Customer Reviews

American Cinematographer Manual (8th Edition)

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Also known as "The Cinematographers Bible", this thick hand-sized pocket book is an absolute must for anybody who owns or uses a 16mm, Super 16mm, 35mm, Super 35mm or 70mm motion picture camera (movie cameras). IT WILL NOT TEACH YOU CINEMATOGRAPHY! It is a technical manual to be used when shooting on film and has since become the industry standard book that most amateur and professional cinematographers own and use. Motion pictures cameras are also built around the specifications laid down in this book.

Essentially the first 100 pages deal with all the different types of motion picture cameras, their internal mechanisms, technical details and threading paths. Then the book goes on to dealing with motion picture film itself, the various brands that are available, differences between black and white, color and a bit about the development process of each one. Again, technically detailed. There is also very valuable charts on film lengths and running times according to fps. The lens section is very technical covering the different types of lenses and the most important focal length, distance to subject, measuring charts that is really the most widely used part of this book. There is a massive section on filters, exposure and emulsion testing.

The book then deals with lighting and covers the various aspects of lighting types, bulbs, filters and exposure techniques, all highly technical in nature with references to charts and illustrations. The book ends with a coverage of visual special effects that can be done with the motion picture camera and other special techniques that the cinematographer will need to know about.

You will need this book if you are shooting on film, end of story. If you are looking for a manual that teaches cinematography then choose CINEMATOGRAPHY by Kris Malkiewicz instead. As a note, there is a lot of new digital cinematography cameras on the up and coming that work on digital video tape and not film and many new filmmakers may be advised to check out this route as a cheaper and less costly way of shooting their first film.

I was at first put off by the price of this book, until I looked at friend of mine that had a copy. It's UNBELIEVABLE! My friend goes to USC, and after reading much of this book I can see why it's used as a textbook for their majors in Cinema and Television. It may be a hefty price, but that's because it's a hefty book(!!), with remarkably in depth articles on choices of formats, mastering, digital effects, etc. It's easy to understand why earlier editions of this manual earned its legendary place in Hollywood.

If you were allowed only one book to bring along on location, this is the one. It is loaded with essential information on every camera, look-up tables and more critical reference material than anyone could hope to memorize in a lifetime.

Quick Quiz:
1. What's the formula for image blur. Answer on page 704.
2. What are the specs for a Wesscam. Page 392.
3. Explain "common topline" in Super35. Page 36.

Being a film student studying Cinematography, I have come accross various books on the subject, like lenses, different formats, different cameras, etc. The AC Manual is a book which gets together all this information in a single book. The different tables with all the possible calculations that a cinematographer needs to do, are truly useful. All in all, if you are studying Cinematography, i think it's the best book you could buy.

This reference continues the long history of excellent information which the ASC has provided to the cinematographic community. It has numerous updates and corrections over previous versions and is a wealth of reference material. While it does contain manufacturers data sheets, etc. it is NOT an advertisement for any vendor. I am unclear why anyone would think that.

Overall, if you shoot film or have simply have a deep love or interest in the art and craft of cinematography, this manual provides in clear, concise form all the material you could want.

It is up to date with (most) current equipment and practices (obviously). Although there are more pages to this edition than in previous editions, the extra content seems to contain more verbiage at the expense of tables and graphs.

It is disappointing to note the absence of lighting equipment details (photometric data and equipment range) in particular. The focus (pun intended) seems to be more towards cameras, lenses, filters and film.

My 4th edition manual has a better balance in terms of verbiage, tables and graphs, and covers lighting equipment in some detail. Although outdated in some areas, the 4th edition will still remain my primary source of information.

The "novelisation" of this 8th edition has, to a degree, defeated the real purpose of the manual, the provision of readily accessable data via tables and graphs.

If you are after lighting equipment details, then look elsewhere, if not, then consider purchasing this latest edition.

The American Cinematographer Film Manual recently published by the ASC is a great resource for those who really care about the visual presentation of film. The book represents the best traditions of the ASC - the most authoritative group of working director's of photography in the world. The ASC is THE repository for visual style in filmmaking world - and has been for over 75 years. The 8th Edition of the Film Manual has included new sections on topics of interest to professionals and novices alike. Although the Manual is a substantial commitment, a better way to envision the purchase is as an investment in one's future. Our industry is changing radically, and a great way to manage those changes, in "acquisition", post-production and post post-production, is to own this resource. And you'll be in good company. Since February, over 4,000 copies have been purchased.

This is the best book of its kind out there. No exceptions. If you a working film professional, you can't be without it. There is an extraordinary amount of information in it. Kudos to the publisher -- the American Society of Cinematographers, the true gatekeepers of image capture.

I was shocked at how little practical information there is in this book. The publisher has the nerve to sell ad space in the book and it appears to be a glorified advertisement for Panavision.

I was very disappointed and returned the book.

The ASC manual is the bible for cameramen. To go on set or location without it is simply unthinkable. It's an intergrated part of a camera kit. I haven't the revised edition, but I imagine it is as relevant as any other edition.

Unlike all other bibles, (camera) people all over the world subscribe to the ASC's doctorine!