The Vantage MiniHawks are not new lenses (introduced in 2015). However, many DPs consider them fascinating pieces of glass, and with a reason. Let’s begin from the end. The MiniHawks own a very unique design regarding their iris ring (or should we say rings). In fact, each MiniHawk has two iris rings in order to grant an oval aperture to shape bokeh. These two overlapping iris rings — A normal circle of bladed one, and another made of two blades, shape the aperture into an oval structure.
This design cuts almost two stops of light away. However, it gives an oval bokeh through the entire range. It’s a patented design that allows cinematographers to turn their out-of-focus light source into an oval structure, just like an anamorphic lens. Hence, Vantage defines them as Hybrid Anamorphic Primes. But, they are not anamorphic. The MiniHawks are pure spherical lenses. It’s the double iris rings that do all that magic.
formerly Mad Cornish Projectionist.