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296

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CINEMATOGRAPHER

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15mm

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SCENE furniture

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1959

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wide

particularly Cinerama

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the

trees

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angle

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ugh

the

or

a

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expans

minor

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:

for

the

Cinemira

present

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scale

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while

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standard

variably

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of .

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scan

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.

with

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from realistic

can

the

effect the

closer

components

occupy

that

clarity

focus

essential

viewer

attributes

the

do

players,

can

to

lenses

pi

positions

camera, than

to

from

the

c

be

ture

into

enhance

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action

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ap-

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at

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effect

lenses

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tial resembling veying of perspective

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the

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bottom

ve

relationship

since

cannot

wide

is

an

cinematography

and

set

of

-sc

intimate

they

placed

the

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lenses.

reen th

be

off

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audience

flatten

will

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frame

with

Continued

lighted

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impression

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images

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Page

.

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Th

same

297

fore

con

spa

314

ion

top

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­ ­

­

­ The terrific vanatlon in size be­ wide-angle's inherently greater depth in place by the gearing that focuses the \liith the BNC model, distance meas­ tween near and far objects when filmed of field, even wide open under adverse lens, and focusing is achieved remotely urements start from the tape hook, BOLEX ACCESSORIES with a wide-angle lens exists because condtions, covers focusing errors and by manipulation of focusing knobs at which is located on the upper left hand the camera is usually placed clcse to makes it a natural for hurried shooting BY STEVENS the rear and left side of the camera. corner of the camera. The lens footage the near person or object-making it when little time is available for careful Variable Shuller • Split-Frame Made • Synchronou1 Rn-,HI speci•li1h fo, ov-, • dec•de. dial lock-screw should be tightened and Battery CC1mera Drives • Time lapse Timer • Our Jong Hp-,ienc:e insures superior qu•lity. Lenses for use on either model cam­ loom larger in relation to the more dis­ focus deliberation. lens Extension Tubes • Rackover • Turret lever • El tdronic:elly controlled mechinH keep tem• after each adjustment. Also, after using Third Turret Stop e Tu,,., Filter Slides e Come,o p,urdure const.nt within .2 of one degree, era are mounted in conventional tant images which are greatly reduced N1tiontl "Brilli•nfone" Cine prints tre the finest either the 25mm or 30mm lens on the The wide-angle is especially valu­ lase • lens Control Handle • 400-Ft. Magadne 0 threaded focusing mounts having iris in size. This technique can be useful in Sound Sprockets •·•il• blt . WritefotfTeecatol09ue. NC, these lenses must be unscrewed a able under poor lighting conditions, in­ C,1.)HTACT ,11NT1NG I I W DU,LICATING diaphragm control rings. On the NC OUR NEW ADDRESS WORK ,11NTS KODACHlOMi 0u,uC.ATIN& sufficient distance before rotation of the speeding up moving vehicles or ani­ doors or out, when a large aperture is [n&i NUMIUIN& VAC.UUMATIN& model. lenses are mounted in the turret All we,~ o,Heleol ol •e ul•• ••••te turret is attempted, otherwise turret mals. A speeding auto, for instance, necessary and maximum depth of field Stevens Engineering Co., Dept. A with four machine screws. So that the 340 N. Newport Blvd. NATIONAL CINE LAB may be forced and misaligned. moving directly toward the camera and desirable. E\'en when used wide open, barrel of a long focal length lens will Newport Beach, Calif. lo•442S WHhin9ton 170 D.C. With the Mitchell camera thus pre­ filmed with a wide-angle lens from a the wide-angle objective (particularly not intrude in the field of a wide-angle pared for use, the chief operational low three-quarter angle, will produce the modern wide-angle retro-focus len­ lens, the 152mm is usually mounted di­ steps consist briefly of ( 1) racking the impression of greater than normal ses) possesses extraordinary depth of rectly opposite the 25mm, whenever over the camera, ( 2) checking focus speed. The car will approach from a field. both of these lenses a.re to be used on through the focusing tube; (2) racking speck in the distance, become larger Wit:Je-angle lenses can minimize the Used World-Wide By Discriminating Cameramen the camera. Another feature of the NC the camera back to operating position ; and higher in the frame as its long effort of camera weave or unsteadiness is that it has mechanical provision for (3) setting lens £/-stop; (4) compos­ sleek lines zoom by. The wide-angle because their great angular covering CINEKAD SYNCHRONOUS MOTOR rising and falling front effects, but this ing scene in view finder; ( 5) resetting lens creates the impression that the car spread's.:the jiggle over a wider area, requires complicated adjustments, is DRIVE-For 16mm Projectors footage counter to zero; ( 6) starting is further away than it actually is. be­ thus making it less apparent on the limited to use of lenses of 35mm and the camera to photograph the scene; cause its size will be small in relation screen. They are especially useful when Especially designed to drive all longer. and was originally designed as Bell & Howell, Ampro, Kodak, (7) stopping the camera at the end of to the frame area. The car will appear the camera must be hand-held or for a means of 3.chieving correction in RCA, and Victor 16mm projectors scene; and, when