Periscope Lens / Right-Angle Lens

snorkel lens borescope frazier lens right angle viewfinder century periscope

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.

From the crafts

Perspectives

Cinematographer

Das Periskop-Objektiv lässt mich um Ecken sehen. Die Kamera zeigt in eine Richtung, das Bild kommt aus einer anderen – perfekt für Bodennähe, Decken-Shots und versteckte Winkel.

Director

Mit dem Periskop bekomme ich Winkel, die physikalisch anders nicht möglich sind. Die Kamera auf dem Boden, aber der Blick parallel zur Oberfläche – eine eigene visuelle Sprache.

Producer

Periskop-Objektive sind Spezialausrüstung, aber oft die einzige Lösung für bestimmte Shots. Bei Tabletop, Werbung und Miniaturaufnahmen unverzichtbar.