Lens LanguageLens Language

Cinematography and Visual Cinematography and Visual LanguageLanguage

LensLens

►The lens is not only a technical tool to The lens is not only a technical tool to capture the image but also an aesthetic capture the image but also an aesthetic one, and understanding how to use depth one, and understanding how to use depth of field and focal length to tell your story is of field and focal length to tell your story is an essential tool of visual storytelling.an essential tool of visual storytelling.

►The lens is the eye of the camera. It allows The lens is the eye of the camera. It allows light to enter and hit the film plane, light to enter and hit the film plane, resulting in exposure of the latent image.resulting in exposure of the latent image.

►

LensLens

►Controlling the amount of the light is Controlling the amount of the light is done through exposure calculation done through exposure calculation designated by the lighting conditions designated by the lighting conditions and the selection of the f-stop as and the selection of the f-stop as indicated from the light meter reading. indicated from the light meter reading. F – stops regulate the exposures, and F – stops regulate the exposures, and the diameter of the opening the diameter of the opening determines how much light enters the determines how much light enters the camera for the exposure. camera for the exposure.

LensLens

►The cinematographer will read the light The cinematographer will read the light as it falls on the subject, which provides as it falls on the subject, which provides an f-stop that should be used for an f-stop that should be used for exposing the scene. There are two exposing the scene. There are two series of numbers on the lens: the t-series of numbers on the lens: the t-stop and the f-stop. stop and the f-stop.

►The t-stop is the true light trans mission The t-stop is the true light trans mission and the f-stop regulates exposure and and the f-stop regulates exposure and is used for calculating depth of field. is used for calculating depth of field.

F and T -StopsF and T -Stops

►The f- and t- stops are: The f- and t- stops are:

►1.4, 2.0, 2.8, 4.5, 5.6, 8, 11, 16, 221.4, 2.0, 2.8, 4.5, 5.6, 8, 11, 16, 22

Prime LensPrime Lens

► Short-focal–length lensShort-focal–length lens(Wide angle lens)(Wide angle lens)

► Long-focal-length lens Long-focal-length lens (Telephoto lens)(Telephoto lens)

►Middle-focal-lengthMiddle-focal-length(Normal lens)(Normal lens)

► Zoom Lens Zoom Lens ► (Variable-focal-length lens)(Variable-focal-length lens)

Prime Lens Prime Lens

Short-Focal-LengthShort-Focal-Length

►Starts as low as 9 or 12.5mm Starts as low as 9 or 12.5mm ►Also known as wide lensAlso known as wide lens►Produces wide-angle viewProduces wide-angle view►Makes subjects appear farther apart Makes subjects appear farther apart

than they actually are.than they actually are.►Through its nearly complete depth of Through its nearly complete depth of

field, renders almost all objects in the field, renders almost all objects in the frame in focusframe in focus

Wide Angle LensWide Angle Lens

Short-Focal-LengthShort-Focal-Length

Long-Focal-Length Lens Long-Focal-Length Lens

► Known as a Telephoto lens or long lens, they Known as a Telephoto lens or long lens, they range from 85-500mmrange from 85-500mm

► Produces deep angle viewsProduces deep angle views► Brings distant objects closeBrings distant objects close► Flattens space and depth Flattens space and depth ►Makes subjects look closer together than Makes subjects look closer together than

they actually arethey actually are►Narrow depth of field leaves most of the Narrow depth of field leaves most of the

background and foreground of the in-focus background and foreground of the in-focus objects dramatically out of focus.objects dramatically out of focus.

Long-Focal-Length-Lens Long-Focal-Length-Lens

Long-Focal Length LensLong-Focal Length Lens

Middle-Focal-Length LensMiddle-Focal-Length Lens

►Ranges from 35-50mm Ranges from 35-50mm ►Normal lensNormal lens►Produces images that corresponds to Produces images that corresponds to

our day-to-day experience of depth our day-to-day experience of depth and perspectiveand perspective

►Keeps all subjects in a normal sense of Keeps all subjects in a normal sense of focusfocus

Normal-Lens Normal-Lens

Middle-Focal-Length LensMiddle-Focal-Length Lens

Zoom Lens Zoom Lens

►Produces images that simulate the Produces images that simulate the effect of movement of the camera effect of movement of the camera toward or away from subjecttoward or away from subject

►Rather than actually moving through Rather than actually moving through space, merely magnifies the imagespace, merely magnifies the image

►Can make a shot seem artificial to an Can make a shot seem artificial to an audienceaudience

Zoom Lens Zoom Lens

Neutral Density FiltersNeutral Density Filters

►Neutral Density filters help to decrease Neutral Density filters help to decrease or eliminate a certain amount of light or eliminate a certain amount of light from entering the film plane.from entering the film plane.

Neutral Density FiltersNeutral Density Filters

►An ND.0 9 will eliminate three f-stops An ND.0 9 will eliminate three f-stops of light. of light.

►This calculation would be made from This calculation would be made from the original exposure, and then the original exposure, and then counting down three stops (so if the counting down three stops (so if the reading was f/32, the exposure would reading was f/32, the exposure would actually be made at f/11 using the actually be made at f/11 using the ND.09 filter). ND.09 filter).

Neutral Density FiltersNeutral Density Filters

►ND.09 cuts three stops; ND.09 cuts three stops; ►ND.06, two stops; ND.06, two stops; ►ND0.3 one stop. ND0.3 one stop. ►The cinematographer may also have The cinematographer may also have

an 85ND.03 combo filter used to an 85ND.03 combo filter used to colour correct tungsten film to daylight colour correct tungsten film to daylight film while also cutting down one stop film while also cutting down one stop of exposure. of exposure.

Depth of Field Depth of Field

►More depth of field More depth of field ►<f/22, 16, 11, 8, 5.6, 4.5, 2.8, 2.0, 1.4, ><f/22, 16, 11, 8, 5.6, 4.5, 2.8, 2.0, 1.4, >► Less depth of field.Less depth of field.

►Of the f- and t- stops that regulate the Of the f- and t- stops that regulate the iris opening. 1.4 is wide open, allowing iris opening. 1.4 is wide open, allowing the maximum of light to enter the film the maximum of light to enter the film plane, and 22 are the smallest plane, and 22 are the smallest opening, allowing the least amount of opening, allowing the least amount of light to enter. light to enter.