Why Lens Choice Matters In Cinematography | Focal Lengths

Lens choice is a fundamental decision made when shooting a film. I’ll be examining the effect that focal length choice by a cinematographer can have on a shot or the entire mood of a movie. By going over the basics of lenses I’ll show the psychological impact they can have on how an audience interprets a story.

List of Films Featured:
Rashomon (1950)
Tokyo Story (1953)
The Conversation (1974)
Barry Lyndon (1975)
The Shining (1980)
Fallen Angels (1995)
In The Mood For Love (2000)
The Darjeeling Limited (2007)
Birdman (2014)
Heaven Knows What (2014)
Interstellar (2014)
The Revenant (2015)

0:00 Introduction
0:34 Basics
2:20 Focal Lengths
4:08 Creative Applications
7:03 Conclusion

[valentinabreurec]

I studied cinema for 3 years now and yet, reminding myself those basic notions really help me a lot!

[davidwebb]

thanks for doing this video! i'm learning a lot about cinema

[teohjinyoung]

This is actually a very informative video on cinematography for new filmmakers, but minor correction:Fallen angels was shot mostly on a Kinoptik Tegea 9.8mm rectilinear lens with an adapter that turns it into a 6.8mm lens, it is not fisheye.

[spellxthief]

cool video! roger deakins would be a great cinematographer to do a video on

[ThekingEC]

I’d like a video on focal lengths used for specific shots- like what people shoot a mid shot on or a close up for instance

[cameronnorris]

Thanks, I didn't understand the way my film textbook explained it, you cleared this up for me.

[NickWillMakeIt]

This is my new favorite YouTube channel

[chasenpartsch]

Your videos are super helpful. Thanks for making them!

[sarangkumardubey]

Bro you just made me realise I can do so much more with my camera now. Thankyou very much 🫂

[StermaPerma]

Man your channel once again blows me away. Other cinema topical channels made me aware of storytelling techniques in the past, but you have opened my eyes towards cinematography like no one else ever did. Really, fantastic job.

[LucBoeren]

Simply a great explanatory video, hats off!

[jamison_taylor_]

So well done! As a beginner filmmaker, this is really helpful and inspiring. Thank you!

[JohnnyAlamillo]

great episode! love your channel, man.

[NormanTiner]

I love you so much. Thank you for making this so calming and easy to listen to. It takes what could be a daunting subject and makes it clean and clear to understand.

[rbsnmrjn]

I would watch this channel any day any where any time. Much more better than film school. Love from Nepal 🇳🇵

[AdityaSingh-ohfw]

I do like to see one video on *Wally pfister* as he is award winning cinematographer.

[LiottaSeoul]

Awesome! Thank you so much for including Fallen Angels in this. I really love every single frame in that movie and never understand why it is not used as reference more often! <3

[jaydipbiswas]

Please do make a video on Satyajit Ray . The way you explain everything is great and very helpful and it seems that you will do justice to Mr. Ray's films too. I hope you recognize him. Greetings from Calcutta, India.

[AltamishM]

Glad I stumbled upon this - can't wait to see the rest of your channel. Greetings from a fellow South African :)

[LeBingeDoctor]

Brillant intro to the basics of cinematography. Perfectly clear and clever!