Appendix - Calculating Shots

If you want to plan a production systematically and predictably, a transparent lens-angle (or protractor) laid on the scale staging plan is a fast and effective technique. It shows yoy at a glance.exactly what you are going to see from any viewpoint, whether you are likely to be shooting off or getting another camera in shot As you go through the scene, you can mark the camera positions on the plan as a record for eventual rehearsals.

However, you will meet occasions where you need the solution to an isolated problem, and do not want to resort to measurements on squared paper. This graph can-help with its summarized information, it will show you the lens angle and distance needed for any standard shot, as well as subject proportions in the frame.

How to use the graph

1. Follow a vertical line from your camera distance to the lens angle in use, and the shot you getis shown on the left.

2. Similarly, you can see how far away the camera needs to be for a particular shot Locate your shot on the left, follow across to the lens angle used, and the distance is below.

3. What lens angle is necessary for a shot? A horizontal line from the shot type joins a vertical from camera distance, at the lens angle you need.

4. The scene width and height taken in are shown in the left-hand column, so you can see camera distances required.

5. Proportions, too, are shown. If a subject is to occupy one-third of the screen width (or height), multiply its actual width (or height) by three (or whatever proportion-is involved), and use the vertical width scale to deduce the distance from your lens angle.

Lens-angles

The corresponding horizontal and vertical angles covered are;

Horizontal Vertical degrees

UNIVERSAL CAMERA SETUP GRAPH

The graph shows direction and staging details that would otherwise need continyal measyrement. It is calibrated in feet and meters, but can be interpreted in inches. To use it for greater distances multiply the scale readings by a similar factor (e.g. × 5).