution, but it's also fun to experiment!). I also have a few Schneider primes that are S-mount, but if it could work with the zoom lens, that'd be great.

Would it work at all? Viewfinder-wise, I'm building a small light-weight video out with a microscope lens, but I haven't gotten a low-latency de-squeezable feed out of it yet (I'm getting quite close, though).

 

Thank you for your help!

Edited May 19, 2023 by Diego Collado

[Mark Dunn]

The rear element is about 50mm. in diameter IIRC (I sold my 8Z, which is very similar some years ago) and it's nowhere near big enough to cover the 12-120 at any practical focal length without vignetting. I doubt it would cover any of the BL- mount primes either.

I don't know about alternatives.

[Diego Collado]

2 hours ago, Mark Dunn said:

The rear element is about 50mm. in diameter IIRC (I sold my 8Z, which is very similar some years ago) and it's nowhere near big enough to cover the 12-120 at any practical focal length without vignetting. I doubt it would cover any of the BL- mount primes either.

I don't know about alternatives.

Hi Mark,

Thank you for your quick reply!

I will keep that in mind when looking for other adapters. I have my eyes on an Isco Ultra Star from eBay. If I end up getting it, I will give it a go and post results here. Thanks again!

[Mark Dunn]

20 hours ago, Diego Collado said:

Hi Mark,

Thank you for your quick reply!

I will keep that in mind when looking for other adapters. I have my eyes on an Isco Ultra Star from eBay. If I end up getting it, I will give it a go and post results here. Thanks again!

I remember some Isco anamorphics with large rear elements from years ago. As you probably realise it's a critical measurement.

I don't know what you're after but the ISco Ultra Stars I see mostly appear to be projector lenses, which wouldn't have a large rear element (or a focussing helicoid unless it's been rehoused). So watch out for that.

Edited May 20, 2023 by Mark Dunn

[Doug Palmer]

The only zoom lenses I ever managed to adapt for the old front-mounted anamorphic lenses (such as the Kowa 8Z) were the Bolex Compacts, Som Berthiot and Switar.  Anything with a larger front element gave vignetting. Even with these lenses it was necessary to restrict zooming to 24 mm or longer, on regular-16.   It's also important to keep the gap between front element and rear of anamorphic as short as possible, and light-tight, using a separate bracket or mount.  However, I got good sharp results using these small zooms.