ANAMORPHIC VS SPHERICAL
Today on The Genre Filmmaker Journal, we will be studying the basic differences between anamorphic and spherical lenses. While anamorphic provides a classic and sometimes dream like film look, it can also be a highly impractical and expensive way to shoot for independent filmmakers. The focal length options are more limited for a low-budget work, much more light is required to shoot in low-light on slower anamorphic lenses, and teams will actually have much less flexibility in post production. But when one thinks of classic films, westerns (both spaghetti and American), Hollywood epics and beyond, one can feel the strength of the anamorphic film image in their mind. Below are some more references and studies. I am very curious of the overall feeling I can get out of an iphone shooting on the Moment Gold Flare 1.33 in 4K. I think the iphones and specifically Moment lenses, are high quality options for a small 4K B Camera on certain situations.
Below, anamorphic vs spherical lens glass shape. Credit for this image: Weddio Academy
A great image to quickly see and understand the difference of anamorphic versus spherical. Notice background shape of the Bokeh (out of focus spots of light in background) in these shots. In the background of the spherical they are round, in the anamorphic, they look long and stretch vertical into a stretched oval. Not just Bokeh, the left and right edges are "desqueezed" to provide a wider and more cinematic field of view. Credit for this image: Weddio Academy
An excellent video essays below on this.
Credit to: StudoBinder
Credit to: The Depths Cine