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This list of motion picture 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.

To be included in this list, the formats must all 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.).

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 (1× in the case of spherical lenses).Strictly speaking, aspect ratios for film are always expressed as the ratio of 1 and are formatted as x:y, e.g. 1.85:1. However, in the interest of formatting, the aspect ratios listed will assume the ratio of 1 and omit the :1 suffix.
* 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 (1× in the case of spherical lenses). This is also known as the intended theatrical aspect ratio.
* 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

: ''The table does not cover 3-D film systems or color film systems, nor is it well-suited to emphasize the differences between those systems.''

See also

* List of anamorphic format trade names
* Color motion picture film
* List of film sound systems
*Display resolution
*Display aspect ratio

Notes

References

* Carr, Robert E. and Hayes, R. M., ''Wide Screen Movies. A History and Filmography of Wide Gauge Filmmaking''. Mc Farland & Company, 1988.
* Hart, Martin
American Widescreen Museum
1996–2008. Retrieved on 2008-05-16.
* Herbert, Stephen and Luke McKernan, eds

1996–2006. Retrieved on 2006-12-01.
* Hummel, Rob (editor). ''American Cinematographer Manual'', 8th edition. Hollywood: ASC Press, 2001.
* Naimark, Michael

''Presence'', Vol. 1, No. 3. MIT Press, Summer 1992. Retrieved on 2006-12-01.
* Nystrom, J.E

1998–2001. Retrieved on 2006-12-01.
* Sherlock, Daniel J
"Wide Screen Movies" Corrections
1994–2004. Retrieved on 2006-12-01.

Further reading

* Baumgarten, Martin W

2006. Retrieved on 2006-12-01.
* de Vries, Tjitte

2006. Retrieved on 2006-10-22.
* Eastman Kodak Corporation
40 Years of Super 8
2005. Retrieved on 2006-12-01.
* Eastman Kodak Corporation
Kodak Chronology of Motion Picture Films
2003. Retrieved on 2006-12-01.
* eFilmCenter

date unknown. Retrieved on 2006-12-01.
* Fisher, David

1970–2006. Retrieved on 2006-10-22.
* Hart, Douglas C. ''The Camera Assistant: A Complete Professional Handbook''. Newton, Massachusetts: Focal Press, 1996.
* Hauerslev, Thomas, ed
in70mm.com
1985–2006. Retrieved on 2006-12-01.
* Hayes, John

''Wide Screen Movies Magazine'', Vol. 1, 2002. Retrieved on 2006-12-01.
* Herbert, Stephen

date unknown. Retrieved on 2006-12-01.
* Horak, Jan-Christopher

UCLA Film and Television Archive, 2000. Retrieved on 2006-12-01.
* Internet Movie Database Incorporated
Internet Movie Database
1990–2006. Retrieved on 2006-12-01.
* Jennings, Tom (editor)
The Dead Media Project
2001? Retrieved on 2006-10-22.
* Kattelle, Alan

2003. Retrieved on 2006-10-22.
* Library of Congress

date unknown. Retrieved on 2006-12-01.
* MCC Logical Designs

date unknown. Retrieved on 2006-12-01.
* Mendrala, Jim

1994. Retrieved on 2006-10-22.
* Munafo, Robert P

1996–2008. Retrieved on 2006-12-01.
* Musser, Charles
Edison film notes
2005. Retrieved on 2006-12-01.
* Naughton, Russell

1998–2003. Retrieved on 2006-10-22.
* Newnham, Grahame

2000–2006. Retrieved on 2006-12-01.
* Norwood, Scott E

1998. Retrieved on 2006-12-01.
* Panavision Incorporated
Panavision: Technical Information: Aspect Ratio Overview
2004. Retrieved on 2006-12-01.
* Roepke, Martina and Henk Verheul
Ernemann film
2002–2006. Retrieved on 2006-12-01.
* Science Museum Group
Cinematography collection
Retrieved 2020-05-04.
* ScreenSound Australia
Film Formats
date unknown. Retrieved on 2006-12-01.
* ScreenSound Australia
Film Gauges
date unknown. Retrieved on 2006-12-01.
* Society of Camera Operators

1991–2005. Retrieved on 2006-12-01.
* UCLA Film and Television Archive

2004. Retrieved on 2006-12-01.
* unknown author

2004–2005. Retrieved on 2008-06-23.
* Vigeant, Rhonda
Max 8 Press Release
2005. Retrieved on 2006-12-01.
* Westphal, Kyle
An Enlarged History of Magnascope
2016. Retrieved on 2018-01-18
* Wittmann, Armin Michael
One Long Image
Dissertation for the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, 1999. Retrieved on 2006-12-01.

Film formats
Film formats
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