Iscorama

ISCO had been producing anamorphic lenses since the 1950s, but the first Iscorama model was not introduced until 1968, [2] and was targeted at the wealthy amateur photographer who wished to create panoramic 35mm slide shows. This first lens was a two-section detachable monobloc unit, consisting of a 50mm f/2.8 taking lens, and a 1.5× horizontal stretch focusable anamorphic adapter.

The original Iscoramas were discontinued at the end of the 1970s, by which point in time ISCO had released the Cinegon C-Mount Cine lens, plus the Iscorama 36 and Iscorama 54 screw-in anamorphic adapters, and the associated Iscostat projection mount system. These new stand-alone adapters were a tacit acknowledgement of the fact that many ISCO customers were mounting the front element of the original Iscorama detachable monobloc onto other manufacturers' taking lenses.

1982 saw the addition of the Iscorama 42 to the range,[1][2] and in the early 1990s, ISCO introduced a new series of sealed monobloc 50mm focal length anamorphic lenses, plus a pair of matching anamorphic projector lenses, all under the Iscorama brand. The sealed monobloc and projector lenses remained on sale until the end of the Iscorama era, although it appears that they never matched the sales figures of the original detachable monobloc Iscorama from the 1960s.

Because of steadily falling demand, ISCO took the decision to discontinue the entire Iscorama range in 2001.

Launched in 1968, this was a twin section detachable monobloc consisting of a fixed infinity focus f/2.8 50mm taking lens and a focusable anamorphic adapter that could be unscrewed from the taking lens. A standard 100mm projector lens was included in the Iscorama kit, and the anamorphic adapter could be attached to this, allowing the optically distorted images captured by the Iscorama monobloc to be projected in the correct aspect ratio.

The anamorphic section of the original Iscorama was the template for subsequent Iscorama adapters, all of which shared its 1.5× horizontal stretch ratio, patented focusing mechanism, and adjustable anamorphic alignment capability. The ISCO anamorphic focusing mechanism was unique in that the taking lens was simply set to infinity and then focus was adjusted using the anamorphic adapter alone. This was a major advance on competing manufacturers' designs, all of which required that focus was calibrated simultaneously on both the taking lens and the adapter.

The 1968 Iscorama was available in Exakta, Minolta SR, Nikon F, and Praktica M42 mounts and was the only Iscorama model to always feature an individual serial number on the front lock ring. They were shipped in blue and white packaging for the domestic German market, whilst export versions came in yellow and red boxes. None of this first generation of Iscoramas were multicoated.

These original Iscoramas are still amongst the most sought-after of all Iscoramas due to their flexibility - the assembled monobloc is an excellent 50mm lens for full frame DSLRs, whilst the adapter can be used with a large number of taking lenses on APS-C and Micro Four Thirds cameras without excessive vignetting occurring.

The Iscorama range of lenses offer higher levels of optical performance than comparable consumer-grade anamorphics. All models feature outstanding edge to edge sharpness, and demonstrate very low levels of chromatic aberration, although it is not certain whether or not the lenses are true achromats or apochromats. The only weakness in the Iscorama optical design appears to be the relatively high levels of complex cylindrical perspective distortion, which is most apparent when the adapters are attached to lenses with focal lengths shorter than 60mm. This deficiency is a notable shortcoming of the 2000 series sealed anamorphics, which suffer from significantly higher levels of cylindrical perspective distortion than the original 1960s Iscorama. Optical performance is remarkably consistent across the Iscorama range, and reports that the Iscorama 54's optical characteristics are significantly inferior to other Iscorama models are not accurate. Ironically, this confusion probably results from the superior flexibility of the Iscorama 54 design, which allows it to be attached to a wider range of lens classes than other Iscoramas. Some of these lens categories are optically incompatible with anamorphic adapters; a classic example being wide-angle primes, which create intrusive distortion effects when matched with an anamorphic adapter.

Like all focusing anamorphics, Iscoramas cannot focus on close subjects without the assistance of a diopter. This problem is easy to underestimate due to the imprecise focus scales on the Iscorama 36, 42, and 54 models. The focus scales on all these lenses indicate a minimum focus distance of 6 ft (just over 1.8m). However, when these adapters are attached to most standard 50mm focal length taking lenses, the measured minimum focus distance is 2.8m. Some of the 2000 series monobloc lenses, which are the combination of a third-party manufacturer's taking lens plus the optics from an Iscorama 36 (Iscorama 42 in the case of the Iscorama 2004), also have a minimum focus distance of approximately 3m.[7]

Iscoramas were bespoke, hand-made examples of optical engineering, and ISCO quality control never achieved the consistency of contemporaneous Japanese optics, with the result that Iscoramas can often display quality issues which are relatively rare in mass-produced lenses.

