Lensworks has unveiled its new NeoAO Version 2 anamorphic lens series. This new series is an evolution of the company’s NeoAO 2x Anamorphic lenses, and it is claimed to deliver significant improvements in close-focus performance, image sharpness, size, and weight.
NeoAO Version 2 was designed around a simple goal: preserve everything cinematographers loved about the original lenses while improving the areas that matter most in real-world production. The result is a lighter, more compact lens series with dramatically improved close-focus capabilities and enhanced image performance, while retaining the unique personality and character that made the original NeoAO lenses so popular.
Inspired by legendary vintage anamorphic systems including original Cineovision, Kowa, and original Todd-AO lenses, the NeoAO series was developed to recreate the dimensionality, organic rendering, texture, and cinematic character associated with some of the most iconic anamorphic imagery ever captured. With Version 2, Lensworks has refined the mechanical and optical platform to better meet the demands of modern productions while maintaining the visual qualities that define the NeoAO look.
One of the most significant advancements in the NeoAO Version 2 series is its extreme close-focus capability. The new lenses allow cinematographers to work substantially closer to subjects without the need for additional diopters, opening creative opportunities for intimate close-ups, detail photography, and expressive visual storytelling while maintaining the characteristic anamorphic rendering throughout the focus range.
In addition to improved close focus, NeoAO Version 2 delivers enhanced edge-to-edge sharpness and improved overall image consistency while reducing both physical size and weight. The result is a lens series that is equally at home in handheld, Steadicam, and modern gimbal system configurations.
The initial NeoAO Version 2 lineup includes:
| Focal Length | T-Stop | Weight | Length | Close Focus |
|---|
| 40mm | T2.2 | 3.0 lb | 5″ | 18″ |
| 50mm | T2.1 | 3.5 lb | 6″ | 16″ |
| 75mm | T2 | 4.5 lb | 8″ | 19″ |
| 100mm | T2.6 | 5.5 lb | 10″ | 2’4″ (17″ MOD) |
Upcoming focal lengths: 35mm, 60mm, 85mm, 127mm, 45-90 zoom lens
Lensworks has also announced future expansion of the NeoAO platform, including planned 35mm, 60mm, 85mm, and 127mm focal lengths, as well as a 45-90mm anamorphic zoom lens currently in development.
Designed for cinematographers seeking the soul and character of vintage anamorphic cinematography without sacrificing the practical requirements of modern production, NeoAO Version 2 combines classic inspiration with contemporary functionality.
The NeoAO Version 2 lenses will be showcased at Cine Gear Expo, where attendees will have the opportunity to experience the lenses firsthand and evaluate their unique rendering characteristics, compact form factor, and exceptional close-focus performance.
For additional information, demonstrations, rental inquiries, or purchasing opportunities, please contact Lensworks at [email protected].
