Laowa Proteus 2x Anamorphic Zoom Series Announced – Lightweight, Compact, and (more) Affordable

Lens News

by Alexandra Thompson6 days ago

It’s not every day that we see a new anamorphic zoom series hit the market, let alone one that claims to be lightweight and (relatively) affordable. Venus Optics, the company behind the quirky Laowa Probe lens and the Proteus 2X Anamorphic Prime Series, is now presenting the Laowa Proteus 2x Anamorphic Zoom Series. With a constant 2x squeeze, a parfocal zoom design, and a lightweight build, these lenses bring some interesting possibilities to the table. Let’s take a closer look at what they offer.

Last year, Venus Optics introduced the Laowa Ranger S35 Compact Cine Zoom Series, a set of compact Super 35 mm cinema zoom lenses, and the Proteus Flex Series, anamorphic lenses with swappable flare options. Now, they’re launching their anamorphic zoom series with two lenses, the 26-45mm and 45-85mm, with a constant T2.9 across the zoom range, and featuring a “unique 2x squeeze anamorphic look” carried over from the Laowa Proteus Prime Series.

Laowa 2x Anamorphic Zoom – key features and design

What makes the Proteus 2x Zoom lenses stand out is their compactness and weight – each lens is 7.48 in (19cm) and weighs approximately 3.3 lbs (1.5 kg), making them among the lightest in their category for Super 35 sensors, according to the company. This could be a welcome improvement for cinematographers working in fast-paced environments, like handheld or gimbal setups, where traditional anamorphic zooms can be cumbersome.

The lenses also feature oval bokeh, organic focus roll-off, and three flare color choices (Amber, Blue, and Silver). The constant T2.9 aperture maintains steady light across the zoom range, and the minimum focus distance of 19in (50cm) allows for fairly close shots. The lenses have a 31.9mm image circle diameter, making them compatible with a range of sensor sizes, including the RED V-Raptor in 7K 6:5 mode and the ARRI Alexa S35 in a 4.6K 6:5 crop.

Anamorphic zooms – a small but expanding market

Anamorphic zoom lenses are a rare breed. Most anamorphic cinematography is done with primes, as zooms tend to be heavy, expensive, and tricky to engineer optically. Traditionally, filmmakers using zooms would either attach anamorphic adapters to spherical zoom lenses or rely on massive, high-end cinema zooms from manufacturers like Cooke (Varotal/i FF) or Angénieux (Optimo Anamorphic). These are often out of reach for independent filmmakers, costing tens of thousands of dollars per lens.

Laowa’s Proteus Zooms aim to be a more accessible alternative, though “affordable” is still a stretch – these lenses are still a serious investment. However, compared to Laowa’s well-regarded Proteus Prime Series, the zooms come with a bit more weight and bulk but offer the added flexibility of variable focal lengths.

Usefulness and limitations

While the Proteus Zooms help fill a gap in the market, their value depends on what cinematographers might need. For productions that require quick lens changes or flexible framing, having a parfocal zoom lens that maintains a constant 2x squeeze can be a big advantage.

However, a consideration is that these are Super 35 lenses, which limits their use on full-frame cinema cameras. Laowa does offer a 1.4x full-frame expander, but it comes with an additional cost and some light loss. In an era where many cinematographers are transitioning to larger sensors, this is something to consider if you are thinking of going full-frame in the near future.

Price and availability

The Laowa Proteus Zoom Series comes in native ARRI PL Mount and includes an interchangeable Canon EF mount in the box. Additional mount options – Canon RF, Sony E, Nikon Z, and L mount – are available for purchase separately. Both the Proteus Zoom 26-45mm T2.9 and the Proteus Zoom 45-85mm T2.9 lenses are available now and are priced at $5,999 / €7,524.29. You can also purchase both lenses in a kit for $10,999 / €13,823.30. The Laowa 1.4x Full Frame Expander PL costs $599 / €594.21. For more information on the Proteus Zoom lenses, please see the Laowa website here.

Do you prefer shooting with anamorphic primes or zooms? Do you see Super 35 as a limitation, or do you still prefer it for your projects? Please share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.