An Introduction to Film Digital camera Sensor Dimension

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Welcome to The Queue — your day by day distraction of curated video content material sourced from throughout the online. In the present day, we’re watching a video essay that appears on the variations between mild sensor sizes.

First issues first, I wish to guarantee these of you who discover all this technical stuff a bit daunting: as we speak’s video essay remains to be for you! A part of what makes video essays so enjoyable is that they make it simpler for people to strategy inaccessible subjects. Individually, I’m a visible learner. And seeing graphs and side-by-sides in movement makes a world of distinction.

So with that out of the best way, let’s cowl a number of fast introductory factors earlier than launching into as we speak’s essay:

What does a digicam’s “sensor” do?

Sensors (to not be confused with mild sensors) are also called the movie airplane, a sensor airplane indicator, or a focal airplane indicator. The time period refers back to the floor of the digicam the place the lens creates a centered picture. Focal distance isn’t measured from the entrance of the lens or the again of the lens however from the floor of the digicam sensor. All this to say: if you wish to precisely measure the focal distance of your lens, you could know the place to take that measurement from (a.ok.a. the movie airplane/sensor).

To sum up: cinematographers use movie airplane indicators to know the precise focal size between the digicam sensor and the topic. It’s an vital software in ensuring all the pieces seems to be proper.

Why are there completely different sizes of sensors?

As a result of there are completely different movement image codecs, from smartphones to tremendous 16mm to IMAX. Completely different codecs have completely different focal necessities.

How do completely different sensor sizes have an effect on the filmmaking course of? The visible look of a movie?

Effectively, I assume you’ll have to observe the video essay beneath to search out out… 🙂

Watch “Does Sensor Dimension Matter?”:

Who made this?

This video essay on how sensor measurement comes into play in film making is by In Depth Cine, a YouTube account devoted to offering its viewers with sensible rundowns and explainers on among the extra technical features of movie-making. Grey Kotzé, a documentary DP based mostly in South Africa, is the person behind the channel. You possibly can take a look at Kotzé’s portfolio on their web site right here. And you may take a look at In Depth Cine on YouTube right here.

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Associated Subjects: Cinematography, The Queue

Meg Shields is the standard farm boy of your goals and a senior contributor at Movie College Rejects. She at the moment runs three columns at FSR: The Queue, How’d They Do That?, and Horrorscope. She can be a curator for One Good Shot and a contract author for rent. Meg could be discovered screaming about John Boorman’s ‘Excalibur’ on Twitter right here: @TheWorstNun. (She/Her).