Widescreen

A widescreen image is a film image with a greater aspect ratio than the ordinary 35 millimeter frame. The rationale is that, since the human eye has a field of view that extends further to the sides than it does above or below, a widescreen image makes more effective use of the field of view, thereby producing a more immersive viewing experience.

Comparison of Flat, Anamorphic, and Super 35 Systems

"Flat" refers to non-anamorphic films shot with a standard 35mm gate - 1.85 and 1.66 tend to be the most common ratios.

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Flat

Pros

• More compact visuals
• Sometimes better for films with many interior compositions
• Better depth of field than anamorphic
• More vertical format; better for taller composition
• Simplest system technically and most standardized; therefore has the most equipment at its disposal
• Equipment is less expensive and thus better for stunt cameras
• Easier to "protect" for video

Cons

• Inefficient use of negative space; anamorphic uses 59% more than 1.85, for example.
• More visible set ceilings (or lack thereof)
• Grainier opticals
• Greater magnification than anamorphic and more noticeable projector movement
• Incompatible with 70mm blowup

Anamorphic

Pros

• Larger negative area lowers grain, improves opticals, and increases sharpness
• More interesting compositions possible
• Preferred by big action, event, or epic films
• Closest to normal human field of vision
• Less vertical set design needed
• Highest resolution format; still far ahead of HDTV
• Most compatible with 70mm blowup

Cons

• Format most hurt by pan and scan
• Close-ups on a single person leave wide areas of the frame open
• More action to block out within a wider frame; more extras and/or set design may be needed
• Too expensive to use with a stunt camera

Super 35

Pros

• Better depth of field than anamorphic
• Final ratio can be changed between anamorphic and flat later in post-production, if the frame has been adequately protected
• Smaller lenses than anamorphic allow the camera to go to tighter places with less weight

Cons

• When used for 2.35 ratio, has the smallest negative area of any 35mm format, which makes for more grain and magnification.
• Grainier image.
• Requires an extra intermediate step of printing in the lab.
• Prints cannot be struck from the original negative.
• Full aperture can make dailies difficult to properly project.
• Grain from the smaller negative must be countered with either slower film stock or overexposure of faster stock. Underexposure can be disastrous.
• Pan and scan from a small negative magnifies grain.
• The need to shoot a film for varying aspect ratios (2.35, 1.85 or 1.33) can and often does compromise shot composition.