How To Shoot Anamorphic On Your Phone

1. Get An Anamorphic Lens for Your Phone

Duh! A lot of companies produce anamorphic smartphone lenses, including Moment (that’s us!), Sandmarc, and Moondog Labs. These lenses are high-quality and designed to attach to most smartphones easily, but we'd of course like to toot our own horn. We're a small team that cares a lot about quality.

Our Moment lenses are the brainchildren of experienced professionals and filmmakers in the industry. They have the insight to know what needs fine-tuning or enhancement and a taste for cinematic looks. But we offer more than just our prized best-selling 1.33x Blue Flare lens. We've expanded our range to include a 1.33x Gold Flare lens and a 1.55x Gold Flare lens, giving you options for varying focal lengths and added warmth to your shots.

If you're unsure which lens would be best for you, check out our detailed article on the differences between 1.33x and 1.55x ratios.

2. Install Your Camera App

After getting a lens, you should download an app to your phone that will better optimize your mobile camera to shoot an anamorphic aspect ratio. Our favorites are either Filmic Pro for Android devices or our very own Moment Pro Camera App, tailored only to iPhone devices.

For Moment Pro Camera App:

• Go to the settings in the app by tapping on the gear icon.
• Under the ‘Video’ or 'Camera' settings, look for an option to enable the 'Anamorphic' mode. This setting de-squeezes the footage in real-time, allowing you to view the video with the correct aspect ratio as you shoot.
• For a more comprehensive guide, see our popular article on using the Moment Pro Camera App.

Adjust your resolution and frame rate as desired. Shooting at 24fps typically gives your video a more filmic movement, which is seen in traditional cinematography. We always recommend it for first-timers who want better-looking videos overall (instead of the standard 30fps).

3. Shoot Your Video

After you get a mobile lens and have your app downloaded, you’re ready to start shooting.

But to truly master anamorphic-style shooting on a phone, it's crucial to appreciate the nuances of this unique format. When understanding how it stretches your image, aiming for that classic 2.39:1 ratio which may alter your compositional choices.

Don't shy away from using those iconic lens flares to add a layer of drama to your shots, but remember, moderation is key. Position your light sources thoughtfully to enhance, not overpower your scenes. Since anamorphic lenses typically require manual focusing, get comfortable with adjusting focus on the fly to keep your subjects crisp against a softly blurred background; this can be done in the Moment Pro Camera App. Also, given the wider field of view, any shake or jitter in your footage will be way more noticeable, so I highly recommend using a stabilizer or gimbal to keep your shots smooth and professional.

Lighting plays a pivotal role in anamorphic shooting, too. Well-lit scenes not only reduce noise but also highlight the anamorphic lens's capabilities to create better depth and mood. If possible, use an external monitor while shooting; it’s a game-changer for visualizing how the final footage will look with the anamorphic squeeze, alongside transportable Profoto lights to give a simple spotlight for added drama (but simple reflectors work great too).

Check out our full comprehensive guide for extra expert tips on shooting mobile videos on your smartphone.

4. Desqueeze Your Anamorphic Footage

After filming your video, the next step is to 'de-squeeze' it during editing to correct its otherwise wonky-looking image. This adjustment is typically performed using video editing software like Lightroom or Davinci. This means you will adjust the video's aspect ratio from its original ratio to around 2.40:1. However, this could vary depending on the specific squeeze factor of your anamorphic lens.

For users of our Moment Pro Camera App, we've simplified this process:

1. Open App
2. Select the “Anamorphic Lens Button” with the little “A” in the middle of the circle. (NOTE): Using the Anamorphic setting with your Moment Anamorphic Lens will only show what it’s like de-squeezed as a preview, but it WILL NOT save de-squeezed. You must continue to step three.
3. Click the “Settings” button (three lines).
4. Apply the "De-Squeezed file” button.
5. You’re all done, except… if you’re shooting 4K 60FPS or 1080p 240FPS, your phone will have difficulty processing that high amount of RAM power, resulting in dropped frames after production.

If you’re interested in using additional software or applications on the computer, check out our article showing other easy ways to de-squeeze anamorphic footage.

5. Edit and Color Grade

With your footage now 'de-squeezed', you can proceed to edit it in your usual manner. It's worth noting that anamorphic lenses often showcase the picture with a distinct color tone, making it even easier to color-grade footage to get your desired aesthetic.

We have a wide array of presets and Look-Up Tables (LUTs) crafted by our favorite filmmakers and cinematographers; from vintage looks and cool tones to warm and ethereal moods. They're super easy to download and implement into your everyday editing routine.

Check out our full library for an easy plug-and-play during your next video edit.