List of film formats

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This article is about motion picture films. For still photography and other films, see Film format.

This list of film formats catalogues formats developed for shooting or viewing motion pictures, ranging from the Chronophotographe format from 1888, to mid-20th century formats such as the 1953 CinemaScope format, to more recent formats such as the 1992 IMAX HD format. The formats listed all should have been used in the field or for test shooting, and they must all use photochemical images that are formed or projected on a film base, a transparent substrate which supports the photosensitive emulsion.

As well, the formats must have been used to make more than just a few test frames. The camera must be fast enough (in frames per second) to create an illusion of motion consistent with the persistence of vision phenomenon. The format must be significantly unique from other listed formats in regard to its image capture or image projection. The format characteristics should be clearly definable in several listed parameters (e. g., film gauge, aspect ratio, etc.).

Contents

Legend

  • Format is the name of the process; some formats may have multiple names in common usage.
  • Creator is the individual or company most directly attributable as the developer of the system.
  • Year Created usually refers to the earliest date that the system was used to completion (i.e. projection), but may refer to when it was developed if no known film was made.
  • First known film is the first film (not including tests) made with the format and intended for release.
  • Negative gauge is the film gauge (width) used for the original camera negative.
  • Negative aspect ratio is the image ratio determined by the ratio of the gate dimensions multiplied by the anamorphic power of the camera lenses (1x in the case of spherical lenses). [1]
  • Gate dimensions are the width and height of the camera gate aperture, and by extension the film negative frame.
  • Negative pulldown describes the film perforations per frame, the direction of film transport, and standard frame speed. Film transport is assumed to be vertical unless otherwise noted, and standard frame speed is assumed to be 24 frames per second unless the film is otherwise noted or has no standard. Silent film has no standard speed; many amateur formats have several common speeds, but no standard.
  • Negative lenses indicates whether spherical (normal) or anamorphic lenses are used on the original camera negative, and if anamorphic lenses, what anamorphic power is used.
  • Projection gauge is the film gauge (width) used for the release print.
  • Projection aspect ratio is the image ratio determined by the ratio of the projection dimensions multiplied by the anamorphic power of the projection lenses (1x in the case of spherical lenses). This is also known as the intended theatrical aspect ratio. [1]
  • Projection dimensions are the width and height of the projector aperture plate, and by extension the film frame area which is projected. The aperture plate always very slightly crops the frame.
  • Projection lenses indicates whether spherical (normal) or anamorphic lenses are used on the projector, and if anamorphic lenses, what anamorphic power is used.

Formats are listed in chronological order and by release date in the case of multiple formats within one year, if this can be determined. Undated formats are listed at the bottom in alphabetical order.

Film formats

Note that this table does not cover 3D systems or color film systems, nor is it well-suited to emphasize the differences between those systems.
Format Creator Year Created First known work Negative gauge Negative aspect ratio[1] Gate dimensions Negative pulldown Negative lenses Projection gauge Projection aspect ratio[1] Projection dimensions Projection lenses
Chronophotographe[2] Etienne-Jules Marey 1888 motion analysis studies 90 mm 1.00 3.543" x 3.543" unperforated spherical


Paperfilm[3] Louis Le Prince 1888 Roundhay Garden Scene 54 mm or 63.5 mm 1.00 perforated spherical 54 mm or 63.5 mm 1.00 spherical


Theatre Optique Emile Reynaud 1888 Pauvre Pierrot perforated spherical spherical


Chronophotographic William Friese-Greene 1889 54 mm irregular perfs spherical


Kinesigraph Wordsworth Donisthorpe 1889 view of Trafalgar Square 68 mm 1.00? unperforated spherical


Kinetoscope cylinder William Dickson and Thomas Edison 1889 or 1890 Monkeyshines, No. 1 strip rolled around a cylinder unperforated spherical strip rolled around a cylinder spherical


Kinetoscope horizontal William Dickson and William Heise 1891 Dickson Greeting 19 mm 1 perf, 1 side, horizontal spherical 19 mm, horizontal spherical


Silent film standard William Dickson and Thomas Edison 1892 Blacksmith Scene 35 mm 1.33 0.980" x 0.735" 4 perf, 2 sides spherical 35 mm 1.33 0.931" x 0.698" spherical


Bioskop Max Skladanowsky 1892 footage of Emil Skladanowsky 54 mm unperforated (camera); 4 perf, 2 sides (projection) spherical 54 mm (two strips interleaved) spherical


