Pro Series 1.55X Anamorphic Lens MK2

The Beastgrip 1.55X Anamorphic Lens MK2 optically compresses the image horizontally by a stronger factor than lower-squeeze anamorphic lenses, allowing significantly more horizontal scene information to be captured on the camera sensor. After desqueezing, the image expands into a wider cinematic frame with a more pronounced anamorphic look.

Compared to lower squeeze factors, a 1.55X anamorphic lens produces a wider final aspect ratio, stronger anamorphic character, and more noticeable optical behavior. This includes classic anamorphic characteristics such as barrel distortion and horizontal lens flares, which contribute to a distinctly cinematic rendering that cannot be achieved through cropping or software-based widescreen formats.

The 1.55X anamorphic lens is designed for creators who want a more dramatic anamorphic effect, offering a wider frame and stronger optical character while preserving the benefits of true anamorphic capture.

The Beastgrip 1.55X Anamorphic Lens MK2 increases the horizontal field of view by optically compressing the image during capture. After desqueezing, the image expands horizontally, producing a very wide cinematic frame with a strong anamorphic look.

When shooting in a standard 16:9 format, desqueezing footage captured with a 1.55X anamorphic lens results in a final aspect ratio of approximately 2.76:1, delivering an ultra-wide cinematic presentation that emphasizes horizontal composition and anamorphic character.

For example, when used on a 24mm equivalent main camera (such as the main camera on modern iPhones), the 1.55X anamorphic lens captures a horizontal field of view comparable to a much wider lens, while preserving the natural vertical framing, perspective, and image quality of the main sensor.

When shooting in 4:3 Open Gate formats, desqueezing produces an image with an aspect ratio of approximately 2:1. This mode can be used to achieve a distinctive cinematic look and offers some additional framing flexibility. However, the lens is primarily designed and optimized for 16:9 capture, where it delivers its strongest overall optical performance and intended anamorphic rendering.

Unlike cropping a standard image to achieve a widescreen format, anamorphic capture preserves horizontal scene information through optical compression, resulting in a true widescreen image created by the lens rather than by software cropping.

The Beastgrip 1.55X Anamorphic Lens MK2 works best when aligned with the smartphone’s main (wide) camera. The main camera provides the largest sensor, best optics, and most consistent image quality, which is especially important when using a stronger anamorphic squeeze factor.

Built-in ultra-wide cameras are not usable with the 1.55X anamorphic lens. Their extremely wide field of view and optical design do not allow proper anamorphic image formation and will not produce a usable result.

The lens can produce good results on telephoto cameras found on older smartphone models, such as 2X and some 3X tele cameras. However, due to the stronger squeeze factor, performance on telephoto cameras is more limited compared to lower-squeeze anamorphic lenses. On modern smartphones with longer telephoto cameras, such as 4X or higher, the 1.55X anamorphic lens is not recommended, as the optical combination does not deliver reliable or consistent image quality.

Because a 1.55X anamorphic lens applies stronger horizontal optical compression, precise lens barrel orientation and accurate optical alignment are critical. Improper alignment can introduce skewed anamorphic distortion and uneven rendering across the frame. Using a compatible Beastgrip Pro universal rig or Beastcage for iPhone helps ensure correct alignment and optimal optical performance.

The Beastgrip 1.55X Anamorphic Lens MK2 creates a true ultra-wide cinematic image through optical horizontal compression, rather than by cropping a standard frame to a wider aspect ratio. This allows significantly more horizontal scene information to be captured while preserving vertical resolution and image quality.

Shooting in a standard widescreen format relies on digital cropping or scaling, which removes image data and does not change the optical behavior of the image. In contrast, a 1.55X anamorphic lens alters how the scene is rendered optically, producing a wider field of view, a wider final aspect ratio, and more pronounced anamorphic geometry that cannot be replicated through software alone.

Compared to lower squeeze anamorphic lenses, the 1.55X squeeze factor results in a wider horizontal field of view and stronger barrel distortion, giving the image a bold, wide anamorphic look similar to that of wide anamorphic lenses used in professional cinema. Using a 1.55X anamorphic lens is a creative choice for filmmakers who want an expansive frame and a more expressive anamorphic rendering, created optically rather than through post-production cropping.

The Beastgrip 1.55X Anamorphic Lens MK2 is best used for wide, cinematic shots where a strong sense of space, scale, and horizontal composition is desired. Its wider aspect ratio and expanded horizontal field of view make it well suited for scenes where the environment plays an important role in the composition.

This lens is an excellent choice for landscape cinematography, architecture, travel films, automotive content, and wide establishing shots, where the anamorphic look enhances the feeling of openness and visual impact. The stronger anamorphic geometry and barrel distortion contribute to a bold, expressive wide-angle anamorphic aesthetic.

The 1.55X anamorphic lens is also well suited for narrative and commercial projects that benefit from wide framing and immersive visuals. It is ideal when the goal is to emphasize space, motion across the frame, and cinematic scale, rather than tight close-ups or compressed perspectives.

