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

Optical quality is top-tier (96th percentile), but everything else is a compromise. This $2,294 three-lens kit delivers a true, no-crop anamorphic look with usable autofocus, making it a solid entry point for dedicated videographers. Just don't expect it to be your everyday lens.

The Sirui Astra T1.8 1.33x AF Anamorphic 3-Cine Lens Kit is a $2,294 ticket to a very specific cinematic look. It's a set of three primes (50mm, 75mm, and 100mm) designed to squeeze a 2.4:1 widescreen image onto a standard full-frame sensor without cropping, giving you that classic anamorphic vertical stretch and oval bokeh. The headline here is the optical quality, which lands in the 96th percentile. That means these lenses are sharp and controlled, but they're also heavy, not weather-sealed, and their autofocus and versatility scores are well below average. This isn't a do-everything lens set; it's a tool for a specific job.

Let's talk about what this kit does well. That 96th percentile optical score is the star of the show. In practical terms, you're getting a level of sharpness and aberration control that's genuinely impressive for the price point, especially considering the complexity of anamorphic optics. The trade-off is in the other metrics. Autofocus sits in the 45th percentile, which is fine for deliberate, cinematic pulls but won't keep up with fast action. There's no stabilization (36th percentile), so you'll need a good gimbal or rig. And while the T1.8 aperture sounds fast, it's only in the 29th percentile for this category, meaning many competing cine primes are significantly brighter.

At $2,294 for three lenses, the value proposition is clear: you're paying for accessible anamorphic optics. Compared to renting or buying traditional cinema anamorphics, this is a bargain. But within the world of stills/video hybrid lenses, it's a niche purchase. You're trading general versatility for a specific look. The price gets you into the anamorphic game with autofocus capability, which is rare at this cost, even if that AF isn't class-leading.

This kit doesn't really compete with the listed stills lenses like the Nikon Z 35mm f/1.8 S or Viltrox primes. Those are sharper across the frame for photos and have faster, more reliable AF. The real competition is other entry-level anamorphic options. Compared to single focal length anamorphics, this three-lens kit offers more shooting flexibility. Against manual-focus-only anamorphics, the selectable AF is a legitimate advantage for solo shooters or run-and-gun scenarios, even if it's not perfect. You're buying a system here, not just a lens.

Hybrid shooters and travel photographers should steer clear. The kit scores in the 32nd percentile for travel and 38th for versatility. The weight (635g per lens), lack of stabilization, and specialized anamorphic output make it a poor choice for casual use or run-and-gun documentary work where speed and flexibility are key. If your scorecard doesn't have 'cinematic narrative video' at the top, your money is better spent elsewhere.

If you're a filmmaker or serious videographer chasing the anamorphic look and you need the focal length flexibility of a three-lens kit, this Sirui Astra set is a compelling, data-backed choice. The optical performance is excellent for the price, and the hybrid AF is a useful bonus. However, if you're a hybrid shooter who also needs great stills, fast apertures, stabilization, or weather sealing, the data says to look elsewhere. The low versatility (38th percentile) and travel (32nd percentile) scores don't lie.