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At Cine Gear 2026, we caught up with Sonny Liu of SIRUI to talk about the latest addition to the company’s IronStar anamorphic line: the 100mm T2.8. The series covers full frame and uses a 1.5x squeeze, while this lens adds something still unusual for anamorphics: built-in 0.5x macro capability.
We first covered the SIRUI IronStar 1.5x T1.9 full-frame anamorphic cine lenses when the company introduced the original 35mm, 45mm, and 60mm set. Earlier this year, SIRUI expanded the IronStar line with 75mm, 100mm, and 135mm lenses, bringing the series to six focal lengths. The 100mm is the unusual one in that group, since it addresses one of the practical limitations of anamorphic shooting: getting close to the subject without adding diopters.
The IronStar series began last year with three T1.9 prime lenses: the 35mm, 45mm, and 60mm. This year, SIRUI added three more, bringing the lineup to six. As Sonny explained, the 75mm keeps the T1.9 aperture, while the 100mm and 135mm come in at T2.8. The slower aperture on the longer focal lengths is deliberate, allowing SIRUI to keep the lenses the same size and control costs across the set.
The 100mm T2.8 Macro is the standout lens in the newer trio. According to Sonny, a common complaint about anamorphic lenses is that they often cannot focus close enough for detail shots or tighter framing. In those cases, shooters often turn to diopters, but that can mean losing infinity focus or accepting some loss in image quality.
SIRUI’s answer was to build macro capability directly into one of its prime lenses. The 100mm T2.8 Macro focuses down to 0.3m and offers 0.5x magnification, making it useful for detail work, product shots, or more intimate framing without adding extra glass to the front of the lens.
We also pressed Sonny on SIRUI’s pricing, which has sometimes been seen as moving down quickly after launch. He explained that prices have become more stable this year, and pointed to the company’s in-house supply chain as the reason it can keep costs low while still making good lenses affordably.
On the optical side, Johnnie asked whether SIRUI might move away from the pincushion distortion common to its anamorphic lenses. Sonny said the company watches market reactions closely, since some shooters prefer pincushion distortion while others prefer barrel distortion. He also said they are considering other options based on those preferences.
The IronStar 100mm T2.8 Macro is currently in pre-launch, with individual lenses priced at $999, and a complete three-lens set is $2,999. This applies to either the original 35mm, 45mm, and 60mm kit or the newer 75mm, 100mm, and 135mm kit.
Is the built-in close focus enough to make an anamorphic set more useful for your work? Do you prefer pincushion or barrel distortion in anamorphic lenses? Let us know in the comments.
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A camera was put in my hands at 16, and I’ve been taking photographs ever since. Before moving to Vienna, I worked as a photographer on film sets, telling stories as they unfolded behind the scenes. Since then, I’ve focused on immersive theater, both as a photographer and an actor. I am the photographer for the award-winning Nesterval ensemble, documenting the energy and atmosphere of their performances. I’m a teller of stories. Stories hold my interest. I’ll take on any project with a story to tell.