S16

S16 is commonly associated with the Super 16 film format in motion picture technology. Super 16 is a variation of standard 16mm film that enlarges the image area by using the space normally reserved for the optical soundtrack. This adjustment enables a larger frame on the same width of film and facilitates the capture of widescreen images when the footage is scanned for digital finishing or printed for release. The format is favored for its balance of film aesthetics, portability, and lower production costs compared with larger gauges.

In practice, Super 16 cameras can shoot with standard 16mm lenses, and the resulting footage is usually scanned or blown up to a widescreen aspect ratio in post-production. Common release formats include various widescreen ratios achieved by cropping or using anamorphic adaptation during telecine, often yielding outputs around 1.66:1 to 1.85:1, depending on the workflow. Because the sound track is handled differently in Super 16, productions can opt to run with no optical track or to manage sound separately, which can simplify certain production setups. The format remains popular in independent film, documentary, and low-budget productions due to its compact size and cinematic look.

Beyond cinema, the designation S16 can appear in unrelated contexts as an alphanumeric code or model name, where its meaning is entirely context-dependent. In such cases, clarification within the relevant field is required to determine its precise definition.