Sony BLAZAR LENS MANTIS 1.33x Full-Frame Anamorphic Review

The Blazar Mantis is a $5,399 six-lens anamorphic kit that trades optical performance (35th percentile) for a specific cinematic look. You get the classic 1.33x squeeze and oval bokeh across 25mm to 135mm, but with a slow T2.0 aperture and no autofocus. It's a niche tool for filmmakers who need the aesthetic on a budget.

The Blazar Mantis 1.33x Full-Frame Anamorphic kit is a $5,399 investment in a very specific look. You're getting six prime lenses—25, 35, 50, 75, 100, and 135mm—all with a 1.33x squeeze for that cinematic widescreen field of view. The core specs are a T2.0 max aperture and a 14-blade iris designed to produce the signature oval bokeh and amber flares these lenses are known for.

But let's be clear about what you're buying. Our data puts these lenses in the 29th percentile for aperture speed and the 35th percentile for optical performance. That means you're not paying for cutting-edge sharpness or low-light prowess. You're paying for character. The 0.8 MOD gearing and 180-degree focus rotation are pure cine features, and the interchangeable mount system (starting with Sony E) is a smart move for a set this expensive.

Performance here is about the anamorphic look, not benchmark charts. The 1.33x squeeze is the headline act, delivering that wide, cinematic field of view without needing an ultra-wide lens. The bokeh quality scores in the 63rd percentile, which is the kit's highest ranking and confirms the oval highlights are a real strength. However, the optical performance percentile (35th) tells us sharpness and aberration control are average at best. The T2.0 aperture is decent, but it's not class-leading; it lands in the 29th percentile, so don't expect to compete with f/1.4 or even f/1.8 primes in low light. The 14-blade iris should give you smooth aperture transitions, which is crucial for video.

At $5,399 for six full-frame anamorphic primes, the value proposition is niche. On a per-lens basis, it's under $900 each, which seems almost reasonable until you look at the performance percentiles. You're paying for the anamorphic character and the convenience of a matched set, not for optical excellence. Compared to renting high-end anamorphics for a single shoot, buying this kit could make long-term financial sense for a dedicated creator. But compared to buying six sharp, fast spherical primes, the value hinges entirely on how badly you need that specific squeezed look.

This isn't competing with the Meike 55mm F1.8 or the Viltrox 35mm F1.7. Those are cheap, sharp, autofocus stills lenses. The Mantis kit is in a different league—manual, anamorphic, and cine-focused. A closer comparison might be against a single high-end anamorphic prime from Cooke or ARRI, which can cost as much as this entire kit. The trade-off is obvious: the Blazar set gives you six focal lengths for the price of one elite lens, but you accept the 35th percentile optical performance. For indie filmmakers who need the look on a budget, that's a compelling math. For anyone prioritizing optical purity, it's a non-starter.

Skip this kit if you're a stills photographer or a hybrid shooter. The complete lack of autofocus and stabilization (36th percentile) makes it a chore for photography. Also, if your priority is tack-sharp, aberration-free optics, the 35th percentile optical score is a dealbreaker. And obviously, if you don't care about the anamorphic look, there's zero reason to spend $5,399 on lenses with these performance metrics.

We'd recommend the Blazar Mantis kit to one specific person: the independent filmmaker or dedicated videographer who lives and breathes the anamorphic aesthetic and needs a cost-effective way to own a full set. The data is clear—you're compromising on optical performance (35th percentile) and aperture speed (29th percentile) to get that 1.33x squeeze and oval bokeh. If that trade-off is your entire creative goal, this kit is a logical purchase. For everyone else—stills shooters, run-and-gun videographers, or anyone who values razor sharpness—this is a hard pass.