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Caldwell / Anamorphic

Caldwell Chameleon XLC

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Cooke / Anamorphic

Cooke Anamorphic/i Full Frame Plus SF

Full profile

Original illustrations of representative lenses, with simplified details and no shared scale. The overview, use cases and tradeoffs are editorial selection guidance. Test the exact lenses on your camera before committing to a package.

Caldwell Chameleon XLC and Cooke Anamorphic/i Full Frame Plus SF: specifications and editorial notes
Specification	Caldwell Chameleon XLC	Cooke Anamorphic/i Full Frame Plus SF
Overview	The extra-large-coverage branch of Caldwell's Chameleon anamorphics. XLC pairs a 1.79x squeeze with a manufacturer-specified 60mm image circle.	Cooke's 1.8x full-frame anamorphic primes, with the Special Flair coating option for stronger flare. The family spans 32mm to 180mm at T2.3.
Lens type	Anamorphic	Anamorphic
Focal range	45–140mm	32mm-180mm
Max. aperture	T2.8 core; 140mm T3.6	T2.3
Coverage	Super 35 / Full Frame XLC has a specified 60mm image circle. Confirm the intended sensor mode; SC and UW versions have different coverage.	Super 35 / Full Frame Cooke specifies a 36 x 24mm full-frame format and 1.8x squeeze for this family. Confirm the camera's sensor mode and the Special Flair version when sourcing.
Mounts	Not established	PL / LPL
Image circle	60 mm	Not established
Use cases	Large-format anamorphic capture Anamorphic work requiring a 60mm image circle	Premium narrative anamorphic Digital sensors that need warmth and flare behavior Projects wanting anamorphic scope without losing control
Tradeoffs to test	The widest XLC focal length is 45mm. SC and UW versions have different coverage and must be treated separately.	Still expensive and specialist Not as unruly as vintage anamorphic families if that's the goal
Sources	Caldwell (opens in a new tab)	Cooke (opens in a new tab)
GLM sourcing	Ask GLM about sourcing GLM can use this profile as a starting point for lens strategy, sourcing, or adjacent package recommendations.	Ask GLM about sourcing GLM can use this profile as a starting point for lens strategy, sourcing, or adjacent package recommendations.

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