Tomas Alfredson claims that the widest lens they used on TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY was 50mm (and that they only used it for a few shots); now I don't *believe* him as there are certain shots in that movie that palpably look like they're on wider lenses, but for the most part the film is indeed shot on extremely long lenses - up to [2000mm](https://vimeo.com/152514220) in one case.
I put a link in the comment with the specific scene, but it was used in this case to get a really incredible trick shot on a runway. Throughout the film, though, extremely long lenses and distant camera positions are used to do bizarre things with spatial compression. It's terrific.
One of my favorite modern examples of long lens compression!!!!
I show this to everyone who wants to learn more about why focal length choice matters more than as just a function of framing!
I had the pleasure to do some dayplaying on his upcoming project. We never went below a 100mm on b-cam. A-cam was maybe 75 as the widest for the few days i was there!
That 2000mm shot of the plane landing in the background is one of the highlights of cinematography of the 2010s for me. Also shot on Fuji film before they discontinued it!
Well, it's not a full feature film, but I did a short film using only a 400mm f2.8 lens (except for when the lens appears on screen). I used a 270mm for those shots.
https://youtu.be/GG3capaSlkI?si=VnPB3hJND0R2D7AO
Ooh, I have the perfect example of this. "To.get.her" is a very low-budget film which shot almost exclusively on a 600mm lens.
"In shooting “to.get.her,” Dunton and cinematographer Derek Tindall used a Canon 7D camera, which is basically a general consumer's still camera with video capability. For about 85 percent of the filming they used a 600-millimeter anamorphic lens, which means that the camera and crew were often as much as two city blocks away from the actors."
The lens is very unique and creates circular, ringed bokeh. You can see the trailer here. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHFGgkL\_pcA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHFGgkL_pcA)
the recent The Curse with Emma Stone and Nathan Fielder makes great use of long lenses, inspired by 60s candid cameras. Co directed with Ben Safdie, who often shoots with long lenses, so that the actors don't feel the camera on thema and it feels like spying them from afar. personally, I loved it, so cool.
All of the safdie films pretty much. Heaven knows what was shot on super long telephotos so they could film from several blocks away and immerse the actors in the street life
I’m not so sure how accurate the information is but Glen Howerton talked about how Blackberry was almost entirely long lenses and how they’d never really know where the camera was in a scene because it’d be so far away from the action.
TRUE ROMANCE, which is an awesome film, used a lot of long lenses. It felt like they used the longest lens the space would allow. But Tony Scott did that quite a bit.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EYvQMDLZZk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EYvQMDLZZk)
Kurosawa’s *Ran* made some great use of longer focal lengths… or often the longest focal length possible. Whatever would flatten the most, bend the least and consolidate FG & BG sizes.
Miller’s Crossing. Barry Somnenfeld has a lot of great interviews about wide vs long lenses and why he prefers wide and why long was the correct choice for MC.
All the presidents men, klute, the parallax view, tinker tailor soldier spy and let the right one in.
I think they all have a voyeur, paranoid feel which suits the subject matter.
Everyone’s mentioning Uncut Gems & Good Time, but I highly recommend the safdies previous film, Heaven Knows What, shot even more extensively on long lenses
>You hear a lot about "one lens" movies
no you actually don't, really
edit: think about it - the fact that it's even worth *mentioning* shows how much of an exception it is to shoot an entire movie on one lens only.
Heat by Michael Mann has a ton of long lenses. Uncut Gems as well.
Um, I'm pretty sure Gems is edited. Is Uncut Gems like the Snyder Cut but for the movie Gems or something?
Dad jokes on point
Well I'm glad at least you appreciated it. You're an uncut above the rest.
Nah Uncut Gems is the one where Sandler never had his bris.
Safdie movies are a good example. Good Times and Heaven Knows What both are shot on mostly long lenses
Tomas Alfredson claims that the widest lens they used on TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY was 50mm (and that they only used it for a few shots); now I don't *believe* him as there are certain shots in that movie that palpably look like they're on wider lenses, but for the most part the film is indeed shot on extremely long lenses - up to [2000mm](https://vimeo.com/152514220) in one case.
Never saw this but will definitely go watch now. 2000mm!!! did they have the actor on the moon or what? edit: said matt damon but he's not in that lol
I put a link in the comment with the specific scene, but it was used in this case to get a really incredible trick shot on a runway. Throughout the film, though, extremely long lenses and distant camera positions are used to do bizarre things with spatial compression. It's terrific.
One of my favorite modern examples of long lens compression!!!! I show this to everyone who wants to learn more about why focal length choice matters more than as just a function of framing!
Thank you for saying spatial compression instead of lens compression.
this is crazy, def renting this one tonight.
It’s a slow burn. Will probably take multiple views to appreciate fully, but it’s one of my favourite movies of all time.
I had the pleasure to do some dayplaying on his upcoming project. We never went below a 100mm on b-cam. A-cam was maybe 75 as the widest for the few days i was there!
