This 58mm CineMorph Blue Streak Filter from Vid-Atlantic is designed to be used perpendicular to a point light source such as the sun, a light bulb, or a candle. It can create the effect of a scene or image that has been recorded with an anamorphic lens and then displayed using a complementary reverse-projection lens. This can result in streaks that are symmetric and extend horizontally from a prominent point light source to draw attention to a specific part of the frame, or to create a visually dramatic effect. Additionally, otherwise circular, out-of-focus highlights within the frame are given an elongated, elliptical shape that is also reminiscent of many wide-aspect-ratio movies recorded on film.

If an image or footage is captured with an anamorphic lens for the primary purpose of obtaining a greater aspect ratio than what is possible when only using spherical lenses on a 35mm format, the direct result will appear compressed and distorted. Projecting this compressed and distorted footage or imagery through a reverse-anamorphic projection lens allows elements within the scene to be viewed in their correct proportions. A complementary effect of this process after it is completed is the creation of blue-colored, horizontally symmetrical highlights from prominent point light sources that can extend through the frame, as well as elongated, elliptical highlights from out-of-focus point light sources such as those that appear in the background.

Many cinematographers and photographers find these effects desirable, and the Vid-Atlantic 58mm CineMorph Blue Streak Filter is intended to allow both such highlights to be easily reproduced when used with a recommended lens that does not have an anamorphic design. It features a built-in, plastic diaphragm that is protected by a layer of optical glass with an intersecting filament. The filament's action is limited to prominent point light sources and renders them with blue-hued streaks, which emulates the character of traditional anamorphic optics that are not designed to suppress colored streaking. Simultaneously, the plastic diaphragm's own elliptical aperture can reproduce the type of out-of-focus highlights that are associated with a traditional anamorphic process.

To minimize vignetting, a recommended lens provides a single focal length that is 50mm or greater for 35mm film, full-frame digital, or APS-C digital cameras, and can be set to an f-stop ranging from f/0.95 to f/2.8. To help ensure that the elliptical highlights are not clipped, this 58mm CineMorph Blue Streak Filter is intended for use with lenses that have 46 to 62mm front filter threads, while lenses with 62 to 82mm front filter threads can instead use a separately available Vid-Atlantic 77mm CineMorph Blue Streak Filter. CineMorph Clear Streak Filters are also available, and can allow existing colors or lack of colors displayed by prominent point light sources to be maintained.

A lightweight, aluminum-alloy step-up ring is included, which can be used to adapt this filter on lenses with 52mm filter threads. Step-up or step-down rings for recommended lenses with filter threads other than 58mm or 52mm are separately available.

This filter is most effective for pictures where the light sources used to generate highlights feature a significant degree of contrast from the rest of the image. Its diaphragm, protective glass, and filament are mounted within an aluminum-alloy filter ring that can be rotated to adjust the overall orientation of the streak and elliptical highlight effects.

Streak Effect from Point Light Source    Anamorphic, Symmetric Streaks    Blue Color for Streaks    Anamorphic Bokeh Effect    Elliptical, Out-of-Focus Highlights    Optical Glass, Plastic Construction    Rotatable, Aluminum-Alloy Filter Ring    58mm Front Filter Threads    52-58mm Step-Up Ring    Plastic Case

• Creates the effect of a scene or image that has been recorded with an anamorphic lens and then displayed using a complementary reverse-projection lens
• Renders prominent point light sources with symmetric streaks and imparts an elongated, elliptical shape to otherwise circular, out-of-focus highlights within a frame to create a visually dramatic effect that is reminiscent of many wide-aspect-ratio movies recorded on film
• Features a built-in, plastic diaphragm that is protected by a layer of optical glass with an intersecting filament
• Filament's action is limited to prominent point light sources and renders them with blue-hued streaks
• When used with a single-focal-length lens that is 50mm or greater, and set to an f-stop ranging from f/0.95 to f/2.8 on a 35mm film, full-frame digital, or APS-C digital camera, the diaphragm's own elliptical aperture can reproduce the type of out-of-focus highlights that are associated with a traditional anamorphic process while minimizing vignetting
• Intended for use with lenses that have 46 to 62mm front filter threads, while lenses with 62 to 82mm front filter threads can instead use a separately available Vid-Atlantic 77mm CineMorph Blue Streak Filter
• Most effective for pictures where the light sources used to generate streaks and out-of-focus highlights feature a significant degree of contrast from the rest of the image
• Filter diaphragm, protective glass, and filament are mounted within an aluminum-alloy filter ring that can be rotated in order to adjust the overall orientation of the streak and elliptical highlight effects
• 58mm front filter threads allow for use with other filters
• Lightweight, aluminum-alloy step-up ring included to adapt filter on lenses with 52mm filter threads
• Plastic filter case for storage and transport

Related Questions and Answers

Q: 1. does it work on sigma 56mm 1.8 ?

A: If you are referring to the Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary Lens, then yes, the Vid-Atlantic 58mm Anamorphic Bokeh Filter with 52-58mm Step-Up Ring would be compatible for use on the Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary Lens. However, as the Sigma lens uses 55mm filter threads, you may also need to purchase the Sensei PRO 55-58mm Aluminum Step-Up Ring, B&H # SESURPA5558, to connect the filter onto your Sigma lens.

Q: 2. Would this pair with a Sigma 18-35 without a terrible amount of vignetting?

A: No, you would get a lot of vigentting.

Q: 3. Will this work on a Canon XF400 camcorder???

A: The efficacy of this lens accessory on sensors smaller than ASP-C has not been listed and is therefore doubtful.

Q: 4. Can this be used in combination with other 58-mm close-up lenses to increase magnification?

A: Technically yes you can but you will run into a softer image and vignetting the more optical elements you place in front of the front element.

Q: 5. What colour flare does this model have?

A: The color of the flare could be green, blue, white or orange depending on visible spectrum of different light sources passing through the filter. I found green to orange most often.

Q: 6. I have a Nikon 50mm 1.8 lens and I want to use the filters, can I use Aperture priority mode?

A: Yes but the filters have no bearing on exposure.

Q: 7. Will this work with a step-down ring on lenses that use filter threads larger than 58 mm?

A: This will work on 49 and 52 mm step up rings only

Q: 8. I bought these filters and it fits my lens, but it wont focus when I put it on my lens. How do you work it?

A: Only with the +1 will you still get any type of focus range. Itll get you closer than the normal lens minimum focus distance to about a foot from the lens. Depending on the lens. The others you will only be able to move yourself farther from or closer to the subject to get focus as youll only be a few inches from it.

Q: 9. Which lenses should i use with this filter on dslr full frame sensors ???

A: I recommend at least a 50mm lens that opens at 1.4 or 1.8. Beyond that aperture, the ovals will appear cut in half.

Q: 10. Will this work with the LUMIX 35-100 micro 4/3 mirrorless lens? The 35mm equivalent of that lens is 70-200.

A: Yes. The following will work with no step up or down rings needed.