Super 35, Anamorphic, etc...

[Sean Azze]

Hey

 

Wanted to know if someone could either visually demonstrate to me or give me a link to a site that specifies what the differences are in terms of aspect ratio between Super 35, anamorphic, 1.85:1, etc.

I've had this subject explained to me in words, but must admit that I still don't have a clear understanding of what the differences are.

 

Thanks

[Trevor Greenfield]

These might help:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspect_ratio_(image)

 

another: http://members.shaw.ca/quadibloc/other/aspint.htm

 

and one more: http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Makeup/4303/aspect.html

[David Mullen ASC]

Super-35 doesn't really have one aspect ratio -- it's a method of shooting to get different aspect ratios.

 

Basically it comes down to the fact that 35mm theatrical projection, for the most part, now comes in two types: matted widescreen and anamorphic widescreen. In matted widescreen, the old 1.37 : 1 Academy format is further masked by the projector gate top & bottom to look more rectangular -- usually the amount of masking or matting is to 1.85 : 1.

 

In anamorphic widescreen, or "scope" (short for CinemaScope) the image on the print has a 2X horizontal squeeze which is unsqueezed by an anamorphic lens on the projector. Current standard for the unsqueezed image is 2.39 : 1 (sometimes called 2.35 or 2.40.)

 

Two common methods of achieving a 35mm scope print is to either shoot with 2X anamorphic camera lenses, or to shoot with spherical lenses in Super-35 and frame for cropping in post to 2.39, and then squeezing it to anamorphic. Super-35 just means exposing Full Aperture -- the whole width of the 35mm negative from sprocket row to sprocket row -- rather than not using the small area on the left side of the frame reserved for the optical soundtrack. So Super-35 is not a release print format since it does not have room to put a soundtrack anywhere if you simply made a contact print off of the negative.

 

But you can frame other aspect ratios in Super-35. 4-perf 35mm Super-35, if you use the whole negative area both across and top to bottom has a 1.33 : 1 aspect ratio, so you waste quite a bit cropping to 2.39 : 1. Some people frame for cropping to 1.85 : 1, and others for cropping to 1.78 (16x9) for transfer to 16x9 video.

 

If you shoot 3-perf Super-35, then Full Aperture is already about 1.78 : 1 (16x9), so you waste less when cropping to 1.85 and 2.39.

 

This is from my book Cinematography:

 

 

The black band on the left side is the soundtrack area. "A" would also be 4-perf Super-35 Full Aperture. You'll note that "D" for CinemaScope looks almost square but remember that the image on it has a 2X squeeze, so becomes doubled in width when projected with an anamorphic lens.

[Leo Anthony Vale]

Hey

 

Wanted to know if someone could either visually demonstrate to me or give me a link to a site that specifies what the differences are in terms of aspect ratio between Super 35, anamorphic, 1.85:1, etc.

I've had this subject explained to me in words, but must admit that I still don't have a clear understanding of what the differences are.

 

Thanks

 

 

Hey

 

Wanted to know if someone could either visually demonstrate to me or give me a link to a site that specifies what the differences are in terms of aspect ratio between Super 35, anamorphic, 1.85:1, etc.

I've had this subject explained to me in words, but must admit that I still don't have a clear understanding of what the differences are.

 

Thanks

 

---Not sure what happened there.

 

Try the Widescreenmuseum site:

 

the entrance page:

 

http://widescreenmuseum.com/

 

aspect ratios:

 

http://widescreenmuseum.com/widescreen/apertures.htm

 

Though there isn't much about Super 35, It's more concerned with the older version SuperScope.

 

---LV

[Eric Steelberg ASC]

Panavision's website is also complete with the info:

 

http://www.panavision.com/aspect_ratio.php