A photographer and product designer is breaking new ground in camera optics by developing what would be the world's first anamorphic lens specifically designed for rangefinder cameras. Oscar Oweson, who has already gained recognition for creating custom camera equipment, is now tackling his most ambitious project yet: building a rangefinder-coupled, 1.5x anamorphic lens for the Leica M-Mount system.
Oweson, who previously created an anamorphic 1.33x adapter called the Alum and designed a 67 rangefinder camera, explains his motivation for the new project. "Making an anamorphic lens for the M-Mount has been something I've been interested in for a couple of years," he told reporters. "Making an anamorphic lens designed from the ground up for rangefinders was, to me, one of those obvious gaps that hadn't been filled and make for a really interesting and odd product."
The lens, dubbed the Panomicron Bismuth, represents a significant departure from traditional anamorphic lenses, which are typically associated with cinema and known for their substantial bulk. Oweson's design measures just under 74mm in length – roughly three inches, or about two-thirds the height of a standard Coca-Cola can. This compact form factor makes it uniquely suited for the portable nature of rangefinder photography.
The technical specifications of the Panomicron Bismuth reflect careful engineering for both portability and performance. The lens will feature an aperture range from f/2.8 to f/22 and will be capable of focusing down to 0.7 meters (2.27 feet). It will have a 52mm front diameter, making it compatible with standard filter sizes commonly used by photographers.
To bring this innovative lens to market, Oweson is funding the project through Kickstarter. He has spent the past year teaching himself optical design, a complex field that requires understanding of light physics, glass properties, and precise manufacturing tolerances. Now he feels ready to move from theoretical design to the practical challenges of assembly and calibration.
The manufacturing process involves sourcing components from multiple countries, reflecting the global nature of modern optics production. While Oweson is obtaining parts from China and specialized glass elements from Ohara in Japan, he plans to assemble the final lenses in Switzerland, where he currently resides. This approach allows him to maintain quality control while leveraging the expertise of established suppliers.
Oweson acknowledges that the assembly phase presents unique challenges. "If you had asked me at the start of the project, I would have told you that teaching myself optics would probably have been the hardest part, but now that that's mostly out of the way, I think the assembly is going to be somewhat challenging," he explained. The precision required for anamorphic lenses is particularly demanding, as the alignment of cylindrical elements must meet extremely tight tolerances to achieve the desired optical performance.
"The anamorphics require quite tight tolerances on the alignment of the cylinders, so I will have to build some equipment to make sure I stay within spec to achieve the performance I want," Oweson noted. He has designed specialized systems to ensure proper alignment during assembly, expressing confidence that these preparations will prevent problems during production.
If the Kickstarter campaign proves successful, Oweson plans to produce 100 units of the Panomicron Bismuth. He candidly describes this production run as a "test of my patience," acknowledging the meticulous work required to hand-assemble precision optical instruments. Despite the challenges ahead, he remains committed to seeing the project through to completion.
To understand the significance of this development, it's important to grasp what makes anamorphic lenses unique. These specialized optics allow photographers and cinematographers to capture a wider field of view on standard 35mm cameras without requiring modifications to other camera components. They achieve this by optically compressing the image horizontally, which must later be corrected by "unsqueezing" the image during post-production processing.
The history of anamorphic technology traces back to World War I, when it was originally developed to provide tank crews with enhanced peripheral vision. The technology later found its way into the cinema industry, where it became essential for creating widescreen aspect ratios such as the cinematic 2.39:1 format that moviegoers recognize today.
Anamorphic lenses differ fundamentally from conventional spherical lenses in their construction and optical properties. This unique design creates distinctive visual characteristics that have become hallmarks of cinematic imagery: beautifully rendered oval-shaped bokeh (out-of-focus areas) and dramatic, streaking lens flares that add visual drama to scenes.
When asked to speculate why no one has previously created an anamorphic lens for rangefinder cameras, Oweson points to several historical and market factors. "Anamorphics were very expensive for a long time, and have only recently become popular," he explained. Additionally, the anamorphic format has traditionally been considered a niche interest among still photographers, while the M-Mount system has primarily focused on conventional photography applications.
The timing and market context also played a role in this gap. Rangefinder cameras reached their peak popularity during the film era, when photographers seeking wide-format images had alternative options available. These included specialized panoramic cameras such as the X-Pan, Widelux, and various medium format systems like 612 and 617 cameras, which could achieve wide aspect ratios through larger film formats rather than optical compression.
However, Oweson believes the market has evolved significantly. Modern photographers have developed a greater appreciation for distinctive lens characteristics and unconventional optical designs. This shift in aesthetic preferences, combined with the digital workflow advantages of anamorphic compression, creates new opportunities for innovative lens designs like the Panomicron Bismuth.
The Kickstarter campaign for the Panomicron Bismuth is currently active, offering early supporters the opportunity to secure one of the limited production units. If the funding goal is met successfully, Oweson projects that the lenses will ship to backers in June or July of next year, marking what could be a historic moment in rangefinder photography.
This project represents more than just a new lens option; it symbolizes the continued innovation possible in camera optics, even in established systems like the Leica M-Mount. By combining traditional rangefinder precision with cinematic anamorphic characteristics, Oweson is creating a tool that could open new creative possibilities for photographers who value both the tactile experience of rangefinder shooting and the distinctive visual aesthetics of anamorphic imaging.
