From Boring to Cinematic: The Power of Focal Length

In this video we're gonna take a look at how the focal length that you choose can impact your cinematography. We're gonna primarily focus on the use of longer lenses to spice up your video production.
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[@dobbsgraphica4988]

Great video, but your terminology is wrong. Long focal length lenses are called telephoto. A zoom lens can be any focal length. Zoom means you can zoom from say 17mm to 35mm with one lens. Opposite to zoom lens is prime lens. Fixed focal length. E.g. 20mm f2.8 or 135mm f2. Keep up the good work.😊

[@OliverJolliffe]

a long/telephoto lens produces a long focal length so he is correct. Both terminologies apply. a zoom lens would produce a short/wide to long focal length

[@dobbsgraphica4988]

To quote "From 55 onward we have zoom lenses" Should be from 55 onward we have telephoto lenses. Zoom has nothing to do with focal length, only that you can "zoom" between focal lengths on a single unit.

[@OliverJolliffe]

I didn't watch all the video to be honest lol. I see what you mean

[@CSNK2008]

Fish-eye, ultra wide, wide, standard, trans-standard, tele for prime lenses, zoom for variable focal lenght, just as you Said

[@dobbsgraphica4988]

@@CSNK2008 Your naming terminology is focal length related, not whether it's variable focal length ( a zoom lens). I have a Nikon 200-500mm. This is definitely a telephoto but it is also a zoom lens. This is turning into quite a discussion.😂

[@anamericanentrepreneur]

This will help- thank you!

[@Magmafire]

I think your long lens suggestion makes more sense for smaller sensor cameras.

[@DmitriMironov]

Nice sence oh humour:-))) thanks for the video!

[@SatanSupimpa]

Nah , man. Filmmaking youtube teached me that cinematic is just filming stuff in slow motion with the shallowest depth of field you can get.

[@robertdouble559]

Yep. Laughing along with you Satan! So many hacks that rely on that lame shit because they've got nothing interesting to shoot.

[@TheADHDM]

whole face out of focus but the eyelashes are crisp. 120 fps. This is peak cinema.

[@Mrim86]

Aesthetically, long lenses are great with their bokeh, but I'm a big believer that the 28-50mm range really does allow you to connect with a subject on a more emotional level. I always thought that concept was purely academic, but the more I shoot, the more truth I find in it. That focal range also allows for some great dynamics camera movement, whereas longer lenses often keep you confined. But, regardless, some great insight here. I love the topics you cover on this channel.

[@John-e4p1x]

You and roger deakins.

[@jimmyonfilm]

Yeah I completely agree with your statement. In fact I love the 35mm and 50mm. But I personally believe that they require more planning in terms of set dressing while with a longer lens even a 70mm you can cheat a little bit. I agree with what you said in regards of the connection with the character. Long lenses make you more an external observer, still I love their look hahaha. I appreciate your comment!

[@Mrim86]

@@jimmyonfilm great point. The wider the lens, the more talented of a production designer you need!

[@davidswanson5669]

The way I’ve seen it work, is that you want to decide, in each scene, whose perspective we want to feel the scene from. Then use wide lenses when we are “seeing” whatever that character sees, and then use long lenses whenever someone else is “looking” at the key person. The result is long lens closeups when showing the key character onscreen, and wide shots of everything else. Not a rule, but it’s nice to help an audience be grounded to one character in any given scene.

[@heythere6983]

Can someone explain how focal length and aspect ratio ? So if I wanted to shoot everything like a movie with a specific aspect ratio then I’d have to find specific lenses that zoom in they ratio , right? I can’t just pick a lense for its zooming ability but also consider aspect ratios? For me “widescreen” movies always look the most cinematic 16:9. I also wonder what apps make a movie color saturate like zack Snyder’s “300”(random but curious if anyone has info)

[@botbot3698]

this channel is a breath of fresh air

[@sega.milkis]

especially in the end of the video 😆😆😆

[@SonnyGreenwichJr]

I now have some great ideas for my upcoming Videos! Thanks! I've smashed all the smashers! Salutations from astonishingly grey & wet Ireland! ☘☮🤘🏽🤠👍🏽☮☘

[@RonK]

you say 'zoom' but you mean 'tele' I guess... but, nice vid, bro 👍

[@mightbefire]

I love the cinematic aspects of the more cinematic lens used, with a whole emphasis and focus on a cinematic feel, which leads to the very cinematic (while not just simply good and interesting) phone shot.

[@jimmyonfilm]

Thanks! I really appreciate it. I tried that shot without expecting too much but in the end it came out pretty good (better than expected)☺️

[@hbp_]

Great video! If you want to expand on the topic a little bit, you could talk more about lens compression too. You were so close to it a few times, that I felt like you are going to mention it next :) It's so interesting because while you can "hide" stuff from the background by using a longer focal length, you can also bring in something from the background, while keeping your subject in a relative "normal" size.

[@REMY.C.]

Man the 210mm makes the cars noise so pleasing, it's like music to my ears. The 50 on the the other hand. Horrendous.

[@yourtallness]

2:31 I'm guessing you wanted to say telephoto

[@ChuckRiseUp]

And on the opposite, using a wide angle lens (ex: a 16 or 21mm) very close to your subject can distort reality and help you achieve another kind of look/feeling. Great video, I love your approach and how you are explaining stuff.

[@jimmyonfilm]

Very true! For example “the revenant” is been shot on very wide lenses and because of that it’s very stylized. Thanks for you comment :)

[@lilmilontiktok]

@@jimmyonfilmi immediately thought of a close up of leo from the film. You’re 100% right. It makes it more memorable too.

[@ramf5162]

How can I get this lens....eBay does not have this lens What to do? Did you buy this item new or used product? Which website did you buy from?

[@manuelvalente438]

Very entertaining and informative video essay Jimmy. Just found out your channel and I really like your style! Keep them coming and I'll keep watching and taking notes ^^ Cheers mate!

[@stefanmarraccini8646]

I can get lost for weeks on focal length focused projects. You rock! Great stuff! The off camera questioner is talented too.

[@digitaldevigner4080]

Good tips. Only thing I would mention is shots like this typically carry a sense of claustrophobia or isolation. If that’s the intention that’s great. Not every shot using this method to make it interesting may fit the mood intended for the scene. For example Handmaids Tale uses this a lot to help the audience feel a sense of isolation for the main character. She feels trapped and alone. Sometimes we want the characters or mood of the scene to feel more open and connected to others and the environment. A sense of belonging and friendship. I feel the emotional mood of the scene should matter more than the look and feel.

[@robertdouble559]

Couldn't agree more. Long lens and Shallow DoF have their places and CAN be quite amazing in appropriate situations, or in a situation where the "rules" are broken in an interesting way. But as a default setting for a "cinematic" look it's getting so overused these days it drives me mad. Handmaids Tale and Mr. Robot use it quite well. It seems like it's a crutch that beginning cinematographers get stuck on more and more, ever since the 5dmk2 came along it's gotten more and more prevalent. Anyone who feels they cant make something look "cinematic" without relying on shooting wide open on long lens on a "full frame" sensor needs to have a good think about what they're doing with their life. If it's just a hobby, go for it. But if you want to be a serious film-maker, learn that there's more to life than shooting with stupidly shallow DoF.

[@3abdangry]

Not necessarily for me an ultra wide shot of one person in a room while camera is still shows loneliness in a vast empty space

[@albertos.r.4455]

To be able to express concepts in such a concise and clear manner is very rare. You have this talent.

[@dinbali]

hahaha censored the word cinematic 😂😂

[@yayaholistic]

Thanks for the tips! I’ve been trying to focus more on making ordinary things look more interesting in shot.

[@REMY.C.]

So true, when ordinary things are in focus they're more interesting...

[@Olearius]

Thank’s for this great video. I have a question to the jumpcut in your video at 4:08 to 4:11 (we first see the actress in some kind of midshot with lot of headroom and then in a close-up). Did you change only focal length for this shot or did you also change the camer-to-supject-distance?

[@fellawhofilms7760]

2:47 is this shot by you? where can I watch the whole piece?

[@MrGraveful]

That intro shot was awesome! I was thinking that it was nice that you were picking out a shot to illustrate your point and that this must be a shot from a well made, high budget Hollywood movie... The Composition, the lighting, the hand entering the frame in an interesting movement, how the subject isn't visible at first and then that focus pull to the face revealing that we've seen the subject the whole time without knowing. Also I think the focus breathing was something good here, like a mini Dolly Zoom

[@lilmilontiktok]

Great points.

[@pranaymandadapu9666]

Man I love his videography style, and the lady who is in shots she looks amazing. Great work~!~

[@hashemalshaer]

Film back size does really matter even more than lens focal length, cause you may need to use 17.5mm lens via super 16 to capture what 35mm can capture via 35mm, means, you will have to use wider lenses to capture the same area if your sensor is smaller

[@BloodSoldierRB]

bro i love your content as an aspiring solo videographer :) keep it up, learning alot

[@jimmyonfilm]

Thanks man! Happy you learned something from it :)

[@kneepayne]

I used to work in "the industry" and since getting out I find myself internally rolling my eyes at KZbinrs e-fighitng over what is and isn't "cinematic". I love how you get to the point of "just make it look good". That's it. In the simplest form. Well done.

[@robertdouble559]

The wider end of "normal" is what I would consider cinematic. the longer lenses, as you say, are handy for making a boring scene seem "better" by obscuring the most tedious stuff in bokeh and shallow DoF, but that's just a hack attitude. Hot tip. Don' t point your camera at boring shit! Use a wider lens pointed at something interesting, great actors in a great scene with awesome art direction and soak it all in, that's cinematic. Super shallow depth of field has it's places to set a certain tones or emotions. These days it's so overused by amateurs who have just discovered wide open setting that it's really the least cinematic look going, it just STINKs of KZbin camera-geek trash. It's overused to the point of total ineptitude and irrelevance in all kinds of inappropriate ways.

[@Taidaishar]

I like the video. I will say, however, that I don't think the clips you used are as convincing as you would like them to be. I'm also not saying that you're wrong... just that you switched back and forth between zoom lenses and normal lenses, but you didn't keep the same framing and perspective. The video of her walking down the street toward the camera with the normal and then with the zoom? Of course the zoom looks better. It's a completely differently shot and a much better composition. What I would like to see is the exact same composition and (as close as you can get) perspective with both lenses. Shoot with the zoom, then switch to the normal, move closer and get the same composition. Then compare. Aside from that, I think the principle of your video is good and I enjoyed it. Keep doing what you're doing.

[@jimmyonfilm]

Yeah, you’re totally right, I’ve been unfair to the normal lenses but it didn’t want to be a test or scientific comparison of compression and field of view, I might do that in the future tho. Thanks for you’re comment, makes totally sense :)

[@aerozg]

Nice channel, just found it. I have the Nikon version of the 70-210 push-pull lens and absolutely love it. Subscribed and following. Keep it up!

[@HideyoshiR]

To be fair, "cinematic" isn`t really an arbitrary term but refers to something quite specific. Unfortunately the term does get thrown around way too often. The term is honestly very self explanatory and simply describes a look that is associated with everything you have come to expect to see on a cinema screen (duh). So describing an image as 'good' or 'interesting' is simply too vague and less descriptive. Especially with moving imagery, the cinematic look can be mostly characterized by using 24 fps, 180° shutter angle and the added use of lighting, as well as classical film colors or modern digital colors and grading. I'd go as far as too say, that anamorphic lenses in particular actually distinguish the classic cinematic look above other things. Many videos that people call "cinematic" don`t even check half of these attributes.. So just because something looks "good", does not mean it`s cinematic or should be called that. Great videos on this channel!

[@heretikpapy]

... how old are you? Receiving advises like from a well known producer, by a kid... I'm not confortable. But, yes, you are a superbe inspiration for young generation. Tho. So I wish you good look with your channel.

[@testowykana1763]

-Me thinking, "I need to buy a Canon FD 100mm 2.8 to add to my lenses set, my 70-210 f4 is too dark", -Jimmy takes Canon FD 70-210 f4 out and recommends it to viewers, lol. I have way too many excuses :)

[@theraven6836]

Above 55 is NOT zoom, it is TELEPHOTO. Zoom refers to variable focal length. A 14-40mm lens, a 24-75mm lens and a 70-200mm lens are ALL zoom lenses. Even a 50mm is technically a telephoto, albeit very moderately. On a full frame sensor, true to life is 43mm, which represents the diagonal. Anything shorter is a wide angle. Anything longer is a telephoto.

[@brysimm404]

What you’ve called a “zoom” should be called a “telephoto” lens. An 11-16mm lens is still a zoom lens, because it “zooms” in and out despite being “wide” focal lengths. Zoom lenses can cover a “normal” range too like 24-70mm. Longer focal lengths are called “Long” or “Telephoto”, not “Zoom”, lenses.

[@EricAroundTheWorld389]

Loved this video, it's actually so funny you pulled up the Canon FD zoom lens, I've been shooting with those all week haha! I just happened to have a pair around my house and I used an adapter to get them onto my Sony camera. I've found them online for as low as $20 so definitely a great lens!

[@enterintothejoy]

Jimmy, what’s your contact information? We are seeking a professional DP for our next project. Ty and blessings.

[@dominicpascal5512]

2:29 you call the 60+ mm range "zoom" here but it's called tele. A zoom lens is any lens with variable focal length (e/g can be wide angles or all of them like 35-150). Great video nevertheless.

[@Mamiya645]

Presently rolling 18 to 80+ if I have my math right (50 with EOS M on an M42 adapter), and my problem is simply that the 18-55 lens is modern and sharp, while the 80 equiv is hnnnngh wonderful with the aspherical bokeh I desire and genuine feeling softness and (rambles for hours instead of going out getting b-roll)

[@NickDelDuca]

Your town is not boring! That street you shot on is EPIC! Anywhere in Europe is a filmakers dream! Google "Breezewood PA" If you want to see what most of the USA looks like.

[@technotin]

2:50 What camera and lens did you use to create this video

[@cineturon]

I’m personally so tired of anything that has a shallow depth of field being considered cool and cinematic. It was cool 10 years ago, but, just like “oners”, it’s becoming tiresome and a sign of laziness.

[@JaroAtry]

From 55 it's not zoom lenses, it's long lenses. A zoom lens is just a lens with variable focal length. There are many wide-angle zoom lenses.

[@mjibleo]

After I watched the video , I think you are one of the-must-follow KZbinrs. Just clicked subscribe buttom🙌

[@caylanpenny7912]

This is great stuff man. Keep it up!

[@joshpickup2581]

I actually hate to say this because I came here hoping to agree but in almost every single case the normal focal length shots look way more 'cinematic'. More akin to what you would see on film. The long focal shots look like amateur KZbin videos or documentaries.

[@plootyluvsturtle9843]

personally, I actually thought some of the “non cinematic” shots looked quite good. I like seeing imperfections, I like to feel more present in a movie. But this is all just subjective taste

[@Cezarygon]

Man, zoom lense can be even in wide angle 10-20mm that zoom lense aswall. Don't talk zoom lense, instead use word "telephoto lense". ;)

[@christuusgnosis]

May I say that I 100% approve of your disclaimer. Thank you for this vid and for the bleeps when u say the cine-swear word. Tarkovsky fan I am.

[@format.21]

Your Channel is awesome, already send it to some friends :-) Please go on, in what your doing. And if you ever need a accommodation in Frankfurt. please let me know :-)

[@maximk.617]

I'm just loving your content! Wow!

[@LukaszPalkaPhoto]

"...because of the compression of the lens..." Yeah, I used to say that too, but it's wrong. Long lenses don't compress, they just crop (and have shallower DOF). What causes the 'compression' effect is the distant perspective. The telephoto lens just allows you to frame only the distant parts while cropping out the near part (which a wide angle lens would include). This creates 'compression'. But yeah... you can just say 'long lenses compress' for the sake of brevity, but I feel in an educational video it's important to be precise with words.

[@wombathijs4560]

Long lenses aren't all zoom lenses. You can have zoom wide angel lenses. You need to make sure you're fully aware of what you're talking about before teaching others

[@whatisagent5629]

Will Amy of here power grades work with Blackmagic DNG files GEN 4?

[@frolic63]

Is it not just dept of field your talking about, an if you dont have a lot of lenses you just change the the dept of field like 1.2 or 3.6 etc to blur background?

[@830Video]

Best zoom lens ever. Nikkor 35-105 F3.5 push pull. Thank me later

[@lolamann110]

The Power of a good story & fantastic actors is the only thing to make a film great... focal length, ... technical things in general are importat, but by far not the biggest aspect. Not the camera makes the great picture, the senes of the photographer.

[@PolyglotMonkey]

Thanks for the pun on "cinematic". I mean you used it for your title still, but at least you display some irony about it. Ever since I started watching videos on filmmaking (~ 3 years) "cinematic" has turned into one of my most hated words...

[@lightstriking1517]

It's really interesting, but we should remember that cinematography is all about emotions and intentions, that's how we should choose a lens and not based on cheating because of poor locations nor poor cinematography

[@maxfeliumerce9895]

I agree that longer lenses will give a feel that isn’t possible when we experience reality. But all focal lengths are important. Visual variety is the key to every video and it all depends on how you blend different shots and compose scenes.

[@HonestArttsEntertain]

hold up, does the fd focus to infinity? Okay video, yet there are so many components that go into hat you just said. Should have expanded on this video. It could give the absolute wrong impression to new shooters. Not sure why this video was made.

[@tonypmedia]

I get tired of hearing "cinematic" come from people left and right like cinematic means dark and moody only.

[@RickairProductions]

Great presentation! Short and sweet, and very entertaining with your sense of humor. I often get bogged down watching technical descriptions, but you've managed to present it in a way that keeps what really matters in focus: soul and creativity. And your visual examples to explain your concepts are super clear and top-notch. Great job!

[@splendenz]

did you use the FD 70-210 for any of the shots in this video? I have this lens for photography and idk why I never thought to use it for video omg

[@violettak3832]

A great video, but a little bit wrong terminology, 50mm is not always normal, 50mm on a full frame camera can be a telephoto while on a dslr it is normal

[@MajorLeageSchill33-vu7pe]

Whatever that movie is in the beginning… what a pos. Who the fuck would stay on the phone that long. Star wars has more Suspension of disbelief jeeez. New films just suck asss

[@SpectreSoundStudios]

Great examples, and clearly explained. Well done! This was an insta-subscribe!

[@jimmyonfilm]

Thank you so much! Have a great day!

[@Daniel_Batal]

Great stuff, Jimmy.

[@lucetto]

We don't talk about BRUNO Nice video mate, very cin****tic

[@donhendricks3190]

Valid observations and suggestions - I am in agreement with you. And...your presentation style is fantastic! Having FUN while sharing and learning! Great job. Just Subscribed. With love from Atlanta.

