Panavision
Photography in Cape Town

The site features demonstrations, panel discussions, interviews and white papers regarding issues related to cinematography. Panavision global website, remote heads, cranes, grip equipment, lighting equipment, spherical and anamorphic lenses, offering information on film and digital cameras, expendables and formulas and tables useful for film and TV production.

Founded in 1954, Panavision is the world's leading designer and manufacturer of high-precision lenses for the motion picture and television industries, and one of the world's leading providers of camera systems, including both film and digital cameras. Panavision also supplies lighting, grip and crane equipment for use by motion picture and television productions, and offers 24/7 service support around the globe. Panavision rents its systems through its company-owned, global facilities and distributor network. A group of bullied kids band together when a monster, taking the appearance of a clown, begins hunting children. Discover the aesthetic characteristics of shooting in anamorphic. Compare the look of large format anamorphic and spherical lenses captured on film and digital cameras. Discover why shooting in anamorphic is even more relevant in the digital age. In 1954, Robert Gottschalk and his partners saw an opportunity to solve one of the film industry's most urgent challenges. The special lenses necessary to project CinemaScope and other wide-screen films were expensive, difficult to use, and in short supply. This combination of technical superiority and lower cost catapulted Panavision to the top echelon of optical technology for film projection. And even though Panavision custom-built each lens to exacting specifications, the ability to work quickly and accurately kept costs low and established the Panavision reputation for technological excellence and individualized service. Their popularity among filmmakers and actors cemented Panavision's growing reputation as the premier optics innovator for film. In 1964, Gottschalk shifted Panavision to a rental-only business model. By maintaining ownership of the equipment inventory, Panavision could ensure the highest levels of quality for everyone who used a Panavision product. Customer service, long a point of pride for Panavision, was the central support of the model. Beginning with the Panaflex revolution, filmmakers have intensified their demands for ever smaller, lighter-weight film cameras. The Millennium XL followed quickly, further shrinking the camera body by using two film sprockets in place of the single sprocket design. The XL series uses three motors to allow for additional features such as precision motorized shutter control. (The XL was the first product in Panavision history to win both an Academy Award and a Primetime Emmy Award within the first year of official release.) With its deep roots in film, some wondered whether the digital age would leave Panavision behind. Once again demonstrating its commitment to innovation and meeting the demands of the creative community, Panavision partnered with Sony to raise HD digital video to the standards of big screen film quality. And for artists who want to use a Panavision lens with another manufacturer's HD camera, the in-house R&D team have Panavized many non-Panavision cameras to ensure that Panavision has the right tool for the job. These lenses, built on the legacy of Panavision's Primo lenses, are specifically designed to work with HD cameras to eliminate digital optical artifacts. As Panavision begins its seventh decade serving the film and television industry, our long commitment to innovation has made Panavision a trusted partner to the industry's creative community.