cinematography Cutting Between Focal Lenghts?

S

simona

Is it true that in order for a cut between focal lenghts to work, there needs to be a considerable different between the frame sizes?
Like a Wide-shot cutting to a slightly Closer-Cut will appear weird whereas a Wide to Close-up will work.
In that case I would have to cut from Master straight to Close-up with same f/stop for the cut to be smooth?
Would the continuity be right though?

I will be shooting a short project soon and I'm a bit nervous of using different focal lenghts.
For Master Id like to use 28mm, Medium 50mm and for Close-ups 75mm. Shooting mostly in a tight space on 7D.

What are the Do's and Dont's of shooting with different focal lenghts?

Any advice would be appreciated, thanks!

Read more: http://www.cinematography.com/index.php?showtopic=52227#ixzz1Q2oqGhTx
 
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50mm is plenty telephoto on the crop sensor.

If you can find wider for your wide lens you'll be happier.

That said, Im shooting this weekend with the same exact lens set, on and even cropier sensor.. so meh..
 
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I think there is a rule of thumb for this, there's also a rule of thumb for angle and probably for height. Unfortunately I don't know what they are but I've heard DP's talk about them. I'd like to know too.
 
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Basically, the shots just need to look really different. So, if the focal length only changes a little bit (or not at all), then the angle should change significantly. Move the camera around.

This is what brian and wheat are referencing:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/30_degree_rule

It's a good rule-of-thumb. But like all rules-of-thumb, you don't need to follow it strictly. I will say this, however -- anytime I break the 30-degree-rule, then either my focal-length has changed, drastically, or I've moved the camera considerably closer or farther.

So, to answer your question, if the position of the camera doesn't move, then yes, I think it's best to make a drastic change in focal-lengths. Like, a medium to a close would probably be a really awkward cut. But a medium to an ultra-close, you can probably get away with that.

Mostly, though, I just think it's a good idea to move your camera all over the place. Follow both the 180 rule and the 30 degree rule, get lots of coverage, and you should be fine.
 
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CamVader said:
This is where cutaways are handy if you need to go from a MCU to a CU from the same angle.
Click to expand...

Very true. That's definitely a good thing to keep in mind, both for the editor and the director. The director should keep this in mind, to remember to shoot a bunch of cutaways. And of course the editor can always use it as a way out of a wonky edit.

Nevertheless, I wouldn't shoot it that way, planning to make that cut (I'm not suggesting that's what you think the OP should do). As a general rule, coverage is your friend, and coverage always likes to bring along his friend, 30-degree-rule. :)
 
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There already exists a term for violation of the 30-degree rule -- it's called a jump cut. So if a jump cut is your intention, then feel free to ignore the rule. But a good jump cut needs to break continuity enough that it doesn't look like it was accidental.

The real rule with editing is to create disorientation between shots, and it doesn't matter how it's done, as long as it's executed well and with intent. Reframing between takes (e.g. going from wide to close) while maintaining continuity highlights similarities between the two shots, while a jump cut highlights the differences between the two shots.
 
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