Blog
Articles on filmmaking technique, production planning, and industry knowledge.
Showing 12 of 34 posts (Page 2 of 3)
Shooting for Multiple Aspect Ratios: How to Frame for 2.39:1, 1.85:1, and 16:9 Simultaneously
A practical framing guide for productions that need to deliver in multiple aspect ratios: covering safe area calculations, on-set monitoring solutions, in-camera frame guide setup, and the specific compositional decisions that affect all three deliverables.
How to Pre-Visualise a Location Scout Using Your Lens Calculator
A step-by-step workflow for DPs and directors who want to leave a tech scout with confirmed lens choices, camera positions, and frame sizes locked - using field of view calculations tied to real distances measured on location.
Sensor Crop and Focal Length: The Complete Reference Table for Every Major Camera
A definitive reference table of sensor sizes, crop factors, and focal length equivalents for every major cinema and hybrid camera in use in 2026, with practical guidance on how crop factor changes your lens choices and field of view across platforms.
Night Exterior Lighting for Indie Films: The Exposure Math Before You Show Up to the Location
Night exterior lighting fails most often in the prep stage, not on the night. The exposure math tells you how much lift you need above ambient, which translates directly to light output, generator size, and power runs. This post covers the calculation workflow so you arrive at the location with the right equipment rather than improvising in the dark.
The 180-Degree Shutter Rule Is Not a Rule: When and Why Cinematographers Break It
The 180-degree shutter standard produces motion blur that reads as natural to audiences trained on 24fps film. But it is a starting point, not a law. At 90 degrees, motion becomes sharp and urgent. At 45 degrees, it fragments. At 270 degrees, it smears. Each departure communicates something different - only if it is intentional.
Every ND Filter Combination You Will Ever Need: A Reference Guide by Stop
ND filter nomenclature uses at least three different labelling systems simultaneously. The same filter can be called ND 0.9, ND8, or '3-stop' depending on the manufacturer. This post converts every common density to stops and shows which combinations to stack to hit any target reduction from 1 to 16 stops.
Deep Focus vs. Shallow Focus: A Cinematographer's Decision Framework
Most writing on deep versus shallow focus treats it as an aesthetic preference. It is not - it is a technical and narrative decision with specific trade-offs. This post covers the conditions under which each approach serves the story, the practical constraints that govern the choice, and how to calculate whether the intended look is achievable with your equipment.
What Circle of Confusion Value Should You Actually Use? A Sensor-by-Sensor Guide
Most DoF calculators pick a default circle of confusion value and never show it to you. Some default to 0.029mm for every camera regardless of sensor size. Others use 0.025mm for 'cinema' modes that span three different sensor formats. Here is how to find out what your app is actually using and whether it is correct.
Why Your Lens Markings and Your DoF Calculator Still Disagree (Breathing, T-Stops, and Diffraction)
Even with the correct circle of confusion set, a DoF calculator will give you a number your lens cannot quite deliver. Lens breathing changes the effective focal length as you focus closer. T-stops differ from f-numbers. And diffraction shrinks your sharp zone past f/8 on modern sensors. Here is what each factor contributes.
ProRes vs. BRAW vs. ARRIRAW: Which Acquisition Format Is Right for Your Production?
A technical and practical comparison of ProRes, Blackmagic RAW, and ARRIRAW acquisition formats covering data rates, storage requirements, color grading latitude, NLE compatibility, and the real workflow implications for different production scales.
Film vs. Digital in 2026: A Side-by-Side Cost Breakdown for a 12-Day Shoot
A full line-item cost comparison for a 12-day indie narrative feature shoot on 35mm film versus digital acquisition on an ARRI ALEXA 35, covering stock, processing, scanning, crew differentials, equipment, and delivery costs at 2026 pricing.
Shutter Angle vs. Shutter Speed: Which Should You Set on Your Camera?
Shutter angle and shutter speed describe the same physical setting using two different units. Understanding which to use and why matters most when you change frame rates mid-production - because one unit automatically preserves motion blur character while the other does not.