How To Find Your Plate Width

SynthEyes calculates a (horizontal angular) field of view for shots. But you can read a focal length off the camera lens, not a field of view. A focal length is only as good as your back plate measurement: the true width of the sensor or film, usually in millimeters. This tutorial shows how the translation between them is made—and shows how you can use a few test shots to find the plate width of your camera.

You can download a Quicktime version of the tutorial (13 MB).

Notes:

  1. The tutorial is 7:05 and 12 MB long. Check out all the other tutorials and the manual too (after downloading the demo version).
  2. Done using Google Spreadsheets, a free service of Google.