BY
JAY HOLBEN
CHRISTOPHER PROBST, ASC
$175
It is the camera that separates cinema from other art forms and the lens that allows a scene to be captured by the camera. The cinema lens, therefore, is at the heart of filmmaking. All aspects of a production are carefully crafted with the intention of being captured by the lens and camera to create a visual story. The Cine Lens Manual is a comprehensive examination of the art and science of cinema optics. Written in clear, easily-digestible language, and extensively illustrated, The Cine Lens Manual is designed for readers of all levels of experience from novice to expert. With more than 60-years of experience between them as cinematographers, technical journalists and educators, authors Holben and Probst break down the most complex concepts into easy-to-understand ideas, without requiring a mastery of calculus or physics. This manual is not just for cinematographers, but for all individuals with an interest in the lens — directors, visual effects artists, camera assistants, animators, technical journalists, historians, students, rental house technicians — anyone looking for a deeper understanding of cinema optics. It is unlike anything else that has ever been written on the subject.
First Released - March 22, 2022
Adakin Press
836 pages
8.5” x 11” Hardback
7lbs (3.18kg)
ISBN - 9781667834177
The chapters explore:
• A primer on cinema lenses
• Introduction to optical design
• Investigation of advanced optical design and early photographic lenses
• Examination of optomechanical design
• Evolution of motion picture formats
• History and genealogy of 140 years of purpose-built cinema lenses, detailing more than 300 series
• Modifying existing lenses for use in cinema or to creatively custom-tune their performance
• Testing and evaluating lenses
• Care and maintenance of cinema lenses
The Cine Lens Manual is a journey through the world of cinema lenses investigating every possible aspect from the formation of glass itself into today's top cinematographic optical tools. It is a must-read for all visual storytellers working in the cinematographic world.
“What Jay and Christopher have done with this book is to help demystify the often technical nature of optics, to allow people like me to become more qualified to articulate my feelings and instincts with an expanded vocabulary to discuss the look of lenses. It's an essential text for all filmmakers.”
— Greig Fraser, ASC, ACS
Academy Award winning cinematographer, Dune, Lion, Rogue One, The Mandalorian, The Batman
“For those looking for a single source on both the technical and aesthetic aspects of cinematic imaging, The Cine Lens Manual is truly invaluable.”
— Russell Carpenter, ASC
Academy Award winner, Titanic, Avatar 2
“The Cine Lens Manual is my new Bible... engrossing and immensely graspable for all filmmakers.”
— Reed Morano, ASC
Cinematographer and Emmy Award Winning director, The Handmaid's Tale, The Rhythm Section, Meadowland
“I can't put the book down. It's brilliant what Holben and Probst have created. This is a must for every cinematographer.”
— Markus Forderer, ASC, BVK
Cinematographer Red Notice, Independence Day: Resurgence, The Colony
“An Exceptional monastic work. An enormous document that will change your thinking about optics. the book is overwhelming, but told in such a manner that it’s really understood. i wish i had this book when i stArted out in the 1960’s. i cannot imagine how [they] accomplished this.”
— Roy H. Wagner, ASC
Cinematographer Ray Donovan, Elementary, House
“This is monumental. The information is depthless, the research profound, and most importantly, the writing style is casual enough to engage the reader. This is a groundbreaking volume… worth its weight in gold.”
— C. Kim Miles, ASC
Cinematographer Yellowjackets, Lost in Space, Welcome to Marwen
“The Cine Lens Manual is the most important book on cinematography in the past 25 years. Every page, eye opening. Creatively inspiring and beautiful. Truly a revolutionary text and a new standard. I wish I could have sent a copy back in time to myself when I was first starting out as a cinematographer. So many Myths dispelled and so much helpful information.”
- Michael M. Pessah, ASC
Cinematographer Joshua Tree, 1951: A Portrait of James Dean, No Lost Love, Time to Kill
“This book should be required reading at every film school. So amazing. Every cinematographer, no matter where they are in their career will get so much out of The Cine Lens Manual. Congratulations, and thank you, Jay Holben and Christopher Probst for your years of hard work putting this together.”
— Mark LaFleur
Cinematographer and owner of Los Angeles rental Old Fast Glass
About THE AUTHORS
JAY HOLBEN
Jay Holben is an independent director and producer in Los Angeles. A former (“recovering”) cinematographer, he is an associate member of the American Society of Cinematographers, the chair of the ASC’s Motion Imaging Technology Council’s Lens Committee, and a technical contributing editor for American Cinematographer magazine. He has authored over 500 articles on the art and science of cinematography and is an international lecturer on the subject as well as serving as a faculty instructor for the Global Cinematography Institute, a school stated by the late Academy Award winning cinematographer, Vilmos Zsigmond, ASC. He is the author of two previous books on cinematography: A Shot in the Dark: A Creative DIY Guide to Cinematic Lighting on (Almost) No Budget and Behind the Lens: Dispatches from the Cinematographic Trenches. He is the director and producer of Before the Dawn.
CHRISTOPHER PROBST, ASC
Christopher Probst, ASC is a working cinematographer and an active member of the American Society of Cinematographers. He is also a self-professed lens junkie and an all-things technical geek. He served as the technical editor of American Cinematographer magazine for over 20 years and has taught/lectured about cinematography for the ASC’s Masterclass, the Camerimage festival and the Global Cinematography Institute.
Best known for his ASC Award nominated work on director David Fincher’s Netflix series Mindhunter, his extensive body of work in music videos spans hundreds of clips for artists such as Ariana Grande, Taylor Swift, Eminem, Billie Eilish, Shakira, Lana Del Rey, Kelly Clarkson, Black Eyed Peas, Katy Perry, Pussycat Dolls, Jay-Z and Muse. (In this arena alone, his work has amassed more than 35 billion views on YouTube.) He has also shot thousands of commercial ads for clients such as Apple, Samsung, FOX Sports, Turkish Airlines, LG, Johnnie Walker, Adidas, Lexus, Mercedes, Infiniti, BMW, and Ford. Probst is also well versed in narrative and has photographed the feature films Detention for Sony Pictures, Fire With Fire, and the sci-fi actioner, Beyond Skyline.