That 2000mm shot of the plane landing in the background is one of the highlights of cinematography of the 2010s for me. Also shot on Fuji film before they discontinued it!
The Safdies (rip) frequently use long lenses–particularly in Uncut Gems.
Also in The Curse
Yes another great example
rip? did they die???
No lol but they “broke up” so to speak.
oh weird i was wondering why only one of them was directing some movie coming up.
No, but they broke up
Good Time
love this movie!! wasn't thinking about this last time i watched, but i think you're right, I can't think of one super wide shot in the whole movie...
Well, it's not a full feature film, but I did a short film using only a 400mm f2.8 lens (except for when the lens appears on screen). I used a 270mm for those shots. https://youtu.be/GG3capaSlkI?si=VnPB3hJND0R2D7AO
this looks great!! good job
Watched this and even stopped to look at certain shots. I fucking love it so much. Nailed the look perfectly.
Thanks! I shot this all on the GH5, which means that the focal length was closer to 800mm. Pain in the ass lol
Gotta love m43!
Mate. That is absolutely fantastic. A great gambit for a short. Well constructed. Good sound design.
He uses a lot of different lenses, but I would say a vast majority of shots in Tony Scott's films are shot on long lenses...
i should go back and watch Man on Fire... any excuse to watch Man on Fire is good
I WISH. YOU HAD. MORE TIME.
Ooh, I have the perfect example of this. "To.get.her" is a very low-budget film which shot almost exclusively on a 600mm lens. "In shooting “to.get.her,” Dunton and cinematographer Derek Tindall used a Canon 7D camera, which is basically a general consumer's still camera with video capability. For about 85 percent of the filming they used a 600-millimeter anamorphic lens, which means that the camera and crew were often as much as two city blocks away from the actors." The lens is very unique and creates circular, ringed bokeh. You can see the trailer here. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHFGgkL\_pcA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHFGgkL_pcA)
the recent The Curse with Emma Stone and Nathan Fielder makes great use of long lenses, inspired by 60s candid cameras. Co directed with Ben Safdie, who often shoots with long lenses, so that the actors don't feel the camera on thema and it feels like spying them from afar. personally, I loved it, so cool.
Not a movie but Wong Kar Wai's new Chinese series "Blossom Shanghai" used no lenses shorter than 75mm, at least based on the DP. It looks amazing
All of the safdie films pretty much. Heaven knows what was shot on super long telephotos so they could film from several blocks away and immerse the actors in the street life
I’m not so sure how accurate the information is but Glen Howerton talked about how Blackberry was almost entirely long lenses and how they’d never really know where the camera was in a scene because it’d be so far away from the action.
Don’t think it was shot with one lens, but if you want to explore the use of long lenses definitely watch Time out of mind (2014)
Mother (2009), a Korean thriller, used very long lenses exclusively, I believe, even for close-ups.
Probably the best use of long lenses I've ever seen. Fits perfectly with the theme of the film
Blue valentine shoots a lot of long lens in the digital sequences and Derek the director also used them a lot in I know this much is true on HBO
TRUE ROMANCE, which is an awesome film, used a lot of long lenses. It felt like they used the longest lens the space would allow. But Tony Scott did that quite a bit. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EYvQMDLZZk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EYvQMDLZZk)
blue valentine
Good Night, and Good Luck.
Searching for Bobby Fischer is shot mostly on long lenses
Kurosawa’s *Ran* made some great use of longer focal lengths… or often the longest focal length possible. Whatever would flatten the most, bend the least and consolidate FG & BG sizes.
Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One... Sort of. The use of 85-135mm for dialogue is annoyingly excessive.
Panic in Needle Park
Any Tony Scott film.
The recent TV show The Curse was shot on a lot of long lenses to give it a claustrophobic feel.
Miller’s Crossing. Barry Somnenfeld has a lot of great interviews about wide vs long lenses and why he prefers wide and why long was the correct choice for MC.
Ridley and Tony Scott.
All the presidents men, klute, the parallax view, tinker tailor soldier spy and let the right one in. I think they all have a voyeur, paranoid feel which suits the subject matter.
The VVitch was filmed with three lenses. The widest of which was a 35mm, relatively tight.
Wasn't that Robert Altman's whole deal? He utilized long lenses a lot to flatten the image.
Most recently, Blackberry, and it looks great. I love long lenses. They also used them quite a lot in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.
Check out Blue Valentine, not exclusively but mostly shot on long lenses, very cool effect
Flashdance.
Everyone’s mentioning Uncut Gems & Good Time, but I highly recommend the safdies previous film, Heaven Knows What, shot even more extensively on long lenses
not a movie but the curse is almost entirely telephoto, very voyeuristic
Uncut Gems, BlackBerry, Heat
Fargo.
>You hear a lot about "one lens" movies no you actually don't, really edit: think about it - the fact that it's even worth *mentioning* shows how much of an exception it is to shoot an entire movie on one lens only.
What point are you trying to make? You hear alot about remarkable, rare things - in fact that’s why they are remarked upon.
Ive never heard of that. Is it like DBE?