Acres 70[4] Birt Acres 1894 The Henley Royal Regatta of 1894 70 mm 1.38 2.750" x 2.000" spherical 70 mm spherical


Eidoloscope[5] Woodville Latham 1895 Griffo-Barnett Prize Fight 51 mm 1.85 1.457" x 0.787" 4 perf, 2 sides spherical 51 mm 1.85 spherical


Cinematographe Lumiere Brothers 1895 La Sortie des Usines Lumiere 35 mm 1.33 0.980" x 0.735" 1 perf, 2 sides (rounded) spherical 35 mm 1.33 spherical


Biograph Herman Casler 1895 Sparring Contest at Canastota 68 mm 1.35 2.625" x 1.938" 1 perf, 2 sides (punched in-camera) spherical 68 mm spherical


Joly-Normandin Henri Joly 1895 60 mm 5 perf, 2 sides spherical 60 mm spherical


Biographe Demeny-Gaumont 1896 60 mm 1.40 1.750" x. 1.250" unperforated spherical 60 mm 1.40 spherical


Chronophotographe Demeny-Gaumont 1896 60 mm 1.40 1.750" x. 1.250" 4 perf, 2 sides spherical 60 mm 1.40 spherical


Sivan-Dalphin Casimir Sivan and E. Dalphin 1896 38 mm 2 perf, 2 sides spherical 38 mm spherical


Veriscope Enoch Rector 1897 Corbett-Fitzsimmons fight 63 mm 1.66 1.875" x 1.125" 5 perf, 2 sides spherical 63 mm spherical


Viventoscope Thomas Henry Blair 1897 48 mm 1.50 1.500" x 1.000" 1 perf? spherical 48 mm spherical


Birtac Birt Acres 1898 unknown (amateur format) 17.5 mm 2 perf, 1 side spherical 17.5 mm spherical


Biokam T.C. Hepworth 1899 unknown (amateur format) 17.5 mm 1.60 0.630" x 0.394" 1 perf, center spherical 17.5 mm spherical


Prestwich 13 mm John Alfred Prestwich 1899 unknown (amateur format) 13 mm spherical 13 mm spherical


Mirograph Reulos, Goudeau & Co 1900 unknown (amateur format) 21 mm 1 notch, 2 sides spherical 21 mm spherical


Lumiere Wide Lumiere Brothers 1900 75 mm 1.33 2.362" x 1.772" 8 perf, 2 sides spherical 75 mm 1.33 spherical


Cineorama Raoul Grimoin-Sanson 1900 Cineorama 70 mm x 10 cameras (360°) 4 perf? spherical 70 mm x 10 projectors (360°) spherical


La Petite (Hughes) W.C. Hughes 1900 unknown (amateur format) 17.5 mm 1.60 0.630" x 0.394" 1 perf, center (smaller and less rectangular than Biokam) spherical 17.5 mm spherical


Pocket Chrono Gaumont Demeny 1900 unknown (amateur format) 15 mm 1 perf, center spherical 15 mm spherical


Vitak William Wardell 1902 unknown (amateur format) no standard no standard no standard 1 perf, center spherical 11 mm spherical


Home Kinetoscope Edison 1912 unknown (amateur format) no standard no standard no standard no standard spherical 22 mm, 2 perf (on frameline between frame rows) 1.5 0.236" x 0.157" (three frames across width) spherical


Pathe Kok Pathe 1912 unknown (amateur format) 28 mm 1.36 0.748" x 0.551" 3 perf on one side, 1 perf on the other spherical 28 mm spherical


Duoscope Alexander F. Victor 1912 unknown (amateur format) 17.5 mm 2 perfs, center spherical 17.5 mm spherical


Panoramico[6] Filoteo Alberini 1914 Il sacco di Roma 70 mm 2.52 5 perf, 2 sides spherical 70 mm spherical


Split Duplex Duplex Corporation 1915 35 mm 1.33 0.980" x 0.735" 4 perf, 2 sides (shooting) spherical 35 mm 1.87 0.735" x 0.394" spherical (split image 90° rotated)


11 mm (American) 1916 unknown (amateur format) 11 mm 1 perf, center spherical 11 mm spherical


Movette Movette Camera Company 1917 unknown (amateur format) 17.5 mm 2 perfs, 2 sides (rounded) spherical 17.5 mm spherical


