From Boring to Cinematic: The Power of Focal Length
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- čas přidán 17. 07. 2023
- In this video we're gonna take a look at how the focal length that you choose can impact your cinematography. We're gonna primarily focus on the use of longer lenses to spice up your video production.
FilmMatch PowerGrade and LUT's: www.film-match.com
Aesthetically, long lenses are great with their bokeh, but I'm a big believer that the 28-50mm range really does allow you to connect with a subject on a more emotional level. I always thought that concept was purely academic, but the more I shoot, the more truth I find in it. That focal range also allows for some great dynamics camera movement, whereas longer lenses often keep you confined. But, regardless, some great insight here. I love the topics you cover on this channel.
You and roger deakins.
Yeah I completely agree with your statement. In fact I love the 35mm and 50mm. But I personally believe that they require more planning in terms of set dressing while with a longer lens even a 70mm you can cheat a little bit. I agree with what you said in regards of the connection with the character. Long lenses make you more an external observer, still I love their look hahaha. I appreciate your comment!
@@jimmyonfilm great point. The wider the lens, the more talented of a production designer you need!
The way I’ve seen it work, is that you want to decide, in each scene, whose perspective we want to feel the scene from. Then use wide lenses when we are “seeing” whatever that character sees, and then use long lenses whenever someone else is “looking” at the key person. The result is long lens closeups when showing the key character onscreen, and wide shots of everything else. Not a rule, but it’s nice to help an audience be grounded to one character in any given scene.
Can someone explain how focal length and aspect ratio ?
So if I wanted to shoot everything like a movie with a specific aspect ratio then I’d have to find specific lenses that zoom in they ratio , right?
I can’t just pick a lense for its zooming ability but also consider aspect ratios?
For me “widescreen” movies always look the most cinematic 16:9.
I also wonder what apps make a movie color saturate like zack Snyder’s “300”(random but curious if anyone has info)
this channel is a breath of fresh air
especially in the end of the video 😆😆😆
Great video, but your terminology is wrong. Long focal length lenses are called telephoto. A zoom lens can be any focal length. Zoom means you can zoom from say 17mm to 35mm with one lens. Opposite to zoom lens is prime lens. Fixed focal length. E.g. 20mm f2.8 or 135mm f2. Keep up the good work.😊
a long/telephoto lens produces a long focal length so he is correct. Both terminologies apply. a zoom lens would produce a short/wide to long focal length
To quote "From 55 onward we have zoom lenses"
Should be from 55 onward we have telephoto lenses.
Zoom has nothing to do with focal length, only that you can "zoom" between focal lengths on a single unit.
I didn't watch all the video to be honest lol. I see what you mean
Fish-eye, ultra wide, wide, standard, trans-standard, tele for prime lenses, zoom for variable focal lenght, just as you Said
@@CSNK2008 Your naming terminology is focal length related, not whether it's variable focal length ( a zoom lens). I have a Nikon 200-500mm. This is definitely a telephoto but it is also a zoom lens. This is turning into quite a discussion.😂
To be able to express concepts in such a concise and clear manner is very rare. You have this talent.
I love the cinematic aspects of the more cinematic lens used, with a whole emphasis and focus on a cinematic feel, which leads to the very cinematic (while not just simply good and interesting) phone shot.
Thanks! I really appreciate it. I tried that shot without expecting too much but in the end it came out pretty good (better than expected)☺️
I just discovered this channel, and I’m amazed by the experience.
You are so underrated!
Very entertaining and informative video essay Jimmy. Just found out your channel and I really like your style! Keep them coming and I'll keep watching and taking notes ^^ Cheers mate!
Thanks for explaining and teaching us how our brains perceive the image that our eyes see. This translates to what we feel as good and pleasing on an emotional level. It is true when you get to go deeper into filming on how to draw in the emotions of the audience and how a character can be made to look isolated and for the audience to start feeling the loneliness (isolation) that the character is being subjected to. Focal length plays a very important role in influencing our emotions. I would love that might be in a future tutorial you mention compression, and the distance from the camera to the character/subject/items you're filming. Your examples are excellent thanks again for sharing your creativity.
i was so impressed the whole video because of the color. i really enjoyed the whole video though, love how you're so relaxed without really being quiet. love that.
Great video! If you want to expand on the topic a little bit, you could talk more about lens compression too. You were so close to it a few times, that I felt like you are going to mention it next :) It's so interesting because while you can "hide" stuff from the background by using a longer focal length, you can also bring in something from the background, while keeping your subject in a relative "normal" size.
Yooo your videos are super informative, funny, and easy to digest. The algorithm has blessed me with yet another great creator 😊 keep up the good work!
I can get lost for weeks on focal length focused projects.
You rock! Great stuff! The off camera questioner is talented too.
