Lens with 90-degree deflection – the camera looks around corners or films parallel to surfaces. For impossible angles, tight spaces, and concealed shots.
What is a Periscope Lens?
The Periscope Lens (English: Periscope Lens or Right-Angle Lens) redirects the light path by 90 degrees – the camera points in one direction while the lens looks in another. It enables impossible angles, shots parallel to surfaces, and views “around corners”.
Technical Definition
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Light Path Redirection | 90° (or variable) |
| Principle | Prism or mirror |
| Camera Orientation | Perpendicular to the angle of view |
| Rotatable | Often 360° rotatable |
Operating Principle
Optical Redirection
| Element | Function |
|---|---|
| Input Prism | Redirect light by 90° |
| Relay Optics | Transmit image |
| Output Prism | Project onto sensor |
| Rotation | Correct image orientation |
Why 90°?
| Situation | Advantage |
|---|---|
| Close to Ground | Camera upright, view horizontal |
| Ceiling | Camera suspended, view downwards |
| Tight Spaces | Camera sideways, view frontal |
| Obscured View | Camera hidden |
Important Periscope Systems
| System | Manufacturer | Special Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Century Periscope | Century Optics | Industry standard |
| P+S Skater | P+S Technik | Modular |
| Optex Excellence | Optex | High-end |
| Frazier System | Panavision | Combined with Snorkel |
Applications
Typical Shots
| Shot | Description |
|---|---|
| Tabletop | Product shots parallel to the table surface |
| Ground Level | Close to the ground without digging |
| Ceiling | From the ceiling without a hole |
| POV | Through a keyhole, cracks |
Productions
| Genre | Application |
|---|---|
| Commercials | Product hero shots |
| Feature Film | Special perspectives |
| Miniatures | Model world shots |
| Documentary | Wildlife observation |
Effect
Psychological Effects
| Effect | Description |
|---|---|
| Unusual | “How was that filmed?” |
| Intimacy | Very close to the subject |
| Perspective | New point of view |
| Suspense | Hidden observer |
Narrative Functions
| Function | Example |
|---|---|
| POV | Through a door crack |
| Reveal | Reveal around a corner |
| Scale | Make miniatures appear large |
| Tabletop | Presenting a product |
Technical Challenges
| Challenge | Solution |
|---|---|
| Light Loss | More light, wide aperture |
| Sharpness | Precise focusing |
| Distortion | High-quality optics |
| Balance | Special mount |
| Rotation | Keep image level |
Periscope vs. Other Specialty Lenses
| Type | Redirection | Form Factor |
|---|---|---|
| Periscope | 90° | Compact |
| Snorkel/Probe | 0° | Long, thin |
| Borescope | 0–90° | Very thin |
| Endoscope | Variable | Flexible |
The Legacy
In Film History
- 1950s: First cinema periscopes
- 1980s: Commercials discover the look
- Today: Standard tool for tabletop
Influence
The periscope lens enables physically impossible perspectives – the camera cannot be where the image originates.
Today
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Frequency | Specialized |
| Equipment | Century, P+S, Optex |
| Cost | High rental fees |
| Trend | Combination with probe lenses |
Modern Development
Modern periscope systems are often combined with probe lenses for maximum flexibility in achieving impossible shots.
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