Front Anamorphic Zooms – AWZ2 40-80mm T2.8 and ATZ 70-200mm T3.5 

Introduced in 2004, the Panavision Anamorphic Wide-Angle Zoom (AWZ2) is the first modern zoom to use anamorphic elements at the front of the lens. The industry often refers to the AWZ2 as the “Bailey zoom,” after John Bailey, ASC, whose creative thirst for a superior wide-angle anamorphic zoom inspired Panavision’s engineers to develop this groundbreaking technology. In 2007, the AWZ2 was joined by the Anamorphic Telephoto Zoom (ATZ), the second modern zoom lens to use anamorphic elements at the front of the lens. 

Both zooms represent a new standard of high-performance, compact anamorphic optics. Thanks to advanced computer-aided design, internal mechanical improvements, and modern optical glass, these lenses offer high contrast, sharp resolution, and minimized veiling glare, ghosting, distortion, and breathing. The front-anamorphic design substantially reduces stop loss, mitigates aberrations, and improves field illumination. 

Thanks to their high-performance imaging, these zooms are fully functional as in-shot zooms or as variable primes. The lenses offer constant aperture at all zoom and focus positions, and constant focus at all zoom positions. The symmetrical housing prevents mechanical interference with camera viewing systems. The performance and size characteristics make these zoom lenses comparable to E Series anamorphic primes. 

AWZ2.3 37-85mm T2.8 

The AWZ2.3 is an evolution of Panavision’s AWZ 40-80mm zoom and complements Panavision’s T Series primes. The AWZ2.3 is optimized for electronic sensors (the zoom is not compatible with spinning-mirror cameras) while retaining desirable anamorphic flaring and breathing characteristics. 

The optical layout adopts mechanical advances from the G Series and provides a large sweet spot of focus. Optical features include high contrast, well-balanced aberration control, excellent glare resistance, tightly controlled anamorphic squeeze ratio, and minimal breathing. 

ALZ10 42-425mm T4.5 

Along with the AWZ2.3, the AZL10 further complements Panavision’s T Series anamorphic lenses. Optimized for larger sensor coverage, the ALZ10 covers DXL2 8K anamorphic to 44mm and 7K anamorphic at all zoom, focus, and iris settings. 

With an optical layout that provides a large sweet spot of focus, the ALZ10 is further characterized by high contrast, better field illumination, well-balanced aberration control, excellent glare resistance, tightly controlled anamorphic squeeze ratio, and minimal breathing.   

Primo Anamorphic Zooms – ALZ3 270-840mm T4.5 and ALZ11 48-550mm T4.5 

Panavision offers anamorphic versions of the spherical 11:1 and 3:1 Primo zooms. Equipped with rear-mounted anamorphic optics, both of these zooms work well as an in-shot zoom or as a variable prime.