Sirui Sirui Astra T1.8 1.33x AF Anamorphic 3-Cine Lens Review

The Sirui Astra T1.8 1.33x AF Anamorphic 3-Cine Lens Kit delivers genuine cinematic widescreen looks at a surprisingly accessible price. For around $2,550, you get three sharp full-frame primes (50, 75, 100mm) with usable autofocus, making it a great entry point for filmmakers wanting to experiment with anamorphic video.

If you're a filmmaker or serious video shooter looking to get that classic widescreen cinematic look without breaking the bank, the Sirui Astra T1.8 1.33x AF Anamorphic 3-Cine Lens Kit is a pretty compelling option. For around $2,550, you get three prime lenses (50mm, 75mm, and 100mm) designed specifically for full-frame L-mount cameras like the Panasonic S5 II. The big sell here is the anamorphic effect: these lenses squeeze the image horizontally, so when you de-squeeze it in post, you get a wider 2.4:1 aspect ratio with those signature oval bokeh balls and blue streak flares. It's a kit built for one thing: creating a specific cinematic style.

What makes this Sirui kit stand out in the budget anamorphic space is the inclusion of autofocus. Most anamorphic lenses are manual focus only, which can be a deal-breaker for solo shooters or run-and-gun work. Here, you can flip a switch to go between manual and autofocus, which is a huge plus for versatility. The lenses are designed to cover a full-frame sensor with a 44mm image circle, so there's no cropping involved to get that widescreen look. You're using the entire sensor, which is great for low-light performance.

Our optical testing puts these lenses in the 95th percentile, which is impressive for a kit at this price. That means sharpness and clarity are top-notch, especially when you consider the complex 18-element, 13-group design needed for anamorphic optics. The 11-blade aperture diaphragm helps keep bokeh looking smooth, though our bokeh quality score sits at a more average 56th percentile—the oval bokeh is part of the anamorphic charm, but it's not going to compete with the creamy, round bokeh of a high-end spherical portrait lens.

The autofocus performance lands in the 45th percentile. It works, and it's a welcome feature, but don't expect it to be as snappy or reliable as a native Panasonic or Sigma lens. For critical focus pulls, you'll likely want to use manual focus. There's no image stabilization built into the lenses either (35th percentile), so you'll need a gimbal or a camera with solid in-body stabilization to keep shots steady. The minimum focus distance of 500mm (about 1.6 feet) and 1:7.2 magnification ratio mean these aren't macro lenses, but they're fine for typical portrait and scene work.

At $2,550 for three lenses, the value proposition is clear: this is the most accessible way to get a full set of anamorphic primes. Individual anamorphic lenses from brands like Atlas Orion or Cooke can cost more than this entire kit. You're trading some build quality (57th percentile) and ultimate optical perfection for a huge cost savings. If your goal is to experiment with or regularly produce anamorphic footage on a budget, there's really nothing else that offers this combination of focal lengths and features at this price point.

The most direct competitor isn't another anamorphic kit, but rather investing in high-quality spherical primes. For a similar budget, you could get a Panasonic Lumix S Pro prime or a Sigma Art lens, which would offer faster apertures (like f/1.4), better autofocus, and sharper results for photography. But you wouldn't get the anamorphic look. If you're set on anamorphic, the other option is to buy a single, more expensive anamorphic lens from Meike or Viltrox, but you'd only have one focal length. The Sirui kit's advantage is giving you a working set of three focal lengths in one purchase, which is crucial for actually shooting a project. Compared to the Meike 55mm F1.8 Pro or Viltrox primes listed as competitors, those are spherical lenses for photography; they're in a different category altogether. The Sirui Astra is a specialized tool for a specific job.

Skip this kit if you're primarily a stills photographer, a travel vlogger, or a solo creator who needs a simple, all-in-one lens. The anamorphic workflow adds steps in editing, and the lenses are heavy and lack stabilization. If you're on a tight budget and aren't sure you need the anamorphic look, invest in a fast standard prime lens first. Also, if you don't own an L-mount camera, this kit isn't for you—look for anamorphic options for your specific mount or consider adapting manual-only lenses.

So, should you buy the Sirui Astra Anamorphic 3-Lens Kit? If you're a videographer or indie filmmaker who specifically wants that cinematic anamorphic look for narrative work, music videos, or commercial projects, and you shoot on an L-mount camera, this is a no-brainer. The optical quality is excellent, and having three focal lengths with autofocus capability is a massive advantage at this price. However, if you're a hybrid shooter who also needs great stills, a travel photographer, or someone just dipping a toe into video, this kit is overkill and too specialized. You'd be better served by a versatile zoom or a set of fast spherical primes. This is a tool for creators who already know they want the anamorphic aesthetic.