DI option

[Ravi Walia]

Hi ,

I just wanted to know if shooting super 35 is a better option then anamorphic if you are undergoing a DI process and why?

[David Mullen ASC]

I just wanted to know if shooting super 35 is a better option then anamorphic if you are undergoing a DI process and why?

 

No, Super-35 isn't inherently better for the D.I. process than anamorphic -- in fact, with anamorphic, you retain more vertical resolution since you aren't cropping the scan to 2.39 and then stretching it out again during the film recording to anamorphic.

 

The reason why D.I. and Super-35 are linked in some minds is because by doing the crop & stretch to anamorphic digitally instead of in an optical printer using dupes, you retain more of the quality of the original negative... MAKING SUPER-35 LOOK CLOSER IN QUALITY TO ANAMORPHIC. So one of the strikes against Super-35 compared to anamorphic -- the increase in graininess from the blow-up process -- is reduced, making the argument for shooting in Super-35 a little stronger than before.

 

But anamorphic is still a larger negative area total when you look at what gets used for the 2.39 image. But some of the spherical lenses available are sharper and less distorted than anamorphic lenses, especially when shooting at wide apertures, so you have to decide what visual elements matter to you the most. Do you want the bigger negative, with the better detail and less graininess, or do you want better depth of field with fewer optical distortions and artifacts (and fewer flares)?

 

The other advantage to Super-35 is that you have the option of shooting in 3-perf and thus saving 25% over stock costs when shooting in 4-perf anamorphic, and these savings can be applied to pay for a portion of the D.I. costs.

 

There may also be benefits to shooting Super-35 with spherical lenses in terms of doing visual effects, where it is easier to composite shots without the unusual lens distortions of anamorphic photography (hence why some big-budget anamorphic shoots use VistaVision or 65mm for efx plate photography or miniature work, both for the larger negative and because they can then use spherical optics.)

 

But in terms of picture quality, well-done 35mm anamorphic photography will generally look better than Super-35 and goes through the D.I. process just as well. Trouble is that it's not always easier to do "well-done" anamorphic photography.

Edited December 17, 2005 by David Mullen

[Mr. Macgregor]

This is an amazing great answer. SHould be in FAQ for its clarity and advices. :D