Spherical lenses produce circular, out-of-focus elements. Anamorphic lenses have an oval-shaped bokeh that will also affect the look of lens flares. When it comes to image sharpness, spherical lenses will have an advantage, while anamorphic will have a softer look along the edges. It also affects aspect ratios.

Anamorphic lenses compress the image horizontally, allowing for a wider field of view while maintaining a standard aspect ratio, while spherical lenses capture images without distortion, creating a more uniform visual presentation. Each type of lens significantly influences the aesthetic, composition, and storytelling techniques in filmmaking.

The main distinction lies in how they capture and project images. Spherical lenses are more common and work by capturing and projecting a scene without any distortion. On the other hand, anamorphic lenses "squeeze" the image horizontally, creating a unique visual effect that can only be achieved with this type of lens.

Spherical are more common and are the assumed lens type unless specified otherwise. Spherical lenses project images onto the sensor without affecting their aspect ratio. Anamorphic lenses, on the other hand, project a version of the image that is compressed along the longer dimension (usually by a factor of two).

Normal, spherical, lenses look all around themselves in equal measure – viewing at the same angle left/right as they do up/down. Anamorphic lenses capture an elongated horizontal field of view. To achieve this, the lens squeezes the image horizontally to fit within the constraints of the sensor's dimensions.