Camera Angle Control Accessories

Not every shot has to be taken with the camera at eye level and perfectly horizontal. With PANAVISION it is possible to have fun with camera angles.

PANAVISION/FRAZIER Lens System

The PANAVISION/FRAZIER lens system is unique in many ways. It has the capability of holding everything in focus from macro magnification to infinity, it has an articulated front element, or “swivel tip”, which enables the front part of the lens to pan across a subject without the camera being moved and can rotate the image about the optical axis, like a Panate, without need to rotate the camera. It creates the possibility to probe deep into a miniature, like a probe or a snorkel lens, and then to move around and all the while holding everything in focus.The system comprises seven interchangable lenses (12-35mm) of which two lenses have perspective and slant focus capability and a third has perspective control only.

Inclining Prisms

An INCLINING PRISM placed in front of the taking lens enables either very low or very high angle shots which would otherwise be impossible. More than this, it enables the camera to look upwards from below floor level or down from above ceiling height without cutting a hole in either.

An INCLINING PRISM works by reflecting and refracting the light and because the light is bent twice the image is the correct way around. Other optical advantages are that there is virtually no loss of transmission, the planes of the front and rear of the prism are perfectly flat so there is no chance of optical distortion and by using a glass of high refractive index it is possible to cover a much wider angle lens than would otherwise be possible.

The PANAFLEX LIGHTWEIGHT Camera System

The possibility of taking the camera off the tripod, or other rigid support system, and moving it about with all the fluidity of human movement is a feature of modern cinematography brought about both by the Steadicam floating camera system and the long reach portable crane with a remotely controlled camera. The advantage of these systems is that they make unobtrusive gliding camera movements possible without the audience being aware.

The PANAVISION LIGHTWEIGHT PANAFLEX is tailor made for either of these situations.

PANATATE Turnover Camera Mounts

PANATATE turnover camera mounts enable the camera to rotate longitudinally (about the lens axis) during a take. They also incorporate a nodal mounting system so that a camera can be panned, tilted and rotated simultaneously without displacing the entrance pupil.

1. Inclining prism low angle attachment fitted to a hand-held PANAFLEX camera for a ground-level shot, 2. PANAVISION/FRAZIER lens system, 3. LIGHTWEIGHT PANAFLEX camera system, 4. PANATATE turnover camera mount.