Problems include:

• Stiff or seized focus mechanism.
• Individual lens element separation.
• Excess cement along the interfaces between lens elements and lens barrel.
• Multicoating flaws.
• High levels of dust build-up within lens body.
• Oxidisation of internal and external painted/anodised surfaces.
• Splits, tears and de-lamination of rubber focus and anamorphic alignment ring grips.
• Cracks in the plastic focus scale ring on the original Iscorama, and the Iscorama 36/Cinegon.
• Loss of focus scale lettering on the original Iscorama and Iscorama 36/Cinegon.

ISCO used to offer a repair and service facility for Iscorama owners, but there are conflicting reports as to whether this resource is still available. There is, however, positive feedback from Iscorama owners who have had their lenses serviced at these repair centres:

• Nippon Photo Clinic Service, New York, USA
• Camserve, Hellingly, UK

In August 2008 ISCO became a wholly owned subsidiary of Schneider-Kreuznach, and in September 2011 the firm was renamed 'ISK Optics GmbH'. They still produce anamorphic projector lenses and adapters for the Schneider group, including three models which are similar in appearance to the Iscorama 54:

• Schneider Cine-Digitar Anamorphic 1.33×
• ISCO III S, also sold as the Schneider Cine-Digitar Anamorphic 1.33× M
• ISCO III M, also sold as the Schneider Cine-Digitar Anamorphic 1.33× XL

The Cine-Digitar Anamorphic 1.33× is very close in size and weight to the Iscorama 54, but has a much larger rear anamorphic element than the Iscorama. Its street price is reasonable when compared to vintage Iscorama auction values. The other two lenses are on a totally different scale, weighing 2.1 kg and 4.1 kg respectively. There are no reports on whether these adapters are suitable for use with 35mm lenses and DSLRs.

The following models are the closest analogues to the Iscorama range in respect to horizontal stretch factor (1.33x), and rear anamorphic element diameter:

• Letus 1.33x AnamorphX Anamorphic Lens Adapter.
• Century Precision Optics DS-1609-SB 16:9 Ratio Converter (non focusing).
• Century Precision Optics DS-WS13-SB 1.33x Full Zoom Anamorphic Converter (focusing).
• Optex OTDV58ANA 16:9 Ratio Converter.
• Panasonic AG-LA7200G Anamorphic Lens Adapter.
• Soligor 1.33x Anamorphic lens.

None of these lenses equal the Iscorama range optically, and all adapters other than the Letus AnamorphX suffer from relatively high levels of chromatic aberration . They do, nevertheless, offer superior vignetting performance thanks to their large rear anamorphic elements and pancake designs.

With the advent of DSLR full HD video, a whole new generation of film makers began to explore the creative possibilities of wide-screen cinematography, and within a matter of months numerous online discussions had sprung up debating the relative merits of various anamorphic adapters, including the Iscorama range.[8][9] It soon became apparent that Iscorama anamorphic lenses were an excellent match for HD DSLRs thanks to their outstanding optics and 1.5× horizontal stretch ratio, which transformed 16:9 video into a format very close to modern 2.39:1 Cinemascope. This renewed interest had a profound effect on their value and a textbook price bubble formed over a period of eighteen months, leading to price inflation of up to 2000 percent for some Iscorama models.

The retail price of Iscoramas had always been relatively high, and when last sold new at the beginning of the 21st century, the Iscorama 42 and 54 cost £734 and £1602 (including Value Added Tax) respectively in the UK.[10] Within a few years they were worth a small fraction of that amount, and all 12 Iscorama models could be picked up at online auction for less than US$200 each. This extreme drop in value was due to the demise of the 35mm slide and 8/16mm cine markets, and to ISCO never having enjoyed the same collectible brand status as other West German optical manufacturers such as Leitz, Schneider Kreuznach and Zeiss.

The DSLR video revolution changed everything, and by late 2010 the more desirable models were fetching very large sums at auction, with two mint examples of the original 1960s Iscorama selling for record-setting prices of just over $4000. Six months later auction prices had fallen by 50 percent as classic supply and demand economics took hold - the high prices encouraged many existing Iscorama owners to put their lenses up for sale, with the result that Iscoramas became relatively commonplace on auction sites, and all models started to appear at regular intervals.

Final sale price auction data indicate that the Iscorama 54 and original 1960s Iscorama are the most valuable of the true DSLR compatible Iscoramas (the projector lenses are worth relatively little), whilst the 2000 series sealed monoblocs fetch the least at auction.

• Photograph of original 1968 Iscorama model can be found halfway down this page:
• Photograph of Iscorama anamorphic adapter family (from left to right - 4th generation Iscorama 54, Iscorama 42 & original 1968 Iscorama front section):
• Photograph of Iscorama 2001 sealed anamorphic monobloc:
• Photograph of ISCO-manufactured Centa Vision can be seen halfway down this page:
• Photograph of Kowa-manufactured Centavision:
• Site devoted to Iscoramas:
• Corporate site for the original manufacturer of Iscorama lenses:
• Manufacturer of re-engineered Iscorama range:
• Manufacturer of the CineMorph filter:
• US based camera repair centre with experience of Iscoramas:
• UK based camera repair centre with experience of Iscoramas: