The Properties of Camera Lenses

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With a grounding in science and history, we now dive into the properties of camera lenses and explain the features of the modern camera lens for photography and cinematography from, Focal Length, Aperture, Primes vs. Zooms as well as some specialty features.
Take the full Filmmaker IQ course on the Properties of Camera Lenses with sauce and bonus material at:
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[@mamanche]

As a film student who pays around $3000 per semester for this kind of knowledge, I don't even get a quarter of this that you guys give away for zero bucks. I cannot thank you enough for how much you've enriched me as a filmmaker. Thanks to you, in my first semesters I possess much advanced knowledge thank my other classmates, which gave me a huge headstart in theory and practice.

[@Neilogical]

You guys are seriously the best. Film schools should definetely show your videos in class.

[@FilmmakerIQ]

+Neilogical Some of them do ;)

[@TheSprayingMidget]

Can confirm as a film student. This video made it so much easier for me to understand all this.

[@douglas.barbosa]

Neilogical I agree!

[@yannickick]

They do at my school haha!!

[@brentthomasaustin]

Or just not go to film school

[@RinoaL]

im gonna leave this video tabbed in my browser, i think i should watch it a few more times over the week just to make sure the good info in it sticks in my head. thank you very much for making this!

[@basithbasheer7100]

Instead i wrote everything down

[@johnaffleck6572]

Very impressive. It's rare to find someone in this modern culture who actually does their homework and has studied their subject to the extent that they can explain it without hiding behind techno-speak. I find your videos very instructive in a field about which I understand very little.

[@TheBoringVoice]

This is one of the few channels where I will watch a video longer than 5 minutes. Thanks for a clear explanation.

[@RCAvhstape]

As a long-time still photographer your recent videos have been the best explanation for this stuff I've seen outside of books.

[@johnaffleck6572]

+Helium Road As someone with a good degree in physics and "some" experience in still photography, including technical photography for military contracts while developing electronic circuits, it's the best explanation I've see including books. I admit, I may not have found the ideal books; but it's very impressive material.

[@MarcoZamora]

I've been an amateur photographer since my early teens, and coursed BS in math and physics. This is the most clear, fun, concise, and visually appealing explanation of the basic physics and geometry of photography I've ever seen.

[@JPKloess]

This video is one third of my college intro to photography class.

[@JPKloess]

Why didnt they just show us this?

[@johnaffleck6572]

+JP Kloess A lot of professors are busy proving they're "smart"; rather than making it easy for the student to learn the subject. And, they always have a certain pace, and a "lesson plan" they work to. I found University basically a waste of time after the second year, I just showed up and took the tests to get the degree. ( in Physics ).

[@eftorq]

Same here - I'm having a test next week in my film lecture and this covers half our script...

[@xblackcatx1312]

JP Kloess for free and explained infinitely better, and without the truckloads of bullshit and headaches that are heaped upon you buy egomaniac professors.

[@joshuastender4871]

Coming from a 34 yo with ZERO exp with film or cinematography, these videos have been an absolute God send with bringing me up to speed with how to play around with this unexpected interest in film. Thank you sir, you are a scholar and a gentleman.

[@joshuastender4871]

Have you per chance considered, or would you be interested in, doing a collab video essay with RocketJump Film School?

[@Ocarina654]

Every time I watch a Filmmaker IQ video I gotta take a break and digest. It feels like I just took a weeks worth of film classes in 20 minutes. Incredibly well put together and informative videos.

[@farzadshahab5312]

I really like this channel's film making tutorials and in so many points, I could really say that it's the best on KZbin. This channel doesn't think about making shorter videos to get more views, it makes longer videos to cover the whole concept and lesson, and that's why I really like this channel. Because it explains stuff more specialized and detailed, so I could learn so many more things rather than so many videos stating the obvious that we (Beginner to mid level filmmakers) already know. Please keep on doing this guys.

[@financialliteracy_hr]

Man!!!! No jokes, I could have spent a whole month in school for this same info? thank you so much!!! Awesome explanation and Visual aid!

[@stupedrandomname]

I love that that home made camera! It is wonderful to see the light coming through the lens like that with absolutely no tech babble around it. Just light and the image. Thanks for putting that together.

[@vnvsrikanth8871]

One of the best videos which clearly explains focal length of a camera.

[@tunafishjoe]

Just noticed the Wilhelm Scream at 0:07 when the camera tips over. Great easter egg from your sound editor :)

[@nobnobnobnob]

This explains it better than any photography videos on youtube. Illustrasions are very good.

[@tedmichaels]

It's incredibly helpful how you show simple optical examples in action, it makes everything so tangible.

[@TheVarnster]

I have learnt so much from these videos I feel like I'm committing some sort of theft

[@johnaffleck6572]

+Alex Varney LOL.

[@ShutterAuthority]

Great insights as always! Looking forward to the video on DOF

[@GetOutsideYourself]

Well done. Everything you need to know and clearly presented. Can't wait to see your next video.

[@hafezshiraz874]

Your Videos are truly the best tutorials among free and paid websites! Thank You

[@rs232boy]

Man, those are the absolute best explanations I have seen on the subject in my whole life. You have amazing pedagogy and a genuine talent for technical explanations. Keep up this work!

[@petelong5935]

Honestly the best. I've learned more from you than I did in my entire college career. The hardest part about it is choosing which video to watch next! and learning when to stop for the day!

[@cinesaur5274]

I've been binging all of your videos since yesterday and I love all of them! Great work man, keep it up!

[@sottozen]

Thanks for this precious videos you make. Just great!

[@TheUltimateBlooper]

This video was very well put together! Even though most of this stuff I already knew as a working photographer (except for the split diopter, that was new!) it was still very interesting to see it all laid out in a simple concise and easy to understand matter. I will definitely be forwarding these videos to people getting into photography/filmmaking! Thanks!

[@XieYali]

These videos are an invaluable resource. Thank you to the whole team for your hard work making these.

[@keithrayner1327]

These lectures are just awesome. Just the thing I need to see from the professionals to help me with my C100c and follow focus lenses " Fantastic"

[@CinemaTeacher]

Great video, John! You covered SO MUCH in such little time. Great channel, please keep it up!

[@timmeier4136]

Thx for the great informative video. I like how you present it and you dont cut out the small mistakes you sometimes do while speaking. Most youtubers cut their videos after every sentence what makes your eyes very nervous.

[@skyblue021]

You're a star man. What an effort to make this video. Thanks, we appreciate your work!

[@overheardatthepub1238]

Thanks for this. It's great, and informative beyond what I would have ever looked for.

[@MDMart]

I love the way you explain how the different sizes in sensors change how "zoomed in" the picture gets, I think all of your hands on tests in this video were great. I have some friends who don't understand these things when I try to explain it to them (I guess they can't visualize it), so now I'll show them this video instead. Thank you :) Oh, and I am So curious as to what you raelly said at 20:00 :D

[@videotrash]

very thorough explanation- thanks

[@mr.minderbinder1238]

Suggestion for next video: a look at the post production workflow, specifically digital intermediate and traditional photochemical. Basically how we get from a negative to a theatrical print.

[@lucianocaldas69]

awesome video! you guys are great! I just love how you 'perform' the class! Thanks a lot!

[@KoenBosman]

thanks for mentioning focal breathing! I've noticed this in film, now I know it's a thing!

[@jimbetley7021]

Thank you for making the videos you make, you've helped me to understand film so much! Keep being awesome man :)

[@TarotTrismagistus]

The best video I've seen on learning photography. Looking forward to watching the rest of your videos!

[@BrotherBloat]

Absolutely love your videos - thanks a lot!

[@BasicFilmmaker]

As usual, a well researched, well spoken video that will help a lot of filmmakers understand lenses, so thanks again John. p.s. You show a photo of an Arri 9.5-18 lens, which caught my attention. I don't know if you have ever had the chance to play with one, but it is fantastic (although a bit pricey).

[@FilmmakerIQ]

+Basic Filmmaker I've played with it but not for any project - it's crazy...

[@ramonlopeznote]

I wish I would have watched a video like this many years ago. All the possible doubts one can have about photography nicely explained in 20 minutes. You are the best dude. Eres la caña! (spanish idiom) Thanks a million.

[@PistonHonda319]

One thing I like about your videos is you just dub over the audio when you make a mistake. This is so much better than putting a big ole' SORRY I MEANT XXXX banner over the movie. GJ and great information.

[@FilmmakerIQ]

+Beau Brown If we catch it in time...

[@tommywanderer2627]

Hi, thanks for profound information you are sharing, how i can get full frame view in my Olympus pen ep-3(m 3/4 camera) ? do i need to use any 25 mm lens? i love taking landscape photos but that crop factor annoys me every time.

[@biggles258]

Fascinating, and beautifully done. Thank you so much.

[@aldoushuxley6255]

Thank you for teaching so much in such small space of time!

[@DrDaab]

One more INCREDIBLY great tutorial. Thanks !

[@jackyleecs]

Very comprehensive. Thanks!

[@heatherskeoch6317]

You guys to a great job on these videos. Thanks.

[@WildlandExplorer]

Thanks for another fantastic video. I'm of the "buy once cry once" philosophy. This information is indispensable when it comes to not wasting money on additional lenses that may be unnecessary for a beginning photographer.

[@tomelifeisjustonebig]

Wow. You are awesome at explaining EVERYTHING! Kudos, sir!

[@douglas.barbosa]

This is a real school photo class! Congrats John!

[@_ikako_]

I learned more in the first 7 minutes of this video than I learned in my 2-year "photography" course.

[@andrewhan4016]

This is literally the best educational video I have ever seen

[@izhwzkct]

Thanks a lot, very helpful.

[@leon_frey]

Awesome video, thank you so much!!

[@pdebie1982]

Nice video! Explains several key parts of photography in a way that is not hard to understand for beginners. I'm definitely gonna share this video amongst my students.

[@jordanjwhitney]

Subbed. I know a decent amount of video and photography and I learned something new along with a nice refresher. Thanks for sharing.

[@tebogomankge5032]

I didn't have this at school. Continue the great work. Solid video.

[@maxxender]

Seriously the best youtube lessons.

[@vardor]

What a fantastic presentation. Props to Mr. Hess. Great education for me

[@drbob3]

This is an excellent and informative video regarding camera lenses, optics, image-forming, etc. (with a couple of minor "nits" concerning a bit of confusion in the subtitles with "further/farther" and "lens/sensor", and with some "discussion" possible about the meaning of the term "prime"...;-). Left out for macro work, though, was the very useful alternative to extension tubes: achromatic (two-element) close-up lenses. These are often simpler to use, and can be excellent at mid to smallish stops - and they tend to increase lens speed rather than reducing it, as extension tubes do. Where this video was relatively weaker, though, is in the area related to vision - and it included some common, but incorrect, assumptions. A "normal" lens for a given format is an arbitrary value (often defined as a focal length approximation of the format image diagonal dimension), and it has little to do with "how we see". We see with both an extremely wide angle of view (of more than 180-degrees horizontal, exceeding the width of all but the very widest [220-degree] fisheye lenses), and our "attention point" within that extremely wide field of view can be narrower than the longest practical camera telephoto lens. Additionally, "contrary to popular opinion", we see in "fisheye-lens" perspective, which is uncorrected by the brain, unfamiliar as this may appear when seen in a photograph - but this is easy to both prove and to demonstrate...;-) Thanks for making this video - it is generally excellent in coverage, information, and presentation (and it could be a great instructional video with a few "fixes"...). --David Ruether

[@nilaniddawela5805]

wow.. this is one well polished video.. awesome. caught my attention till the end. thanks a lot. crystal clear explanations. :)

[@GamersOff]

Awesome video! Thanks you :D

[@Skandalos]

Awesome. Finally a video that answers my questions :))

[@shaunkobrak5354]

Great Educational video, thanks!

[@AmberMacPherson]

Very thorough. Thank you.

[@hernandezurbina]

man, thank you very much! This is a great introduction to lenses.

[@joecal2360]

Awesome lesson, thank you!

[@CalPhotoGuy]

These are all the best informative videos on cinema and photography you can find. I'd say ten out of ten except I have to deduct points for consistently referring to silicon as "silicone".

[@cgrychefilms]

Hey John, thanx again for all the great knowledge. You videos are a tremendous amount of work and are very slick and easy to follow. Put that feather in your cap bro, you're making a big difference out here in Hollywood. Look forward to meeting you down the road. Thank you & God bless

[@ignaciot]

Another excellent video. Thank you very much for such good information

[@user-zq9ej5eg8q]

Pure gold. Thank you guys)

[@zomgonzo]

Great video, as always. Keep up the good work!

[@bendermac]

thanks for another great lesson :)

[@rahmatrad4599]

Thanks a lot , your video is great and very informative

[@chochmah]

very informative, thanks!

[@Superbustr]

@Filmmaker IQ You're smarter, more knowledgeable and more educated on cinema then any of my academic university film teachers...

[@khoa2449]

Super knowledgeable. Huge Thanks

[@MartynWhite]

Love these videos. Very well done. ✅

[@omarawany1936]

This channel is very important to all people who want to become cinema I thank you very much for this information and I wish you continued .. I am Omar from Syria I wish you the best

[@MovieMationStudios]

I highly respect you good sir and hope you continue with these lectures.

[@rubendepaz8700]

Absolutely incredible job. Thank you so much for teaching us wanna be directors so much.

[@edwardhitten2678]

Every video is a pleasure. Even when we know the matter, its refreshing to see that knowledge so well delivered. Very good job man.

[@hornet718]

WOW!!! I have to watch this twice, but very informative!!!

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thanks for your videos!

[@malai7699]

When I took the "film-making" course at the New York Film Academy they showed one of your videos!

[@geme16862]

Thanx so much... Awesome Video and excellent explained! You´re the best....!!!!!!!!

[@AGCipher]

Another great video from you guys, good stuff :)

[@dennisevans9306]

What a great job. Thank you!!

[@djrbfmbfm-woa]

thank you so much for this excellent video. j.

[@caiokao]

This video was awesome!

[@thallesvr]

Excellent video!!!!

[@amaitra]

Absolutely superb videos!

[@anton_roos]

Thanks I really loved this video!

[@HarkMeinrich]

I learn more about Lenses and Camera Technique through out your videos than i do in my filmschool. Thats sad and awesome at the same time :D Anyways, awesome video!

[@poidem_domoi]

Very useful, thank you!

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