The Moment anamorphic lens was a breakthrough in mobile filmmaking. But, anyone that has used the lens can tell you that those harsh blue lens flares aren’t always ideal. After all, we aren’t all shooting Star Trek, right?
Recently Moment introduced a gold flare anamorphic lens that features the same 2.40:1 cinemascope aspect ratio as the previous version but with a tasteful golden lens flare as opposed to the harsh blue one. In this Moment Gold Flare Anamorphic lens review, we’ll discuss the pros and cons of each and show you when each is optimal so that you choose the best one for your needs.
Moment’s Anamorphic Lenses
All Moment lenses are constructed of aerospace-grade metal and hand-polished glass and are covered by a two-year warranty. Yes, you read that correctly those of you that had a lifetime-warranty when you purchased your Moment lenses – things have changed.
In the box you’ll find:
- the anamorphic lens of your choosing
- a front lens cap (rear lens cap must be purchased separately)
- an orientating tool and easy-to-follow guide
- a quick start guide
- a microfiber carrying bag
Depending on your device, you may need to use the tool attached to the lens bag to orientate the lens. It’s a simple process that is clearly and universally explained on the quick start guide card. Do be careful about making sure your orientation is level because when the lens flare doesn’t match the horizon your shot will look wonky.
Once you have your mobile anamorphic lens out and correctly orientated you’ll find yourself still facing two problems
- How do I mount the lens?
- Why does the lens look so odd?
How to Mount Moment Lenses
If you purchased a Moment lens without a way to mount it, then when it arrived you were super disappointed. While Moment’s website is clear on the matter, most of the one-star reviews of Moment lenses have something to do with this getting lost in translation.
You need to purchase one of the options below to mount Moment lenses
There are options at a variety of price points for a variety of phones. I’ve listed them in ‘this is ideal for mobile photography’ order. If there are any options missing, then comment what they are and I’ll add them to the list.
- The M-Series Case – Moment makes their M-Series cases for newer Galaxy, Pixel, and iPhone models. Moment’s website, videos, and advertisements say they make cases for OnePlus devices too but they haven’t since the 7 Pro. The M-Series cases feature a bayonet-style mounting system that allows the user to insert the lens, twist 90-degrees, and start shooting. In my experience, the cases are high enough quality to warrant the nearly $50 price tag. Do look for deals on the M-Series phone case from Moment, though, as they’re frequently running deals.
- The BeastCage from BeastGrip – my go to option for mounting Moment lenses isn’t even made by Moment. The BeastCage from BeastGrip is a quasi-phone case with 20 1/4″ screw-in opportunities and mounting plates for every type of phone lens you could imagine (BeastGrip, Moment, Sandmarc, Shiftcam, etc). Do note that the BeastCage is heavy and will not work on a smartphone gimbal – you’ll need a traditional one. It is expensive at over $100 but BeastGrip runs deals fairly frequently.
- The M-Series Lens Mount – I’ve got a video about the Moment Lens Mount coming soon but in the mean time this is the only option if you have an Android for which Moment doesn’t make cases. Android photography and filmmaking are a little neglected I’m afraid. The M-Series Lens Mount is more secure than a simple clip-on mounting option but I have some concerns when my lenses are attached and I’m moving the phone quickly that the mount will just fly off.
Desqueezing an Anamorphic Lens on a Smartphone
So, you purchased a Moment Anamorphic Lens and a way to mount it. You’ve correctly orientated the lens with the quick-start guide and the little tool, mounted the lens securely, and are ready for some sick lens flares in that Hollywood widescreen aspect ratio.
Wait – why does it look so weird?!
Smartphone anamorphic lens footage must be desqueezed to get that 2.40:1 cinemascope aspect ratio. There are no free options to desqueeze anamorphic footage to my knowledge so if you know of any drop them in the comments section below so that I can add to my list. The first list covers third-party apps that offer full manual camera control in addition to the ability to desqueeze. Learn more about these mobile filmmaking apps.
- BeastCam from BeastGrip – I use BeastCam because it never has issues with crashing or corrupting my footage. While it doesn’t offer some of the bells and whistles of the other two smartphone filmmaking apps on this list, it does shoot high-quality video in the correct frame rate with good audio all the time. Peace of mind has to be worth something, right?
- Moment Pro Camera App – the cheapest app on the list which just so happens to also come with a bevy of tools for both mobile photographers and filmmakers, the Moment Pro Camera App seems like a no-brainer as the go-to choice. But, it’s not. The app is glitchy and unreliable so patience is a must. Beginners find Moment Pro Camera to be the most straightforward to use in all four modes – photo, video, slow-shutter (long-exposure), and timelapse. More experienced users will note that the color profiles available in the video portion of the app are facsimiles and nothing more.
- Filmic Pro – this app has the most control, bar none. This app is also almost $30 all things said and done and doesn’t offer that much more than the other apps on this list. Yes, Filmic Pro has real LOG but is that really worth all that extra cash? The 80/20 rule says no. If you feel like you can’t learn anything more as a mobile filmmaker, then perhaps Filmic Pro is worth the investment.
Bonus options are video editing softwares for computer. These are significantly more expensive but offer a wide array of benefits when it comes to serious video editing. I won’t go into detail on these though as I not knowledgeable about the specifics of each and the information isn’t particularly relevant
- Final Cut Pro
- Adobe Premiere Pro
- DaVinci Resolve
Is the Moment Anamorphic Gold Flare Lens Worth It?
Are you a mobile filmmaker that prefers any time but nighttime to shoot? If yes then the Moment Gold Flare Anamorphic Lens is good for you. I found the gold flare to be preferable to the blue flare in every instance but night. The gold flare anamorphic was especially impressive for sunrises while the blue flares just looked out of place.
Do you want to see a video comparing the gold and blue flare anamorphic lenses from Moment head-to-head? Comment yes or no below.
