Film Format

Film Format is a technical usage, indicating the capture of images on photographic films, either motion or still. As an important technical operation, it is also applied to projected films in the form of slides or cinema.

The characteristic feature of a Film Format is its shape and size. In case pf movies, this may sometimes include audio parameters too, leading to considerable increase in its size.

Film Format of all kinds was first introduced by Kodak in 1913, beginning with the allocation of the number series. Prior to this, films attained their recognitions on the basis of the cameras they were meant for. In fact, the reason behind the presence of varied Film Formats indicate the fact that films at that time were made through contact and not with enlargers. As a result, they were similar in size as that of the print; the larger the print was, it required bigger camera and parallel film format.

Different types of Film Format:

Large Film Format:

This is widely used in Landscape Photography. This generally uses film sheets of about 4 by 5 inches. Large formats were most popular until the 1950s, after which came in the medium format. They have different sizes, including 4 by 5 inches, 5 by 10 inches 8 by 10 inches, etc.

Medium Film Formats:

Medium Film Format makes use of 120 and 220 mm film rolls. Their only function is to allocate different spaces for various images, leading to the creation of diverse-sized images. Their size varies between 120, 220, 6 by 6, 645, 6 by 7 6 by 9, etc.

35 mm Film Format:

This is the most popular film format in the world, having extensive application in the field of journalism. Being a firm, recreational format, this is solely used in sports nd newspapers, with digital effects incorporated very recently.

Digital Film Format:

Digital Film Format is user-friendly like Polaroid Cameras. They are quite expensive, but fun in handling, with the attainment of quick results.

APS or Amateur Photo System:

This special kind of Film Format, introduced only in 1990s, is synonymous with the Instamatic and Disk Formats. However, its production has been stalled, owing to poor picture quality, higher costs and troublesome processing. Size-wise, it is much smaller compared to the 35 mm format.

Film Format is indispensable for capturing images in motion pictures. Without the process of formatting, the international film industry would have come to a standstill, unable to entertain millions of audience with various film-making techniques and stances.