The Beastgrip 1.55X Anamorphic Lens MK2 is designed to deliver strong, consistent optical performance while providing a wider field of view and more pronounced anamorphic rendering. When properly mounted and aligned, the lens maintains excellent detail, contrast, color accuracy, and resolution across the frame, making it well suited for wide cinematic compositions.

Because anamorphic lenses optically compress the image horizontally, the desqueezed image preserves significantly more horizontal scene information compared to cropped widescreen formats. The 1.55X squeeze factor introduces a wider aspect ratio and stronger anamorphic geometry, including barrel distortion, flares, and characteristic edge rendering with slight falloff toward the very corners of the frame, adding to the natural wide anamorphic character without compromising overall image quality.

When used with the smartphone’s main camera and correct alignment, the lens produces clean, detailed images with balanced rendering from side to side, delivering an excellent combination of optical performance and anamorphic character that distinguishes wide anamorphic capture from both standard spherical lenses and lower-squeeze anamorphic options.

The Beastgrip 1.55X Anamorphic Lens MK2 features stronger barrel distortion compared to lower squeeze anamorphic lenses, which is a natural and intentional characteristic of wide anamorphic optics. This distortion contributes to the bold, expansive anamorphic look and is part of the lens’s visual signature.

When shooting in the primary 16:9 format without filters, the lens produces no visible vignetting, delivering a clean and fully usable image across the frame. This behavior is consistent with the lens’s design and optimized optical coverage for 16:9 capture.

When shooting in 4:3 Open Gate formats, very slight vignetting may appear near the top and bottom edges of the frame. This is expected behavior, as Open Gate captures a taller image area beyond the lens’s primary 16:9 optimization. The effect is subtle and consistent with wide anamorphic optics.

Because the 1.55X anamorphic lens delivers an ultra-wide horizontal field of view, adding front-mounted filters may introduce mechanical vignetting, depending on filter size and thickness. To minimize or eliminate this, the use of the included 77mm filter adapter and 77mm filters is recommended. When shooting Open Gate with filters, vignetting may be more noticeable, and a very small crop in post-production may be required to fully eliminate it, depending on the filters used.

For optimal performance, proper lens alignment and correct spacing relative to the smartphone camera are critical. Using a compatible Beastgrip Pro universal rig or Beastcage for iPhone ensures accurate alignment and consistent spacing, helping the lens perform as intended and avoiding artifacts that can occur when the lens is not mounted correctly.

Yes. The Beastgrip 1.55X Anamorphic Lens MK2 introduces distinct anamorphic optical character, including horizontal lens flares and expressive wide anamorphic rendering that is more pronounced than with lower squeeze lenses.

Because of the stronger squeeze factor, the lens delivers an extremely wide horizontal field of view while preserving a natural vertical field of view. Combined with the lens’s stronger barrel distortion, this creates a unique form of spatial rendering (how depth, perspective, and space are perceived across the frame), giving images a wide, immersive feel that is characteristic of wide anamorphic optics.

Flares and highlight behavior respond naturally to light sources within the frame and are a direct result of the anamorphic optical design rather than software processing. These characteristics add visual personality and help create images that feel cinematic, organic, and intentionally styled.

Using a 1.55X anamorphic lens is a creative choice aimed at achieving a bold widescreen presentation with strong optical character, making it well suited for filmmakers who want an expansive frame and a distinctive wide anamorphic look that cannot be replicated digitally.

The Beastgrip 1.55X Anamorphic Lens MK2 is designed to be used with front-mounted filters, but it is not intended to be stacked with other conversion lenses.

Since the 1.55X anamorphic lens delivers an extremely wide horizontal field of view, it is more sensitive to mechanical vignetting caused by filters, depending on filter size and thickness. To minimize or eliminate this, the use of the included 77 mm filter adapter and 77 mm filters is recommended, especially when shooting in Open Gate mode.

As with the 1.33X anamorphic lens, Beastgrip offers a purpose-built 77mm close-up filter, which is the only additional optical element recommended for stacking. The close-up filter reduces the minimum focusing distance and enables closer focus while maintaining proper anamorphic rendering and optical alignment.

When shooting in Open Gate formats with filters, vignetting from filters may be more noticeable due to the taller captured image area. In such cases, a very small crop in post-production may be used if needed, depending on the filters used. With proper filter selection, alignment, and spacing, the lens delivers clean and consistent results.

The Beastgrip 1.55X Anamorphic Lens MK2 is primarily designed for video capture and cinematic filmmaking, where the wider aspect ratio, expanded horizontal field of view, and anamorphic optical character have the greatest visual impact.

For video, the lens is well suited for narrative projects, commercials, automotive content, travel films, and wide cinematic compositions where a bold anamorphic look and immersive framing are desired. Proper mounting, alignment, and the use of a camera app that supports anamorphic workflows are recommended for consistent video results.

