Full frame (cinematography): Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 08:31, 29 September 2026

In cinematography, full frame refers to an image area (today most commonly on a digital sensor) that is the same size as that used by a 35 mm still camera.^[1] Still cameras run the film horizontally behind the lens, whereas standard 35 mm motion-picture cameras run the film vertically. Thus, a 35 mm still camera's image is significantly larger than that of a standard 35 mm motion-picture camera.

File:135 film perforations.jpg

35 mm still frame

File:Super35 and Techniscope.png

35 mm motion-picture frames

Specialty motion-picture formats have used film running horizontally, notably VistaVision (which produced a "full-frame" image) and IMAX.

Historically, most digital cinema cameras have used Super 35 sized (similar to APS-C) sensors,^[2] largely to maintain compatibility with existing lenses and to produce traditional "cinematic" depth of field and field of view.

Full-frame cameras require lenses with larger optics and produce shallower depth of field than conventional 35 mm cinema cameras.^[3]

Technical specifications

Template:See also

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References

[1] ttps://pro.sony/ue_US/technology/full-frame-sensor

[2] ttps://vmi.tv/blog/learn-help/guide-to-sensor-sizes-and-lens-formats/

[3] ttps://fstoppers.com/education/understanding-how-sensor-size-affects-depth-field-312599

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[2]

[3]

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-[[Image:Full frame film illustration.jpg|right|thumbnail|200px|A full frame picture captured on [[35mm film]]. Here, the picture is framed for the target 2.35:1 cinema [[aspect ratio (image)|aspect ratio]] (inside the yellow box). Picture outside the box is masked out when the film is shown in widescreen.]]
+In [[cinematography]], '''full frame''' refers to an image area (today most commonly on a [[Image sensor|digital sensor]]) that is the same size as that used by a [[135 film|35&nbsp;mm]] [[still camera]].<ref>https://pro.sony/ue_US/technology/full-frame-sensor</ref> Still cameras run the film horizontally behind the [[lens]], whereas standard 35&nbsp;mm [[Motion picture camera|motion-picture cameras]] run the film vertically. Thus, a 35&nbsp;mm still camera's image is significantly larger than that of a standard 35&nbsp;mm motion-picture camera.
-In [[cinematography]] and [[photography]], '''full frame''' or '''flat''' filming captures all of the desired image along with additional visual information surrounding the target frame. One advantage of using full frame filming is that it gives the filmmaker a larger picture to work with when creating a [[pan and scan]] transfer of the film; one of the disadvantages is that it does not make optimal use of the available film area for [[widescreen]] versions, as an [[anamorphic widescreen]] does.
+[[file:135 film perforations.jpg|thumb|35&nbsp;mm still frame]]
-When projecting a full frame film onto a wide theatrical screen, part of the image must be masked out; this process is known as ''soft matte''. Widescreen video transfers similarly crop out the additional video. A pan and scan transfer of the film, however, may more effectively make use of the additional picture, though it may contain unwanted objects such as boom [[microphone]]s, stage hands, or other props that would not have been visible in the widescreen version. Using the full frame does, however, allow viewers to see more of the full picture without [[letterbox]] bars.
+[[File:Super35 and Techniscope.png|right|thumb|300px|35&nbsp;mm motion-picture frames]]
-{{stub}}
+Specialty motion-picture formats have used film running horizontally, notably [[VistaVision]] (which produced a "full-frame" image) and [[IMAX]].
+Historically, most [[Digital cinematography|digital cinema]] cameras have used [[Super 35]] sized (similar to [[APS-C]]) sensors,<ref>https://vmi.tv/blog/learn-help/guide-to-sensor-sizes-and-lens-formats/</ref> largely to maintain compatibility with existing lenses and to produce traditional "cinematic" [[depth of field]] and [[field of view]].
+Full-frame cameras require lenses with larger [[optics]] and produce shallower depth of field than conventional 35&nbsp;mm cinema cameras.<ref>https://fstoppers.com/education/understanding-how-sensor-size-affects-depth-field-312599</ref>
+==Technical specifications==
+{{See also|Academy ratio}}
+{{br}}
+==See also==
+*[[Image sensor format]]
+*[[35mm format|35 mm format]]
+*[[Full-frame digital SLR]]
+*[[Full-frame mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera]]
+*[[Half-frame camera]]
+*[[List of film formats]]
+*[[Silent film]]
+*[[Reframing (filmmaking)]]
+==References==
+{{Reflist}}
+{{DEFAULTSORT:Full Frame}}
+[[Category:Film and video terminology]]

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Latest revision as of 08:31, 29 September 2026

Technical specifications

See also

References