At the end of many movies, one will see “filmed in Panavision” scroll by along with the rest of the credits.
When a film production uses Panavision’s anamorphic lenses, they are contractually obligated to use the phrase in their credits.
Anamorphic format is both a form of projection that requires an anamorphic lens to keep the aspect ratio of 2:1 as well as the technique of creating a widescreen picture on 35 mm film.
The final print of the movie uses a 2:1 anamorphic projector lens, which expands the picture two times more horizontally than vertically, or 2:1.
Panavision itself is a company that makes film cameras and lenses. It began as a small company created to meet the new demand for widescreen film making in the 1950s.
The development of Panavision’s focus on anamorphic lenses actually stemmed from the founders’ interest in underwater filming – using an anamorphic lens meant a wider field of view under water. However, as television became more of a mainstay, more and more people were staying at home and the motion picture industry had to give them a reason to come to the movies by offering what television could not – including 3D, colour and great sound. Anamorphic lenses are one of these offerings, because they created an easier method of widescreen filming for moviegoers. However, they were still quite cumbersome and Panavision created a better, patented system that entered the market in 1954 priced at $1,100.
While Panavision was in close competition with CinemaScope throughout its early life, CinemaScope lenses had a problem they could not overcome – the mumps. During closeups, actors’ faces widened because of an optical aberration. Panavision came up with a rotating lens that eliminated this problem, earning them their first Oscar for technical achievement. Eventually Cinemascope lenses were obsolete and Panavision took over.
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