The New Mercury Atlas Lenses seamlessly blend vintage aesthetics with contemporary performance standards. These Anamorphic full frame lenses form factor is notably compact, measuring just half the size of Atlas's previous flagship, the Orion. This makes the lens perfect for being adapted to small prosumer and pro cameras which set the Mercury apart from other Anamorphic lenses on the market. Atlas has carved out a name for itself by having a soft look that is pleasant and professional and that balance of those two aesthetic worlds make it perfect for the working Cinematographer. Atlas has created a lens set that is viable for many shoots big and small and we look forward to bringing the lenses onto many more shoots.
In our tests with the lens we discovered minimal distortion which is impressive considering the lens is 1.5x anamorphic. We also did a few flare tests with it and discovered that it was not prone to any form of aggressive flaring even with direct light onto the lens. The lens also produced a soft bokeh that was subtle and not very aggressive. The Chromatic aberration was also minimal in our testing. This is all perfect considering the nature of the Mercury is to be a compact lens. The Mercury series is a great sister product to the Atlas Orions and is a worthwhile companion for any cinematographer.
The Mercury's smaller, sleeker design is not only exceptionally versatile but also highly adaptable, making it compatible with nearly any camera equipped with a PL mount or adapter. Whether you're working with anything from Arri Alexa to RED's Komodo, or even Sony Burano cameras, the Mercury lenses are a valuable addition for any sized production.
Overall the Mercurys are a great step in the right direction for Atlas. Orion's optics were already applauded for what they brought to the table and at Spekulor it’s safe to say it’s little sister, the Mercury is keeping the tradition going. Rent it today and find out for yourself.