Cinema Lenses VS Photography Lenses
1. Field of View
Photography Lenses:
Photography lenses are designed to capture a single moment frozen in time. They are versatile and come in various focal lengths, from wide-angle to telephoto, to accommodate a broad range of photographic needs.
Cinema Lenses:
Cinema lenses have a narrower range of focal lengths, typically falling between 14mm and 135mm. They prioritize consistency in framing and maintaining a film’s visual style. This limited range ensures that every shot in a film conforms to a cohesive look and feel.
2. Focus Control
Photography Lenses:
Photographers often prioritize fast and accurate autofocus to capture fleeting moments. This makes them well-suited for dynamic scenes and subjects in motion, such as sports, wildlife, or events.
Cinema Lenses:
Cinema lenses are manually focused, allowing for precise control over focus pulling. This is crucial for achieving a cinematic look and transitioning smoothly between subjects in a scene.
3. Aperture
Photography Lenses:
Photography lenses usually offer a wide range of apertures, including very wide apertures (e.g., f/1.2). This allows photographers to achieve creamy bokeh and shoot in low light conditions with ease.
Cinema Lenses:
Cinema lenses often feature a constant aperture, typically in the range of T2.8 to T5.6. This consistent aperture facilitates consistent exposure throughout a film, essential for maintaining a uniform look from shot to shot.
4. Build Quality
Photography Lenses:
Photography lenses are typically designed to be lightweight and compact for on-the-go shooting. They are not built to withstand the rigorous demands of film production.
Cinema Lenses:
Cinema lenses are built like tanks. They are heavy and robust to endure the rigors of a film set, where they may be mounted on cranes or moved frequently. This durability is essential for maintaining consistent image quality throughout a shoot.
5. Focus Throw
Photography Lenses:
The focus throw (the distance the focus ring needs to be turned to go from close focus to infinity) on photography lenses is relatively short. This makes quick autofocus and manual focus adjustments easy.
Cinema Lenses:
Cinema lenses have a longer focus throw, often exceeding 200 degrees, allowing for precise manual focus control. This extended throw is essential for pulling focus smoothly and accurately in filmmaking.
6. Lens Breathing
Photography Lenses:
Photography lenses may exhibit “breathing,” which is a subtle change in the field of view when adjusting focus. This can be distracting in video work but is generally tolerable in photography.
Cinema Lenses:
Cinema lenses are designed to minimize lens breathing. The minimal breathing ensures that changes in focus don’t disrupt the cinematic experience.
Conclusion
In the world of visual storytelling, both cinema lenses and photography lenses have their unique strengths. Photography lenses excel at capturing single moments with versatility and speed, while cinema lenses are built for precision and consistency in filmmaking. The choice between them ultimately depends on the medium and the narrative you want to convey. Understanding these key differences is crucial for achieving the desired look and feel in your visual projects. Whether you’re capturing a single snapshot or crafting an epic cinematic masterpiece, the lens you choose plays a pivotal role in bringing your vision to life.