28 mm safety standard Alexander Victor 1918 unknown (amateur format) 28 mm 1.36 0.748" x 0.551" 3 perf, 2 sides spherical 28 mm spherical


Clou (Austrian) 1920 unknown (amateur format) 17.5 mm 2 perf, 2 sides spherical 17.5 mm spherical


26 mm (French) 1920 unknown (amateur format) 26 mm 1 perf, 1 side spherical 26 mm spherical


9.5 mm Pathe 1922 unknown (amateur format) 9.5 mm 1.31 0.335" x 0.256" 1 perf, center spherical 9.5 mm 1.31 0.315" x 0.242" spherical


Phonofilm Lee De Forest 1922 Barking Dog and Flying Jenny Airplane 35 mm 1.33 0.980" x 0.735" 4 perf, 2 sides spherical 35 mm 1.17 0.826" x 0.708" spherical


Widescope John D. Elms and George W. Bingham 1922 35 mm x 2 (both in same camera) 0.980" x 0.735" 1.33 x 2 negatives 4 perf, 2 sides spherical (one lens per strip) 35 mm x 2 projectors 2.66 0.931" x 0.698" spherical


Cinebloc Ozaphan 1922 unknown (amateur format) 22 mm 2 perf, 2 sides spherical 22 mm spherical


Tri-Ergon soundfilm Tri-Ergon 1922 35 mm 1.33 0.980" x 0.735" 4 perf, 2 sides spherical 42 mm 1.33 0.931" x 0.698" spherical


16 mm[7] Eastman Kodak 1923 unknown (amateur format) 16 mm 1.37 0.404" x 0.295" 1 perf, 1 or 2 sides spherical 16 mm 1.37 0.378" x 0.276" spherical


Duplex G.J. Bradley 1923 unknown (amateur format) 11 mm 2 perf, 2 sides (rounded) spherical 11.5 mm spherical


Alberini-Hill Corrado Cerqua 1924 35 mm 1.66 1.575" x 0.945" (curved) 10 perf, 2 sides, horizontal spherical, on 65° revolving drum 35 mm spherical


Cinelux Ozaphan 1924 unknown (amateur format) 24 mm spherical 24 mm spherical


48 mm J.H. Powrie 1924 48 mm 1.32 1.969" x 1.496" horizontal spherical 35 mm 1.33 0.931" x 0.698" spherical


Natural Vision[8] George K. Spoor and P. John Berggren 1925 Niagara Falls and Rollercoaster Ride 63.5 mm 1.84 2.060" x 1.120" 6 perf, 2 sides, 20 fps spherical 63.5 mm 2.00 spherical


13 mm (French) 1925 unknown (amateur format) 13 mm 4 perf, center spherical 13 mm spherical


18 mm (Russian) 1925 unknown (amateur format) 18 mm 1 perf, 2 sides spherical 18 mm spherical


Pathe Rural Pathe 1926 unknown (amateur format) 17.5 mm 1.35 (silent); 1.30 (sound) 0.516" x 0.382" (silent); 0.445" x 0.343" (sound) 1 perf, 2 sides spherical 17.5 mm 1.33 (silent); 1.26 (sound) 0.472" x 0.354" (silent); 0.445" x 0.343" (sound) spherical


Widevision John D. Elms and George W. Bingham 1926 Natural Vision Pictures 57 mm 5 perf, 2 sides spherical 57 mm spherical


Magnascope[9] Lorenzo del Riccio 1926 Old Ironsides 35 mm 1.33 0.980" x 0.735" 4 perf, 2 sides spherical 35 mm 1.33 0.931" x 0.698" spherical (selected scenes projected using a wider lens for larger picture)


Fox Movietone Freeman Harrison Owens, Theodore Case, Tri-Ergon 1927 Sunrise 35 mm 1.33 0.980" x 0.735" 4 perf, 2 sides spherical 35 mm 1.17 0.826" x 0.708" spherical


Polyvision[10] Abel Gance 1927 Napoléon 35 mm x 3 cameras 1.33 x 3 negatives 0.980" x 0.735" 4 perf, 2 sides spherical 35 mm x 3 projectors 4.00 0.931" x 0.698" spherical


Hypergonar Henri Chretien 1927 Pour construire un feu 35 mm 2.66 0.980" x 0.735" 4 perf, 2 sides 2x anamorphic 35 mm 2.66 0.931" x 0.698" 2x anamorphic


