3D Drone Filmmaking with Kowa Lenses

In the world of cinematic innovation, capturing the essence of a scene with unparalleled clarity and depth is essential, especially when the subject is as profound as the life of artist Anselm Kiefer. Sebastian Cramer from Screenplane achieved this with groundbreaking 3D drone technology, utilizing Kowa’s FC24M lenses to bring the film "Anselm" by Wim Wenders to life.




The Challenge

Creating a 3D film requires not just artistic vision but also cutting-edge technology capable of delivering high-resolution, stereoscopic images. For the film "Anselm," which documents the expansive and intricate world of artist Anselm Kiefer, the challenge was to capture both interior and exterior scenes with a drone, ensuring that the aerial footage matched the film's overall visual quality. The drone system needed to be compact, capable of carrying dual cameras, and produce high-quality footage that could seamlessly integrate with the rest of the movie shot in 6K stereo.



The Solution: Kowa FC24M Lenses

Sebastian Cramer's innovative 3D drone setup was designed to meet these exacting demands. The system incorporated two small industrial cameras equipped with Sony IMX sensors, capable of capturing 4K resolution. To achieve the high level of detail and clarity required, Cramer turned to Kowa’s FC24M lenses.

Why Kowa FC24M Lenses?
The FC24M lenses were selected for their superb 24-megapixel resolution, compact design, and outstanding performance. These lenses allowed the cameras to be positioned extremely close together, essential for achieving the desired stereoscopic effect with a small interaxial distance. This compact setup was crucial for maneuverability and for capturing scenes in tight or complex environments, such as the sprawling and varied premises of Kiefer’s studio in the south of France.


Application and Results

The drone system equipped with Kowa lenses captured the expansive environments of Kiefer’s world with stunning clarity. The aerial footage seamlessly integrated with the other high-resolution scenes of the film, meeting the project's stringent demands for visual consistency. The FC24M lenses proved to be the perfect choice, providing exceptional resolution while maintaining a compact form factor that was essential for the drone’s design.

Key Advantages:

• High Resolution: The 24-megapixel resolution of the FC24M lenses ensured that every detail of Kiefer’s expansive environments was captured with precision.
• Compact Design: The small size of the lenses allowed for a close interaxial distance, essential for creating effective 3D images with the drone system.
• Reliability: The lenses performed flawlessly in capturing high-quality footage consistently, even with the demanding data requirements of recording approximately one gigabyte of data per second.

Impact on the Film Industry

The success of this project demonstrates the potential of using advanced optical technology in cinematic applications, particularly in 3D filmmaking. By integrating Kowa’s FC24M lenses with cutting-edge drone technology, Cramer and his team were able to push the boundaries of what is possible in aerial cinematography, setting a new standard for quality and innovation in the industry.

Conclusion

The collaboration between Kowa Lenses and Screenplane on the film "Anselm" is a testament to the power of combining top-tier optical technology with innovative filmmaking techniques. The FC24M lenses not only met but exceeded the project’s rigorous demands, proving their worth in high-resolution, 3D cinematic applications.

Watch the interview