After years and years of trial and error, im fortunate to have found this video/ channel. Thank you very much. Greetings from Bangalore, India
Nah , man. Filmmaking youtube teached me that cinematic is just filming stuff in slow motion with the shallowest depth of field you can get.
Yep. Laughing along with you Satan! So many hacks that rely on that lame shit because they've got nothing interesting to shoot.
whole face out of focus but the eyelashes are crisp. 120 fps. This is peak cinema.
Valid observations and suggestions - I am in agreement with you. And...your presentation style is fantastic! Having FUN while sharing and learning! Great job. Just Subscribed. With love from Atlanta.
I'm glad you made this video, this is the way that I have felt about longer lenses. I'm surprised they aren't more popular in film making in general. thanks for the lens suggestion
Great video man. Instantly subscribed without looking at any other of your videos on your channel. Can't wait to look at more. Can't wait for you to make more. This one really help me with my filmmaking journey. Thanks man and keep it up!
Thanks man I truly appreciate it! Help somebody else in their journey and growing together as filmmaker is what keeps me making videos! Thanks for your support!
Great presentation! Short and sweet, and very entertaining with your sense of humor. I often get bogged down watching technical descriptions, but you've managed to present it in a way that keeps what really matters in focus: soul and creativity. And your visual examples to explain your concepts are super clear and top-notch. Great job!
This channel teaches so much valuable stuff about film.
This is great stuff man. Keep it up!
Nice channel, just found it. I have the Nikon version of the 70-210 push-pull lens and absolutely love it. Subscribed and following. Keep it up!
Just love that last bit. Good stuff bro!
Keep doing what you're doing man! Entertaining and informative 💪🏾💪🏾
Very helpful and entertaining. Thanks for the laughs along with the info!
The example phone shot is incredible, chef's kiss!
Love the channel. Thank you for the information!
Amazing! Simple and to the point!
I'm
just
loving your content!
Wow!
The ending made me chuckle, great video!!
Entertaining and one of the better explanations I've seen on this topic.
Loved watching this. Agree 100% that long/extra-wide focal lengths can make mundane objects look interesting. I think it’s important to note though that a lot of really great directors lean towards wide angles. There’s no replacement for the world-building of amazing set locations (Spielberg) or meticulous set designs (Anderson). If bokeh is used for storytelling and not to hide low production quality, I’m all for it. If long focal lengths are to isolate and understand a subject, I’m all for it.
Really enjoyed this - great job!
I audibly chuckled at 6:44! Great video man, love your style of comedy interspersed
Keep them coming, I'm learning, thanks
Great video man, really helped me a lot.
Thanks for the tips! I’ve been trying to focus more on making ordinary things look more interesting in shot.
So true, when ordinary things are in focus they're more interesting...
Nice video, thank you! Love your humor!
Excellent video as always !
Thanks for making this. It’s very interesting and informative while still being funny and entertaining.
Bruhhhh I love this channel so much 😭
That's what I was looking for! Thanks thanks a lot!
Happy you liked it😊
Left this video and had to come back just to say how amazing that opening shot was!
Good tips. Only thing I would mention is shots like this typically carry a sense of claustrophobia or isolation. If that’s the intention that’s great. Not every shot using this method to make it interesting may fit the mood intended for the scene. For example Handmaids Tale uses this a lot to help the audience feel a sense of isolation for the main character. She feels trapped and alone. Sometimes we want the characters or mood of the scene to feel more open and connected to others and the environment. A sense of belonging and friendship. I feel the emotional mood of the scene should matter more than the look and feel.
Couldn't agree more. Long lens and Shallow DoF have their places and CAN be quite amazing in appropriate situations, or in a situation where the "rules" are broken in an interesting way. But as a default setting for a "cinematic" look it's getting so overused these days it drives me mad. Handmaids Tale and Mr. Robot use it quite well. It seems like it's a crutch that beginning cinematographers get stuck on more and more, ever since the 5dmk2 came along it's gotten more and more prevalent. Anyone who feels they cant make something look "cinematic" without relying on shooting wide open on long lens on a "full frame" sensor needs to have a good think about what they're doing with their life. If it's just a hobby, go for it. But if you want to be a serious film-maker, learn that there's more to life than shooting with stupidly shallow DoF.
Not necessarily for me an ultra wide shot of one person in a room while camera is still shows loneliness in a vast empty space
Great information. Thank you for sharing!
this was soooo good!
Thanks a lot, very helpful 🙌🏻
Man I love his videography style, and the lady who is in shots she looks amazing. Great work~!~
Awesome work man!
And on the opposite, using a wide angle lens (ex: a 16 or 21mm) very close to your subject can distort reality and help you achieve another kind of look/feeling.
Great video, I love your approach and how you are explaining stuff.