[@BSN_100]

Interesting video. Though, I'll say the breaks in the content for the quips and jokes got a bit tiring after a while. It's fine to have once or twice but got a bit distracting because of how frequently you veered off course.

[@bautibonzini2835]

We should take into account that when telling a story, these focal lenghts change the way we perceive things. Maybe a long focal lenght isolates the subject, maybe it feels like if we were spying on them, it compresses things. Maybe a wide focal lenght works better for landscapes (or if you have actual interesting things to show in the shooting space), or maybe you can isolate subjects too inside a single frame. There's so much experimentation you can do with them.

[@j.t.kelleheriv4214]

I'm glad you made this video, this is the way that I have felt about longer lenses. I'm surprised they aren't more popular in film making in general. thanks for the lens suggestion

[@kevinbillington9773]

Have you ever thought about using your feet. But seriously, 85mm my longest lens at the moment, so need to add more primes.

[@alexseleniar]

Instructions unclear Everything now makes no sense and I can't live without long focal lenses, help

[@alexiscuarezma]

aye man, copying In Depth Cinema thumbnail style to a T. Not really cool

[@VintageTVMemories]

J'entends ton accent québécois à 100 miles à l'heure! Bonjour cousin! 🤣

[@ralusek]

European: "can be shown in an interesting way on screen." *films person smoking cigarette* Euros gonna Euro

[@TheSunnySuttons]

This channel is 200mm... Super interesting, no fluff and on point. Thank you SUB from me! ❤❤❤

[@PerfectMessProductions]

Do you have a premier pro version of your lut? It looks like it's only available for divinci

[@JoeJoe-nb3lt]

Indepthcine going mainstream congrat ! Plagiarism is the best form of flattery

[@alexiscuarezma]

when I saw the thumbnail I thought is one of his videos. He replicated exactly lol

[@robertdouble559]

Cliché AF anyway.

[@viktorpetukhov727]

Man, if that's boring streets for you, idk, look at Belgrad or smth

[@daviddn5631]

Emmanuel Lubezki wants to have a word with you. :)

[@mauiztic]

Good information but comedy should be left for actual comedians

[@bradwoods371]

This channel teaches so much valuable stuff about film.

[@lonceysbusiness333]

White people can hear it's not a human on the other end of the line and they still ask who it is 😂 Cheers much great tips 😊❤

[@TravisD.Barrett]

5:35 I think you should have mentioned the FD lens won't work on a DSLR camera. Maybe that's common knowledge for most people, but as a person who is trying to get into filming, I bought this and was disappointed to find that it won't work with my DSLR camera, and therefore a waste of money.

[@jimmyonfilm]

To use old vintage lenses on modern cameras you need an adapter, to go from FD mount (in this case) to your camera mount. You can find them for less than 50 bucks

[@TheyCallMeCotton]

Cinematic just means like a Hollywood movie. Something that looks good isn't necessarily cinematic. Keep up the great work

[@spiritual8flame]

Have a dumb question. But why not just zoom in with a 50 mm?

[@Lucid_Waking]

@4:27 T2 Opening scene vs freeway security camera.

[@danangga]

thumbs up for hating the word "cinematic" lol

[@alezcoll]

Do you have other social media platforms we can follow you on?

[@pshinkarenko]

How the heck do you not have millions of subscribers

[@frolic63]

But I did a shoot with a cheap 300 mm lense and wow amazing footage

[@neoyugen5108]

Please make a comedy short movie wherein you are the main actor 😅 6:56

[@SynthRockViking]

I want a 21 mm anamorphic lense, for my cinematography

[@c3819]

A zoom lens is something totally different to a tele lens… this is quite misleading

[@AlmasyAlliances]

Commenting to help your engagement. Your presentation style is top notch, friend. Keep up the great work.

[@jimmyonfilm]

Thank you so much for you support! I really appreciate it

[@henry-visuals9186]

i would hate using the word cinematic as well its jsutso overused.