Anamorphic video is a cinematic technique that creates a widescreen aspect ratio without cropping or stretching the image. It can produce stunning visuals with a distinctive look, but it also requires some special equipment and post-production steps. In this article, you will learn what anamorphic video is, how it works, and how to use it in your video editing projects.
Anamorphic video originated in the 1950s, when film studios wanted to compete with the popularity of television by offering a wider and more immersive viewing experience. They used special lenses that squeezed the image horizontally on the film, and then projected it back with another lens that stretched it to the desired aspect ratio. This process created a 2.35:1 or 2.39:1 ratio, which is now known as the standard cinematic widescreen format.
Anamorphic video not only provided a wider aspect ratio but also enhanced the image quality. By utilizing the full width of the film frame, anamorphic lenses captured more visual information, resulting in sharper and more detailed images. This innovation brought a new level of cinematic immersion and became a hallmark of the film industry, captivating audiences with its breathtaking visuals.
Anamorphic was conceived to allow full aperture 4 perf 35mm exposure to prevent the loss of resolution that occurs when using spherical lenses as full aperture 35mm is approximately 1:34 aspect ratio. When shooting with digital cinema cameras such as the Panasonic EVA1-super 35 camera, use high quality spherical prime lenses and use the cameras active area for view finder display set to 2.35:1. Shoot at 24 FPS with a 180 degree shutter angle.
2.35:1 is basically a creative choice these days with digital cinema cameras and the production and post production process. Please check out: https://www.widescreenmuseum.com/ for a wealth of information about the old wide screen film formats that used to be used. Todd-AO 2.21:1 (later renamed to Ultra-Panavision), Vista-vision 2.66:1 of which both are spherical high resolution film formats, and CinemaScope which is the 2.35 anamorphic standard film resolution format that used standard cameras with anamorphic lens adapters.
Anamorphic video has several benefits that make it appealing to filmmakers and videographers. First, it preserves the full resolution and quality of the image, unlike cropping or letterboxing, which reduce the vertical pixels. Second, it creates a unique aesthetic with a shallow depth of field, oval bokeh, lens flares, and a soft and organic feel. Third, it adds a sense of drama and scale to the scenes, enhancing the storytelling and mood.
Anamorphic video allows for wider aspect ratios, giving a cinematic look that gives the viewers an experience with the visuals. It provides a wider field of view, capturing more of the scene and allowing for creative framing and composition.
It is possible to use an anamorphic lens adapter to expose a 1.78:1 area as opposed to exposing spherical with the active area of interest of 2.35:1 within the 1.78:1. It is not very realistic though as there can be a loss of resolution and chromatic aberrations with non spherical glass. It is much better to use a camera approved by NETFLIX IE: Panasonic EVA1, and shoot at the highest resolution with high quality prime lenses.
Anamorphic video also comes with some challenges that you need to be aware of and prepared for. First, you need to have an anamorphic lens or adapter, which can be expensive and hard to find. Second, you need to have a camera that can record in a 4:3 or 3:2 aspect ratio, which is not very common in modern digital cameras. Third, you need to have a monitor or a viewfinder that can display the image in the correct aspect ratio, or use a desqueeze function to preview it. Fourth, you need to have a video editing software that can handle anamorphic footage and apply the necessary adjustments.
The challenges of anamorphic video is that you need to have an anamorphic lens or adapter, which can be expensive and hard to find. Second, you need to have a camera that can record in a 4:3 or 3:2 aspect ratio, which is not very common in modern digital cameras. Third, you need to have a monitor or a viewfinder that can display the image in the correct aspect ratio, or use a de-squeeze function to preview it. Fourth, you need to have a video editing software that can handle anamorphic footage and apply the necessary adjustments.
If you want to shoot anamorphic video, you need to follow some basic steps. First, you need to choose an anamorphic lens or adapter that matches your camera and your desired aspect ratio. For example, a 2x anamorphic lens will squeeze the image by half, creating a 2.39:1 ratio from a 4:3 sensor. A 1.33x anamorphic lens will squeeze the image by a third, creating a 2.39:1 ratio from a 16:9 sensor. Second, you need to set your camera to the appropriate resolution and frame rate, and make sure you have enough storage space and battery power. Third, you need to adjust your focus, aperture, and exposure settings, and use a tripod or a stabilizer to avoid camera shake. Fourth, you need to compose your shots carefully, taking into account the distortion and vignetting that may occur at the edges of the frame.
To shoot anamorphic video, you’ll need an anamorphic lens or adapter that matches your camera. Set your camera to the right resolution and frame rate, ensuring enough storage and battery power. Adjust focus, aperture, and exposure settings. Use a tripod or stabilizer to avoid camera shake. Compose shots carefully, considering distortion and vignetting. Lastly, remember to embrace the unique look anamorphic footage brings to your videos.
Once you have shot your anamorphic video, you need to edit it in a way that preserves and enhances its quality and style. First, you need to import your footage into your video editing software, and create a new project with the same aspect ratio as your anamorphic footage. Second, you need to apply a desqueeze effect to your clips, which will stretch them horizontally to the correct aspect ratio. Third, you need to crop or scale your clips to fit the frame, and adjust the color, contrast, and brightness levels. Fourth, you need to add any transitions, effects, titles, or audio that you want, and export your video in the desired format and quality.
To enhance your anamorphic video, consider one more point: adding letterboxing. This technique involves adding black bars to the top and bottom of the frame, which can further emphasize the cinematic feel of your footage. Remember to experiment with different editing styles to achieve the desired look and feel.
Anamorphic video can be a rewarding and creative way to make your videos stand out, but it also requires some practice and experimentation. Here are some tips and tricks that can help you get the best results. First, use a lens hood or a matte box to avoid unwanted lens flares, unless you want them for artistic reasons. Second, use a diopter or a close-up filter to improve the minimum focus distance of your anamorphic lens, which can be quite long. Third, use a variable ND filter to control the amount of light entering your lens, and avoid overexposing or underexposing your image. Fourth, use a monitor or a viewfinder that can display the image in the correct aspect ratio, or use a desqueeze function to preview it. Fifth, use a grid or a guide to help you align your horizon and your subjects, and avoid tilting or panning your camera too much, which can cause unwanted distortion.