FILM SCHOOL
CINEMATOGRAPHY 2025
PROFESSOR: Fredie Mark Hayes
STUDY GUIDE
UNIT I
1. FOCAL LENGTH: In Photography, it is the distance between the Optical Center
(Point of Convergence or Nodal Point) and the Imaging Point or Focal Point
(where the inverted image gets in focus, and often is captured, for instance, at
the Sensor). *Larger focal lengths reduce the Angle of View and increase
magnification (Telephotos). *Shorter focal lengths expand the Angle of View
(Wide Angle lenses). Focal Length is a distance, a longitude, a physical figure,
so it is measured in millimeters and classifies lenses in different categories
according to their Angle of View or Field of View.
Referential Examples:
* Wide Angle Lens 14 mm: 100º Angle of View (aprox.)
* Standard Lens 50 mm: 45º Angle of View (aprox.)
* Telephoto Lens 100 mm: 12º Angle of View (aprox.)
Referential Layout:
2. CAMERA APERTURE: The Diaphragm is the mechanism which controls the
amount of light that reaches the interior of the Camera, therefore, into the Sensor
or the Film. *Usually, Diaphragms are build up with blades that close and open
concentrically.
3. F. STOPS: “ f ” numbers express Aperture, therefore, the amount of light that
enters the camera. “ T “ numbers express the effective Transmission of light.
** These values subdivide in halfs and thirds of stop.
*** Larger Apertures, *** Smaller Apertures
LIMITED DEPTH OF FIELD GREATER DEPTH OF FIELD
4. DEPTH OF FIELD: The distance, range or section, between the nearest
focused point to the camera and the farthest focused point to the camera. This
“focus space” comprises different “zones” or focused points: “Acceptable Focus”,
Optimum Focus and Sharp “nailed” Focus (máximum optical reach). The most
decisive factors to determine Depth of Field are: *Focal Length / *Aperture /
*Format.
5. SHUTTER: This device controls the Exposure Speed (the time in which light
enters the camera). There are many kinds of shutter mechanisms: *Blind Curtain
(Analog Still Photography), *Angle Rotatory (Cinema); *Traditional Electronic
and Rolling Shutter (Digital Photography).
* Shutter Speed Examples:
“B” - 2 sec. – 1 sec. - ½ - ¼ - 1/8 - 1/15 - 1/30 (slower)
1/50 - 1/60 - 1/125 (standard)
1/250 - 1/500 - 1/1000 - 1/2000 - 1/3000… (faster)
** CINEMA CAMERAS: Shutter may operate with Exposure Angles.
( 180º degree as the Standard Shutter Angle )
6. FRAME RATE: Film Cameras run with motors at a constant SPEED for the
exposure of each Frame (Filming or Recording Speed). In Cinema, the
Standard Frame Rate is 24 F.P.S (Frames Per Second). **The less is the speed
(slower run), projected image (or playback) shall seem “faster”, there is “fewer
visual information” (Example: 12 F.P.S.). **Instead, with accelerated filming
speeds (Example: 48 F.P.S), playback will show a “Slow Motion Image”, there is
“more visual information” (additional frames). In Digital Video Cameras, the
equivalents are: 24P, 25P, 30P, 60P, 24 FPS, and so on.
7. PHOTOGRAPHIC SENSITIVITY: The ability or attribute of some elements to
respond to light (photosensitive elements). Therefore, we can talk about
Sensitivity of Film or Sensitivity of Sensors. The best known sensitivity systems
are ASA (American) and ISO (International). *Increased numbers respond faster
to light, express greater sensitivity, but can generate larger grane or pixel noise.
ISO examples:
50 - 100 - 200 - 320 - 400 - 640 - 800 - 1280 - 1600…
8. COLOR TEMPERATURE: In Cinema, Video and general Photography, refers
to WHITE BALANCE in Camera related to the temperature of luminous
emissions (different sources of light). *In Physics, bodies emit light when are
heated-up. This energy determines frequency and “color”.