necessary, (8) open to cover a greater distance than it ac­ making dolly shots under improvised scenes having prominent vertical lines, at synchronous speed. camera door to check and clean gate tually does, because the shorter the set-ups where absolutely smooth dolly as in heayy archit~ctural exteriors, Projector can be instantly attached to and pressure plate--especially after a focal length, the greater the linear dis­ travel cannot be obtained. etc. Today. cinematographers have tance between objects. The moving Synchronous Motor Drive and quickly de­ lengthy run. The rugged spaciousness of moun­ tached at o·ny time in a matter of seconds. found faster and simpler means of image, because of the wide field of Like a fine automobile, long and tainous scenery is best recorded with An outstanding feature is the flexible achieving this. view, will remain in the frame for a shaft which connects motor with projector trouble-free operation of a Mitchell a wide-angle lens used close, rather greater length of time. All this adds up and permits smooth, quiet and steady After lenses are mounted on either camera over a long period of time is than with a telephoto from a distance. operation. No special technical knowl- to "stretching" distance and increas­ One-year Guaranfffl Immediate Dellveryl edge required for installation a nd mount• the NC or BNC, they are adjusted for dependent mainly on keeping the mech­ The shorter optic will preserve the ing image speed-a professional cine­ ing. Write lor more details and prices. correct focus by means of the focusing anism free of dust, dirt or other foreign roundness. ruggedness, texture and matographer's technique that is most CINEKAD ENGINEERING COMPANY, 763 10th Ave., N.Y., N.Y., Plaza 7-3511 tube of the camera, previously men­ material. Care and vigilance on the general uneven appearance of the ter­ effective in filming action. tioned. The footage dial on the lens part of the operator is essential, since rain, particularly if cross-lighted, be­ Hollyw_ood direc_tors of photography can be used for focusing, providing the small particles of dust in the movement cause of the stronger separation of invariably choose a wide-angle lens to exact distance to the subject is known. or on the lens may cause scratches or images and planes. This effect can be film miniature trick shots involving On the NC camera footage is calculated spots on film that is otherwise properly enhanced by choosine; a strong fore­ "THE CINEMATOGRAPHER" scaled down sets. For such scenes the exposed. • _g-round. with a shadow base and a from the ground glass to the object. camera is positioned at the eye-level of framing tree branch and then havi11g Informational and instructive motion picture produced a similarly scaled observer. Such care­ by the Hollywood Motion Picture Industry. Depicts role a pictorially interesting middle ground ful choice of lens and camera angle re­ of the Director of Photography in lighting and photo• -one that contains some variation in graphing motion pictures in Hollywood studios. Shows CHOOSING AND USING LENSES sults in utmost realism and allows the terrain. trees-, rocks or other ob­ various camera and lighting equipment used on Holly­ miniatures to be "cut in" with live ac· wood sound stages and the results achieved from Continued.-.,,h:om Page 297 jects. These will stand out as distinct tion without detection. Filmed with a their use. planes. with the mountains risin~ up angle shots for added dramatic impact. normal or telephoto lens the miniature One•reel 16mm block-and-white prints available on planes closer together and generally behind them. Add a nice clouded sky, Fr•• loan to cine clubs, college cinema g,oi,ps, By placing the camera low, and shoot­ would have a phoney appearance-like .chool,, ond occredited clubs and civic groups within tend to destroy any three-dimensional place the action in between and a per­ the contlnental U.S. l•Hrvotions neceuary and pay• looking at a toy through a telescope ment of retum shipment required. quality that the scene may possess. ing up at a three-quarter angle to the fect outdoor action-scene having three.­ from a distance. Only a wide-angle ob­ It is a photographic fallacy that subject - shooting "angle on angle" - dimensional quality will result. AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CINEMATOGRAPHERS wide-angle lenses create distortion. This the subject is made to stand out strong· jective can place the viewer where hP­ ly against a dropped horizon. must look up and feel "surrounded" No"· for a few don'ts-for after all 1712 Nerth Orange Drive Hollywood 21, Calif. is not true. Any lens will distort the the wide-angle lens has some disad- • image if improperly used. Distortion For example, let us take a by the set and the action. results from shooting from a wrong picture in which the hero is filmed Newsreel men switch to the wide­ viewpoint thus. creating poor perspec­ against a cloudy sky as he draws and angle lens when working outdoors at tive-not by anything inherent in the fires his six-shooter. A low angle, wide­ crowded public events, and also when lens. The wide-angle lens is more likely angle, three-quarter angle camera set­ they must work shoulder to shoulder to record a distorted picture when up will etch him dramatically against with still photographers, as when film­ used too close to the subject. Often the the clouded sky as he looms up in the ing celebrities, etc. Since the still pho­ very distortion that is considered a frame with his gun seemingly sticking tographers invariably "move in," they liability can be turned into a useful out into space directly over the head thus decide the "camera line," and the asset. The wide-angle lens is ideal for of the viewer. It is for scenes such as newsreel cameramen thus have no al­ capturing a forceful perspective - a this that the wide-angle lens excels be­ ternative except to use the shorter lens. strong, exaggerated perspective, with a cause of the forceful perspective, the The wide-angle lens is also the prime heavy base or forground and a rapidly excellent three-dimensional modeling !;ns of ne:sreel camerama_n filming diminishing vanishing point. This tech­ and the intimate feeling of participa­ grab shots or when shootmg guess­ nique can be used in low angle, wide- tion that the audience receives. focus hand-held shots on the fly. The

314 AMERICAN CINEMATOGRAPHER MAY • 1959 31S ~""

vantagl!s, too. Never use a wide-angle PHOTOGRAPHIC ASSIGNMENTS PAUL IvANO, ..The Texan"* (Desilu Prods.) CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING for closeups of people unless a weirdly RATES: Ads set in lightface type, 10c per word, minimum ad, line. Send copy with remittance to cover payment to Editorial Continued from Page 268 $1.00. Text set in lightface capital letters (except 1st word ~m

316 AMERICAN CINEMATOGRAPHER