16 mm, 30 mm, and 70 mm film cameras are different in terms of the size of the film they use. The numbers refer to the width of the film strip. 16 mm film is 16 millimeters wide, while 30 mm film is 30 millimeters wide, and 70 mm film is 70 millimeters wide.
The larger the film size, the more image area available for capturing an image. This can result in higher resolution and more detail in the image. However, larger film sizes also require larger cameras and equipment, and can be more expensive to use and process.
16 mm film is commonly used for home movies and low-budget productions. It is also commonly used for newsreels, documentaries, and some television productions. Due to its smaller size, 16 mm film cameras are smaller and more portable than larger formats.
30 mm film, also known as “35 mm” film, is the most commonly used film format for motion pictures. It has been used since the early days of cinema and remains popular today. 30 mm film is large enough to provide good image quality and detail, but small enough to be relatively portable and affordable.
70 mm film is a large-format film that is often used for epic productions, such as large-scale action scenes, sweeping landscapes, and other visually stunning sequences. 70 mm film provides very high resolution and detail, making it ideal for these types of scenes. However, the larger size of the film and the equipment required to use it make it more expensive and less portable than smaller formats.
In summary, the main difference between 16 mm, 30 mm, and 70 mm film cameras is the size of the film they use. Smaller film sizes are typically used for lower-budget productions, while larger film sizes are used for higher-budget productions that require high resolution and detail. However, larger film sizes also require larger cameras and equipment, and can be more expensive to use and process.