Cinematographer
2-Perf is my budget scope format, half the negative for half the film costs. The native 2.35:1 aspect ratio is achieved without anamorphic lenses.
Film format with 2 perforations per frame on 35mm, halving film consumption with native 2.35:1 aesthetics. Historically Techniscope, today used for budget productions with vintage look.
Technical Specifications
The 2-Perf format (also Techniscope) uses only 2 perforations per frame instead of the standard 4-Perf. The negative is half the size of 4-Perf, which halves film consumption.
Technical parameters:
- Perforations per frame: 2 (instead of 4)
- Negative size: 22mm x 9.47mm
- Native aspect ratio: 2.33:1 (native Scope without anamorphic lens)
- Film consumption: 50% of 4-Perf (8 minutes per 400ft roll)
- Resolution: Approx. 50% of 4-Perf (equivalent to 2K scan)
History and Development
Techniscope was developed in 1963 by Technicolor Italia as a budget alternative to CinemaScope. The concept: Scope aesthetics without anamorphic lenses through a smaller negative.
Sergio Leone's Dollars Trilogy (1964-1966) was shot entirely in Techniscope. The grainy, raw quality defined the Spaghetti Western look.
Practical Use in Film
Sergio Leone's The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966) is the Techniscope masterpiece. DP Tonino Delli Colli used the graininess as a stylistic element for the dusty, rough world of the Western.
George Miller's Mad Max 2 (1981) was shot in Techniscope to save budget.
Alternatives
Super 16: Similar negative size to 2-Perf with an established workflow.
3-Perf: Compromise between 2-Perf and 4-Perf with 25% film savings and better resolution.
From the crafts
Perspectives
Director
2-perf has a rough, authentic quality. Sergio Leone shot the Dollar Trilogy in Techniscope for budget reasons, and the look became his trademark.
Producer
2-Perf cuts the film costs in half, a 400ft roll gives you 8 minutes of footage instead of 4 minutes. Ideal for budget productions that want the film look.
More in the lexikon
Related terms
Camera · Technique
3-Perf
Optimized 35mm film format with 3 perforations per frame, reducing film consumption by…
Camera · Technique
4-Perf
Camera · Technique
35mm Film
Camera · Technique
2.35:1
Camera · Format
Techniscope / 2-Perf / Two-Perforation
Economical 35mm widescreen format using only two perforations per frame instead of four…
Camera · Format
Super 16 / Super 16mm / S16
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Quiz
1. Was beschreibt „2-Perf (Techniscope)" am besten?
2. Zu welchem Department gehört „2-Perf (Techniscope)"?
3. Wie viele verschiedene Fachperspektiven bietet dieser Eintrag?