Three productions flew anamorphic on our DJI Inspire 3 this year: Black Mirror for Netflix, Bergerac for UKTV, and Hercule for the BBC and BritBox. Here's what we put on the front of the X9, and why more DPs are asking for it.
Not just DJI glass
The Inspire 3's Zenmuse X9-8K Air is a full-frame camera with DJI's DL mount. DJI's own DL primes (18, 24, 35, 50, 75 and 90mm) are superb, but they aren't the only option. We adapt the X9 to run Laowa Nanomorph anamorphic lenses using a counterweight kit from Make Art Now, so the aerials carry the same oval bokeh, streaking flares and widescreen character as an anamorphic main unit. They're not a perfect match unless the same lenses are on the A camera, but it's a big step in the right direction.
The set we've flown this year is the Nanomorph Silver flare version, cross-hired from Neil Cain (neilcanedrone.com). The 27mm and 35mm work best in the air. The 50mm is a little long, which limits it at speed and in wind. The lenses take a few minutes to balance, as they aren't click-and-go like the DJI DL lenses. In that sense they're closer to the DJI 75mm: the X9 needs a plate screwed on the back, then some custom weighted pan and roll adaptations.
We've flown the 27mm and 35mm head-on into 20mph winds, chasing a car, and they were flawless. Just when we expected to find the limit from the extra weight, they kept on giving.
When the budget doesn't stretch to an Alta
The traditional route to anamorphic aerials is a heavy-lift drone: our Freefly Alta X or Alta 8 carrying an ARRI Alexa Mini, Mini LF or Sony Venice with cinema anamorphics on a Ronin 2 or Movi Pro. That's still the answer when the shot needs the main camera in the air and a perfect match across the lenses.
But heavy lift means a bigger crew, a bigger kit list, a bit more planning and a bit more time. Where the budget doesn't stretch, productions are choosing the Inspire 3 with anamorphic glass instead. It's out of the van and flying in 7–10 minutes, and the footage cuts with the main unit.
Other small lenses and vintage spherical glass
Anamorphic isn't the only way to give aerials a different look. With FD and M42 adapters on the X9, we fly a list of vintage spherical lenses, including Canon FD, Carl Zeiss Jena, Super-Takumar and Yashinon DS primes from 28mm to 50mm. We lose iris and focus control with adapted glass, but we have a lot of experience working that way, and the character is worth it. We carry other small lens options too: send us your main unit's lens list and we'll talk you through matching it.
Test images coming soon
We'll update this post with test images from the anamorphic and vintage sets. Due to NDAs, we can't share what we've been filming just yet. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn to see them first.
Planning a shoot with an anamorphic main unit? See our Inspire 3 drone operator page or get in touch.