** TWO BASIC PARAMETERS.-
- 3200 ºK : These are “low” temperatures in the Kelvin scale. They generate
orange – red tones (in other words: “warmer” colors).
Examples: CLASSIC “INTERIOR” LIGHTS / TUNGSTEN.
- 5600 ºK : These are “higher” temperatures in the Kelvin scale. They generate
white – bluish tones (in other words: “cooler” colors).
Examples: DAY LIGHT (SUN) / DIVA LIGHT / KINO FLO / HMI.
** CONVERSION FILTERS.- Analog Photography uses conversion filters in front
of the lenses to balance Color Temperature (80 Blue / 85 Orange). In Digital
Photography color balance is adjusted with the camera settings.
Even now, modern photography uses conversion filters to change or balance
color temperature of different sources of light. These filters are comonly named
“Color Temperature Gels”.
* There are two main Color Conversion Gels:
CTB full [Color Temperature Blue] To reach 5600 ºK or less.
CTO full [Color Temperature Orange] To reach 3200 ºK or less.
*** White Balance in camera should be set according to the Color
Temperature of each Light’s source (Daylight 5600ºK = 5600ºK in Camera //
Interior Tungsten 3200ºK = 3200ºK in Camera). If we set the opposite
temperature, the image will show completely saturated reddish tones or
saturated bluish tones (“revealing” the light source’s temperature).
9. THE SENSOR: The most important device in a Digital Camera. It is a right-
angled plate (usually fabricated from a sophisticated kind of silicone) that
Captures luminous energy. The structure of this advanced technology piece is
build-up by hundreds or thousands of “Photocaptors” [ Microscopic “trays” that
take in Light ]. Photosensitive Elements and Microlenses are present in the
interior of Photocaptors. They allow to start a dual process of accumulation and
amplification of energy. Next, there comes a transformation of energy effect
[ luminous energy becomes electrical energy ]. Voltage is born.
10. SENSOR SIZE: *The real physical measures of any sensor. Sensor size is
expressed in millimeters (mm) or inches (“).
** Video and Photography employ 2 scales evenly:
Example:
CANON 5D MARK II ( left sensor )
11. IMAGEN DEFINITION: The “quality” of Digital Image.
Commonly known as HD ( High Definition ).
It is conformed by two factors:
- SHARPNESS: An image can be perceived as “clear”, “crisp”, “fine”. This
concept can be a bit subjective upon every person’s sight or vision. This
factor is determined mainly by optical quality, therefore, the lens.
- RESOLUTION: The number of generated and effective PIXELS. Many
variables affect this parameter, for instance: Sensor, luminosity, internal and
external processing (digitalization & compression). This is very specific and
precise information (mathematical). The quality of the Sensor will be decisive
for digital resolution.
PIXEL: PIX: (“Pics”, of Pictures) / EL: (of Element).
*The very basic unit of Digital Image.
*Every pixel contains Light and Color.
12. MAIN SCALES FOR DIGITAL RESOLUTION:
- BASE x HEIGHT: ( Horizontal x Vertical )
Example: 1920 x 1080 pixels.
- VERTICAL: Vertical Pixels. *Example: 1080p or 1080i
(“p” progressive / “i” interlaced).
- “COMMERCIAL”: FULL HD, “2K”, ULTRA HD, “4K”, “6K”, “8K”...
“K” is basically an abbreviation for approximate HORIZONTAL PIXELS.
Example: 2K = 2560 x 1440 (Kilo = Thousand). Marketing Standards.
- TOTAL RECOUNT: “THE MEGAPIXELS”. It is the total number of
Pixels, or the digital image “area”. In other words, the result of the direct
multiplication of horizontal and vertical values.
Example: 1920 x 1080 = 2.073.600 pixels (2 MILLION PIXELS)
[Rounded up: 2 MP] [Mega Pixels / M = Million ]
** For Video Files, total recount may be confusing. This system is
recommended for Still Photography or Camera Resolution.
Example: 24 MP.
