Desqueezing a Moment Anamorphic lens is the specific process of adjusting the lens's compression ratio back to its intended 2:1 anamorphic squeeze. Unlike spherical lenses which project a circular image onto the sensor, anamorphic optics squeeze the image horizontally to capture a wider field of view. If this squeezed image is played back without correction, it appears tall and skinny; desqueezing is the act of returning that image to its correct, natural proportions.
Understanding the Mechanics of Anamorphic Squeeze
To effectively desqueeze the image, you must first understand the physics behind the squeeze. A standard spherical lens captures a frame that matches the sensor's aspect ratio, such as 16:9. An anamorphic lens, however, captures a much wider image horizontally but compresses it vertically to fit the same sensor. For most Moment Anamorphic lenses, this compression ratio is 2:1, meaning the horizontal axis is squeezed to half its actual width.
The Role of the Sensor and Pixel Mapping
The desqueezing process is handled digitally by the camera's image processor. When you attach a Moment Anamorphic lens, the camera's sensor captures the full, uncropped, squeezed frame. The camera's firmware then uses the Anamorphic Profile settings to stretch the image back to its correct dimensions. This involves a pixel mapping procedure where the processor stretches the vertical pixels while maintaining the wide, cinematic aspect ratio captured by the glass.
Configuring In-Camera Settings for Desqueezing
To achieve a proper desqueeze, you must access the camera's menu and activate the Anamorphic profile. This setting instructs the camera to apply the 2:1 squeeze algorithm to the video feed or final still image. Depending on your specific Moment model and camera body, you might need to activate a crop setting or anamorphic switch to remove the black bars (lens flares) and display the full, desqueezed image on your live view screen.
Aspect Ratio Considerations
When the Anamorphic profile is active, the camera is generally outputting a standard display aspect ratio, such as 2.39:1 or 16:9, even though the sensor is capturing a larger, squeezed frame. This ensures that the final picture matches common cinematic standards. For example, you might be capturing 6K horizontally but the processor is squeezing and framing that to output a clean 4K 2.39:9 image, effectively desqueezing the width for the viewer without losing the sensor's data.
Practical Steps to Activate the Desqueeze
Getting the correct desqueeze requires a specific sequence of actions to ensure the camera and lens communicate effectively. Follow these steps to ensure your image is properly corrected in camera.
- Mount the Moment Anamorphic lens onto your compatible camera body securely.
- Navigate to the Camera Settings menu, specifically looking for the "Anamorphic" or "Lens Profile" section.
- Select the 2:1 Anamorphic profile to activate the squeeze correction algorithm.
- Adjust your recording resolution to a format that supports anamorphic capture, such as 4K or 6K.
- Enable the display settings to show the full desqueezed image without black letterbox bars if preferred.
The Visual Difference: Squeezed vs. Desqueezed
The most immediate visual impact of the desqueeze is the transformation of the image geometry. While the lens is mounted, the live view on the LCD might appear slightly distorted if the profile is not active. Once the profile is engaged, the subject matter regains its natural horizontal width, and the characteristic anamorphic flares stretch horizontally across the frame. This is the visual confirmation that the desqueeze is working correctly.
Leveraging the Full Data Capture
One of the primary benefits of the desqueeze process is that it preserves the high-resolution data captured by the sensor. Even if the final output is a 1080p or 4K display, the camera is often recording the information at a much higher internal resolution. By desqueezing the image, you allow for greater flexibility in post-production, including zooming, reframing, and applying visual effects without sacrificing the clarity of the anamorphic optics.