The lens can also be used for photography, allowing creators to capture stylized still images with a wide anamorphic look and distinctive optical rendering. While anamorphic lenses are most commonly used in video workflows, the 1.55X anamorphic lens can be a creative tool for still photography as well.

The Beastgrip 1.55X Anamorphic Lens MK2 can be used with a smartphone’s native camera app, but for the most controlled and predictable results, especially when shooting video, a third-party camera app is recommended.

On iPhone, the native Camera app may automatically adjust camera selection depending on shooting mode and conditions. Additionally, image stabilization cannot be fully disabled, and native apps typically do not provide dedicated anamorphic desqueeze controls, which can make framing and monitoring less accurate when using an anamorphic lens. Using a third-party app allows for manual camera selection, stabilization control, and proper anamorphic preview.

On Android devices, some native camera apps offer Pro or Manual modes that provide greater control over camera selection and settings. When these options are available, the native app may work well with anamorphic lenses. Support for anamorphic workflows varies by device and app, so third-party apps remain the most reliable option for consistent results.

Detailed guidance on stabilization and desqueezing workflows is covered in separate FAQs.

When using the Beastgrip 1.55X Anamorphic Lens MK2, image stabilization should be turned off for optimal results. Anamorphic lenses rely on precise horizontal optical compression, and in-camera stabilization can interfere with this by introducing cropping, warping, or inconsistent rendering across the frame.

Because the 1.55X anamorphic lens produces an extremely wide horizontal field of view, stabilization artifacts can be more noticeable compared to lower squeeze lenses. Electronic or digital stabilization may alter image geometry, while optical stabilization can introduce subtle shifts that affect alignment and anamorphic consistency.

For best results, it is recommended to capture footage without in-camera stabilization and apply stabilization later in post-production if needed. This allows greater control over the final image without compromising anamorphic rendering. For stable shots during capture, the use of tripods, gimbals, or other camera support gear is strongly recommended.

Yes. Footage captured with the Beastgrip 1.55X Anamorphic Lens MK2 requires desqueezing to restore the correct image proportions. Because the lens applies stronger horizontal optical compression during capture, the recorded image must be desqueezed to achieve the intended aspect ratio and framing.

Most third-party camera apps designed for anamorphic workflows allow creators to record already desqueezed footage, not just preview it. These apps apply the correct desqueeze factor during recording, resulting in files that are immediately usable without additional scaling in post-production.

If footage is recorded in a squeezed format, it can still be easily desqueezed in post-production by applying a horizontal scale adjustment in standard video or photo editing software.

Proper desqueezing is essential for accurate framing and correct anamorphic rendering, especially with a wider squeeze factor like 1.55X. Using tools that fully support anamorphic capture ensures consistent results from recording through final delivery.

When used on the smartphone’s main camera, the Beastgrip 1.55X Anamorphic Lens MK2 produces a deep focus look, meaning a large portion of the scene remains in focus. On smartphones such as iPhones, focus changes typically occur over a relatively small range when transitioning from near focus to infinity.

With the anamorphic lens attached, the minimum focusing distance is approximately 4 feet, which is normal behavior for anamorphic optics, especially with a wider squeeze factor. This makes the lens best suited for medium to wide shots rather than close-up work by default. For closer focus and more creative close-up compositions, the use of a purpose-built 77mm close-up filter is recommended, as it reduces the minimum focusing distance while preserving proper anamorphic rendering.

Autofocus generally performs reliably due to the deep focus characteristics of the lens. However, for video workflows and consistent results, locking focus or using manual focus when available is recommended to avoid focus hunting and to maintain stable focus throughout a shot.

Yes. The Beastgrip 1.55X Anamorphic Lens MK2 can be used when shooting Open Gate video on the iPhone 17 Pro series, delivering a distinctive wide anamorphic look while capturing a taller image area.

As with other anamorphic lenses, Open Gate recording on iPhone does not apply in-camera image stabilization, which is ideal for preserving correct anamorphic rendering. Because the lens is primarily designed and optimized for 16:9 capture, shooting in a taller 4:3 Open Gate format may introduce slight vignetting near the top and bottom edges of the frame, along with more noticeable optical aberrations confined to those areas. These characteristics are limited to the top and bottom of the image and do not affect overall image quality or central framing, adding to the natural wide anamorphic character of the lens.

Due to the ultra-wide horizontal field of view, using front-mounted filters in Open Gate modes increases the likelihood of filter-induced vignetting, depending on filter size and thickness. To minimize this, the use of the included 77mm filter adapter and 77mm filters is recommended. In some cases, a very small crop in post-production may be used if needed, depending on the filters used.

Overall, Open Gate shooting with the Beastgrip 1.55X Anamorphic Lens MK2 works very well and produces excellent results. The slight vignetting and localized aberrations at the top and bottom edges are a natural result of wide anamorphic optics and do not compromise the core image quality.