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

A fantastic, affordable anamorphic lens for filmmakers who want that widescreen movie look. For everyone else, it's a heavy, single-purpose paperweight.

The Sirui Astra 100mm T1.8 is a one-trick pony, but it's a really good trick. This is a dedicated anamorphic lens for filmmakers who want that classic widescreen look with oval bokeh and horizontal lens flares, without needing to crop their footage. The one thing to know is that it's a specialist tool. It's not a general-purpose lens, and its optical performance is laser-focused on delivering a specific cinematic aesthetic. If you're shooting narrative films, music videos, or high-end corporate content and you want anamorphic character on a budget, this is your lens. If you're just taking photos or run-and-gun vlogging, look elsewhere.

What surprised us was the sheer optical quality. Our database puts it in the 95th percentile for optics, which is exceptional for a lens at this price point. The image is sharp, the flares are clean and neutral as advertised, and the 44mm image circle means you get full coverage on a full-frame sensor with no vignetting. The autofocus, however, lands in a less impressive 45th percentile. It's fine for controlled shots, but don't expect it to keep up with fast action. That's not really what this lens is for anyway.

At $849, it's a steal for what it does. You're getting a true anamorphic lens with great optics for less than the price of many high-end photo primes. If you need an anamorphic look, this is arguably the most accessible entry point that doesn't feel like a toy.

This lens doesn't have direct competitors because it's so specialized. You could compare it to the Meike 55mm F1.8 Pro, which is a sharp photo lens but isn't anamorphic and won't give you the widescreen look. The Viltrox 35mm F1.7 is another budget prime, but again, it's a standard spherical lens. If you want anamorphic, your real alternatives are adapting vintage lenses (which is fiddly) or spending several thousand dollars on something like a Cooke Anamorphic. The Sirui sits in a unique, affordable niche.

If you're a photographer, a travel vlogger, or someone who just wants a sharp 100mm prime lens, skip this. You don't want an anamorphic. Go get a used Sigma 105mm f/1.4 ART or a Sony 85mm f/1.8 instead. This lens is only for people who want the anamorphic look, period.

We recommend the Sirui Astra 100mm T1.8 for indie filmmakers and content creators who are serious about adding a cinematic, anamorphic look to their work and have a specific need for a 100mm focal length. It's a purpose-built tool that excels at its one job. For everyone else—travel shooters, hybrid photographers, or anyone who needs autofocus to be snappy—this lens will feel like a burden.