"Our purpose is to provide a single source of information that current and future cinematographers and other filmmakers can rely on," says ASC President Steven Poster. " ASC published its first film manual in 1930 (then called "The Cinematographic Annual"). This is the first new edition since 1993. It contains updated and new information about the art and craft of cinematography that was written and reviewed by the world's leading experts."

There are 40 chapters and more than 100 tables and charts in the 929-page manual. Each chapter is authored by a renowned expert on the subject. The latest edition features new chapters covering such topics as high-definition telecine mastering and digital film post-production.

Topics include:

-Comparisons of film formats
-Advice on choosing lenses and filters
-Techniques for emulsion testing
-Detailed description of lab procedures
-Information about lighting
-Camera stabilization and movement
-Front projection
-Motion control and other visual effects techniques
-Computer graphics
-Aerial and underwater cinematography
-How to expose film in infrared and ultra-violet light
-Digital film mastering

It is disappointing to note the absence of lighting equipment details (photometric data and equipment range) in particular. The focus (pun intended) seems to be more towards cameras, lenses, filters and film.

My 4th edition manual has a better balance in terms of verbiage, tables and graphs, and covers lighting equipment in some detail. Although outdated in some areas, the 4th edition will still remain my primary source of information.

The "novelisation" of this 8th edition has, to a degree, defeated the real purpose of the manual, the provision of readily accessable data via tables and graphs.

If you are after lighting equipment details, then look elsewhere, if not, then consider purchasing this latest edition.

Essentially the first 100 pages deal with all the different types of motion picture cameras, their internal mechanisms, technical details and threading paths. Then the book goes on to dealing with motion picture film itself, the various brands that are available, differences between black and white, color and a bit about the development process of each one. Again, technically detailed. There is also very valuable charts on film lengths and running times according to fps. The lens section is very technical covering the different types of lenses and the most important focal length, distance to subject, measuring charts that is really the most widely used part of this book. There is a massive section on filters, exposure and emulsion testing.

The book then deals with lighting and covers the various aspects of lighting types, bulbs, filters and exposure techniques, all highly technical in nature with references to charts and illustrations. The book ends with a coverage of visual special effects that can be done with the motion picture camera and other special techniques that the cinematographer will need to know about.

You will need this book if you are shooting on film, end of story. If you are looking for a manual that teaches cinematography then choose CINEMATOGRAPHY by Kris Malkiewicz instead. As a note, there is a lot of new digital cinematography cameras on the up and coming that work on digital video tape and not film and many new filmmakers may be advised to check out this route as a cheaper and less costly way of shooting their first film.

Unlike all other bibles, (camera) people all over the world subscribe to the ASC's doctorine!