Magnafilm[11] Lorenzo del Riccio 1929 You're in the Army Now 56 mm 2.19 1.620" x 0.740" 4 perf, 2 sides spherical 56 mm 2.00 spherical


Fox Grandeur[12] Fox Film Corporation 1929 Fox Grandeur News and Fox Movietone Follies of 1929 70 mm 2.07 1.890" x 0.913" 4 perf, 2 sides, 20 fps (before 1930) spherical 70 mm 2.00 1.768" x 0.885" spherical


Fearless Super Pictures[13] Ralph G. Fear 1929 35 mm 2.27 1.813" x 0.800" 10 perfs, 2 sides, horizontal spherical 35 mm, horizontal spherical


Fearless Super-Film/Magnifilm/Fox Vitascope[14] Ralph G. Fear 1930 Kismet 65 mm 2.00 1.811" x 0.906" 5 perf, 2 sides spherical 65 mm 2.05 1.772" x 0.866" spherical


Realife[15] MGM 1930 Billy the Kid 70 mm 2.07 1.890" x 0.913" 4 perf, 2 sides spherical 35 mm 1.75 0.904" x 0.517" spherical


50 mm Fox Film Corporation and SMPE 1930 50 mm 1.80 1.325" x 0.735" spherical 50 mm 1.80 1.305" x 0.725" spherical


17 mm sound (French) 1930 unknown (amateur format) 17 mm 1 perf, 1 side spherical 17 mm spherical


Giant Expanding Pictures George Palmer 1930 35 mm 1.33 0.980" x 0.735" 4 perf, 2 sides spherical 35 mm 1.17 0.826" x 0.708" spherical (with a special projection zoom lens zooming wider and opening masking for key sequences)


Kodel Kemco Homovie Clarence Ogden 1931 unknown (amateur format) 16 mm 4 sequential images per frame 1 perf, 2 sides spherical 16 mm spherical


Academy format[16] AMPAS 1932 35 mm 1.37 0.866" x 0.630" 4 perf, 2 sides spherical 35 mm 1.37 0.825" x 0.602" spherical


8 mm Eastman Kodak 1932 unknown (amateur format) 16 mm 1.32 0.192" x 0.145" 1 perf, 1 side (using 16 mm film with twice as many perfs) spherical 8 mm 1.33 0.172" x 0.129" spherical


Straight 8 Bell and Howell 1935 unknown (amateur format) 8 mm 1.32 0.192" x 0.145" 1 perf, 1 side spherical 8 mm 1.33 0.172" x 0.129" spherical


Vitarama Fred Waller 1939 16 mm x 11 cameras 1.37 x 11 negatives 0.404" x 0.295" 1 perf, 2 sides spherical 16 mm x 11 projectors hemispherical view 0.378" x 0.276" spherical


Waller Flexible Gunnery Trainer Fred Waller 1943 US Air Force interactive training exercise 35 mm x 5 cameras 1.37 x 5 negatives 0.866" x 0.630" 4 perf, 2 sides spherical 35 mm x 5 projectors hemispherical view 0.825" x 0.602" spherical


Cinerama[17] Fred Waller 1952 This is Cinerama 35 mm x 3 cameras 0.89 x 3 negatives 0.996" x 1.116" 6 perf, 2 sides at 26 fps spherical 35 mm x 3 projectors, with 6 perf pulldown 2.59, with 146° curved screen 0.985" x 1.088" spherical


Matted 1.66[18] Paramount 1953 Shane 35 mm 1.37 0.866" x 0.630" 4 perf, 2 sides spherical 35 mm 1.66 0.825" x 0.497" spherical


Matted 1.85[19] Universal 1953 Thunder Bay 35 mm 1.37 0.866" x 0.630" 4 perf, 2 sides spherical 35 mm 1.85 0.825" x 0.446" spherical


Matted 1.75 MGM 1953 Arena 35 mm 1.37 0.866" x 0.630" 4 perf, 2 sides spherical 35 mm 1.75 0.825" x 0.471" spherical


Cinemascope[20] 20th Century Fox 1953 The Robe 35 mm 2.55 (1953-1957); 2.37 (1957-1967) 0.937" x 0.735" (1953-1957); 0.868" x 0.735" (1957-1967) 4 perf, 2 sides 2x anamorphic 35 mm 2.55 (1953-1957); 2.35 (1957-1967) 0.912" x 0.715" (1953-1957); 0.839" x 0.715" (1957-1967) 2x anamorphic


Arnoldscope