filmstorleken

filmstorleken, or film size, refers to the dimensions of the film emulsion used in motion picture cameras and cameras for still photography. In filmmaking, it traditionally indicates the width of the negative, measured in millimetres, and it strongly influences image quality, depth of field, and the overall aesthetics of a production. Classic sizes include 8 mm, 16 mm, 35 mm and 70 mm, while contemporary projects may also employ 65 mm for a full‑width and 52 mm for anamorphic formats. The choice of film size affects not only the visual texture and grain but also the practical aspects of shooting, such as the amount of light needed and the capacity to run long reels.

The term also applies to the aspect ratio, which is the relationship between the film’s width and height. Standard 35 mm film can be printed in the Academy ratio of 1.37:1, the widescreen CinemaScope ratio of 2.35:1, or the ultra‑wide 2.55:1 used for large‑format formats. When a film is shot in anamorphic mode, the image is horizontally compressed on the negative and then blown up during projection, creating a very wide field of view without the same amount of horizontal film real estate. In digital filmmaking, the size of the sensor and the native resolution are often compared to their analog counterparts to judge how closely a digital image mimics the look of a particular film stock.

Filmstorleken has played a central role in the history of cinema, guiding decisions from the early days of nickelodeons to modern blockbusters. Understanding it remains crucial for filmmakers who wish to control the visual language of their work, whether by employing the nostalgic grain of a 16 mm reel or the crisp detail of a 70 mm negative.