Aspect ratio

The ratio of the width to height of the picture image projected on the screen or printed on the film. The height is taken as unity (expressed as xx:1).

Film

The long established film aspect ratio is still retained for narrow gauge film is 4:3 (or a ratio of 1.33:1. With masking this is projected at a ratio of 1.37:1).

widescreen cinema presentation systems may have aspect ratios from 1.65:1 up to 2.55:1.

Video

The current television aspect ratio is 4:3. Early television systems were 5:4 to provide the maximum rectangle obtainable on the circular picture tubes then in use.^^ Wide screen television has an aspect ratio of 16:9.

Common Cinema Presentation Systems

System	Aspect Ratio	Gauge
System	Aspect Ratio	Negative	Print
Standard 16mm	1.37:1	16mm	16mm or Optical 35mm
Super 16mm	1.65:1	Extended 16mm	Optical and Masked 35mm
Standard 35mm Wide Screen	1.37:1	Academy Frame 35mm	AF 35mm
Standard 35mm Wide Screen	1.65:1 1.75:1 1.85:1	Masked 35mm	Masked 35mm
Panavision Spherical Wide Screen	1.37:1	AF 35mm	AF 35mm
Panavision Spherical Wide Screen	1.37:1 1.75:1 1.85:1	Masked 35mm	Masked 35mm
Techniscope Anamorphic (Panavision 35mm, Todd-AO 35mm, etc)	2.35:1 2.35:1	Camera Masked Std width 2 perf high 35mm 35mm	Optical/ Anamorphic 35mm
			Anamorphic 35mm
			Optical 70mm

System	Pers per frame print	Optical System
System	Pers per frame print	Camera	Projection
Standard 16mm	1	Std 16mm	Std 16mm
Super 16mm	4	Std 16mm	Std 35mm
Standard 35mm Wide Screen	4	Std 35mm	Std 35mm
Standard 35mm Wide Screen	4	Std 35mm	Widescreen 35mm
Panavision Spherical	4	35mm Panavision Spherical	Std 35mm
Widescreen	4	Std 35mm	Widescreen 35mm
Techniscope	4	Std 35mm	Anamorphic
Anamorphic	4	Anamorphic	Anamorphic
Panavision 35mm, Todd-AO 35mm etc	5		Std 70mm

System	Proj. Speed		Audio
System	Frames per Sec.	Feet per Min.	Sound Track	No. per Tracks	Sound to Picture (Frames)
Standard 16 mm	24	36	Optical	1	26 Ahead
Super 16 mm	24	90	Optical	1	20 Ahead
Standard 35mm Wide Screen	24	90	Optical	1	20 Ahead
Standard 35mm Wide Screen	24	90	Optical	1	20 Ahead
Panavision Spherical Wide Screen	24	90	Optical	1	20 Ahead
Panavision Spherical Wide Screen	24	90	Optical	1	20 Ahead
Techniscope Anamorphic (Panavision 35mm, Todd-AO 35mm, etc.	24	90	Optical or Magnetic	1 4	20 Ahead 28 Behind
	24	90	Optical or Magnetic	1 4	20 Ahead 28 behind
	24	112.4	Magnetic	6	24 Behind

System	Proj. Speed		Audio
	Proj. Speed		Audio
	Frames per Sec.	Feet per Min.	Sound	No. per	Sound to Picture
			Track	Tracks	(Frames)

Standard	24	36	Optical	1	26
16 mm	24	36	Optical	1	Ahead
Super	24	90	Optical	1	20
16 mm	24	90	Optical	1	Ahead
Standard 35mm	24	90	Optical	1	20
	24	90	Optical	1	Ahead
Wide Screen	24	90	Optical	1	20
	24	90	Optical	1	Ahead
Panavision Spherical	24	90	Optical	1	20
	24	90	Optical	1	Ahead
Wide Screen	24	90	Optical	1	20 Ahead
Techniscope	24	90	Optical or	1	20
			Magnetic	4	Ahead
Anamorphic					28
(Panavision 35mm, Todd-AO 35mm, etc.					Behind
	24	90	Optical or	1	20
			Magnetic	4	Ahead
					28
					behind
	24	112.4	Magnetic	6	24 Behind

The following systems are being phased out of production or are already obsolete:

System	Aspect Ratio	Guage
System	Aspect Ratio	Negative	Print
Cinemascope	2.65:1	35mm	Anamorphic 35mm
Todd-AO 70	2.2:1	65mm	70mm
Technirama 70	2.2:1	Double Frame Horizontal 35mm	70mm
Super Panavision	2.2:1	65 mm	70mm
Cinerama Dimension 150 Ultra-Panavision	2.7:1	65mm	70mm

System	Perfs. per Frame Print	Optical System
System	Perfs. per Frame Print	Camera	Projection
Cinemascope	4 (Foxhole type)	Anamorphic	Anamorphic
Todd-AO 70	5	Std 65mm	Std 70mm
Technirama 70	5	Anamorphic Technirama	Std 70mm
Super Panavision	5	Std 65mm	Std 70mm
Cinerama Dimension 150 Ultra-Panavision	5	Anamorphic	Variable anamorphosis to each side and 120° screen curvature

System	Proj. Speed		Audio
System	Frames per Sec.	Feet per Min.	Sound Track	No. per Tracks	Sound to Picture (Frames)
Cinemascope	24	90	Magnetic	4	28 Behind
Todd-AO 70	24	112.4	Magnetic	6	24 Behind
Technirama 70	24	112.4	Magnetic	6	24 Behind
Super Panavision	24	112.4	Magnetic	6	24 Behind
Cinerama Dimension 150 Ultra-Panavision	24	112.4	Magnetic	6	24 Behind