Atlas Lens Co. recently revealed their plans to begin accepting pre-orders for three new lenses in their Mercury 1.5x anamorphic series designed for full-frame cameras. These new additions include lenses with focal lengths of 54mm, 95mm, and 138mm, with expected delivery in the third quarter of 2024.
The Mercury series was first introduced before the IBC 2022 event, featuring initial focal lengths of 36mm, 42mm, and 72mm T2.2. Atlas’ designer, Forrest Schultz, provided a detailed explanation of these lenses at the show, which is available to view in a recorded interview.
Later, at the NAB 2023 event, Atlas displayed a prototype of the 54mm T2.2 1.5x lens, announcing its availability for pre-order soon, alongside the 95mm and 138mm lenses.
The Mercury Series Group II lenses are characterized by their vintage anamorphic aesthetic and are notably more compact and lightweight than Atlas’s Orion 2x anamorphic lenses. These Mercury lenses cover full-frame and large-format sensors without requiring an expander. Their 1.5x squeeze factor is a key element in their reduced size.
The new 54mm, 95mm, and 138mm lenses are said to maintain the distinctive characteristics and color matching of the first set, promising golden flares, minimal barrel distortion, and almost no chromatic aberration.
These lenses are exclusively available in the ARRI PL mount and feature uniform mechanical specifications, such as a 95mm front diameter and a modern cinematic housing with standardized gears.
News source: https://atlaslensco.com/mercury-series/
