Sirui Astra Series T1.8 1.33x 100mm Full-Frame Anamorphic Review

The Sirui Astra 100mm T1.8 is a budget-friendly gateway to the anamorphic look. Its optics are superb (95th percentile), delivering sharp images with classic blue streaks and oval bokeh. Worth buying if you need that specific cinematic style, but skip it if you need a versatile, all-purpose lens.

The Sirui Astra 100mm T1.8 is a specialized tool. It's a full-frame anamorphic prime lens that gives you that cinematic 2.4:1 widescreen look without cropping your sensor. That means you get all your resolution and a unique, stretched bokeh and those signature blue streak flares.

It's built for L-mount cameras and gives you the choice of autofocus or manual focus. At 100mm and T1.8, it's a portrait-length cine lens that's surprisingly light for what it does, coming in under two pounds. Just know going in: this isn't your everyday walk-around lens.

The optics are the star here, landing in the 95th percentile in our database. That means sharp, clean images with minimal distortion. The anamorphic character—the oval bokeh and vertical stretch—is the whole point, and it delivers. The autofocus is fine, but it's in the 45th percentile, so don't expect lightning-fast subject tracking. It's more of a 'set your focus and shoot' tool. The minimum focus distance is 2.3 feet, which is decent but not super close, and there's no image stabilization, so you'll want a gimbal or tripod for video.

At $849, this lens is a bargain for the anamorphic look. Traditional anamorphic lenses cost thousands, often tens of thousands. Sirui gets you 90% of the way there for a fraction of the price. You're paying for those unique optical characteristics and solid build, not for blazing AF or stabilization. If you want that cinematic flare and stretch, this is probably the most affordable ticket in town.

This lens doesn't have many direct competitors. The listed 'competitors' like the Meike 55mm or Viltrox 35mm are standard spherical photo lenses—they're cheaper and more versatile, but they won't give you the anamorphic look at all. For a true anamorphic alternative, you'd be looking at Sirui's own wider Astra lenses (like a 35mm or 50mm) or jumping up to brands like Vazen or Atlas, which cost several times more. The Astra 100mm carves out a niche: it's the most accessible way to get a long, portrait-style anamorphic look.

If you're looking for a general-purpose, do-everything lens, look elsewhere. The 100mm focal length is tight, the anamorphic look is a specific creative choice, and there's no stabilization. This is a specialist tool, not a daily driver.

Buy this if you're a filmmaker, videographer, or creative photographer who specifically wants the anamorphic aesthetic—the blue flares, oval bokeh, and 2.4:1 aspect ratio—and you need a 100mm (fairly tight) field of view. It's perfect for indie films, music videos, or stylized portrait work where that look is the goal. The hybrid AF is a nice bonus for solo shooters.