Very true! For example “the revenant” is been shot on very wide lenses and because of that it’s very stylized. Thanks for you comment :)
@@jimmyonfilmi immediately thought of a close up of leo from the film. You’re 100% right. It makes it more memorable too.
Loved this video, it's actually so funny you pulled up the Canon FD zoom lens, I've been shooting with those all week haha! I just happened to have a pair around my house and I used an adapter to get them onto my Sony camera. I've found them online for as low as $20 so definitely a great lens!
Goooodddd.. I love it. Roger dukens
Loved this bro. Thank you so much for sharing this piece of knowledge.
Thanks man!!
You are amazing and ur way of explanation is lovely.
Every day i m watching ur videos.
Its really so amazing.
This will help- thank you!
Thanks man you've got definitely something in you!
very useful video!! easy and perfect explaination
love it! thank you! instant subscribe
I love these videos, very inspiring
Great Vid Jimmy ! New Follower for sure.
nice one bro. thanks from France!
Your videos are fantastic! You have so much talent and are captivating. I need to take these tips and learn
Thank you so much! I really appreciate it! Happy you could learn something from the video :)
awesome! clever! great advise, thanks for creating this.
Great stuff, Jimmy.
Commenting to help your engagement. Your presentation style is top notch, friend. Keep up the great work.
Thank you so much for you support! I really appreciate it
That intro shot was awesome! I was thinking that it was nice that you were picking out a shot to illustrate your point and that this must be a shot from a well made, high budget Hollywood movie... The Composition, the lighting, the hand entering the frame in an interesting movement, how the subject isn't visible at first and then that focus pull to the face revealing that we've seen the subject the whole time without knowing. Also I think the focus breathing was something good here, like a mini Dolly Zoom
Great points.
I now have some great ideas for my upcoming Videos! Thanks! I've smashed all the smashers!
Salutations from astonishingly grey & wet Ireland! ☘☮🤘🏽🤠👍🏽☮☘
Great examples, and clearly explained. Well done! This was an insta-subscribe!
Thank you so much! Have a great day!
Hi I really enjoy your videos. Thanks.
I actually like this tip a lot. I will use it a lot more in my next projects I think :D
😳 I feel like you just answered a question i've been trying to answer for so long. Literally wondered why CZcams short films dont look like real movies and I think this is one KEY issue. All the lens we shoot on are sub 70mm. That across the street walking shot revealed so much for me. Im going to experiment with some longer lens. Thank you
Great Job!
This channel is 200mm...
Super interesting, no fluff and on point. Thank you
SUB from me! ❤❤❤
Thank you! Nace video🔥🔥🔥!
Nice !! Thank you for the tips
Awesome video, great channel
bro i love your content as an aspiring solo videographer :) keep it up, learning alot
Thanks man! Happy you learned something from it :)
Thank’s for this great video. I have a question to the jumpcut in your video at 4:08 to 4:11 (we first see the actress in some kind of midshot with lot of headroom and then in a close-up). Did you change only focal length for this shot or did you also change the camer-to-supject-distance?
Great work
Very interesting. I will def share your content
this is such a dope channel
This was crazy refreshing!! I have many boring areas I’m surrounded by. Gotta tighten up the frame!
I had this kind of revelation watching “man on fire” which is all shot with long lenses and “succession” also shot manly on long zoom lenses (not as much as man on fire tho) And I thought the same: I gotta tighten up the frame! Hahah
@@jimmyonfilmYes sir! Will do. Thanks for your efforts to produce content. It’s a grind I’m sure! That’s why mine is dead… as of late lol.
Really nice video!
thank you so much!
Hey ma8 Beautiful Ending, you have used the pope in the pool just perfectly!
Thank you Jimmy for making such a on point video with a touch of your sense of humour. looking forward to more content. Regards, A content creator from Pakistan
Very informative!
Really nice video! Is the part at 6:25 filmed with the Canon 70-210mm lens? Are all the examples, such as the intro using this lens? Thank you very much.
I really like your sense of humor!
Thanks 🙏🏻😊
very nice bro，thanks！
Hahaha at the end. That was a quick 7.11 minutes, thanks for the clear, understandable, poignant and highly enjoyable educating video. I can feel even more now how the longer lenses have effect.
great video!
Love your sense of humor ❤
Thanks man!
love your color grade
Thanks! 😊 I used my film emulation powergrade. It took me a long time to built but now I really enjoy using it :)
Shooting my first short film next month - Thank you.
I’m really new to all this film stuff, but the way I draw comparison is to the Field of View slider in video games. I actually sometimes use c*nematic shots of video games in my videos and didn’t even realize I was just changing the focal length.
thnx alot :) for this info
Nice video dude.
love this, can you make about wide range?
After I watched the video , I think you are one of the-must-follow CZcamsrs. Just clicked subscribe buttom🙌
Nice sence oh humour:-))) thanks for the video!