As we’re getting closer to the postponed 93rd Academy Awards (Oscar 2021), it is time to make an initial survey regarding the cameras used to shoot the predicted nominees for the Best Cinematography category. While it’s not surprising to explore that many of them own large sensors, it’s very satisfying to reveal that film cameras are still alive and kicking.

Oscar 2021 cameras and lenses

Below are the predicted nominees for Oscar 2021 Best Cinematography category. The reference for the list is Variety’s Awards Circuit, which is the home to the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars. Following Academy Awards history, buzz, news, reviews, and sources, the Oscar predictions are updated regularly with the current year’s contenders in all categories. Variety’s Awards Circuit Prediction schedule consists of four phases, running all year long: Draft, Pre-Season, Regular Season, and Post Season.

Here are the cameras and lenses used to shoot Oscar 2021 predicted nominees for Best Cinematography:

1. Mank: DP Erik Messerschmidt – RED HELIUM Monochrome. Lenses: Leica Summilux-C
2. Nomadland: DP Joshua James Richards – ARRI ALEXA Mini and AMIRA. Lenses: Zeiss Ultra Prime
3. The Midnight Sky: DP Martin Ruhe – ARRI ALEXA 65 and Mini LF. Lenses: ARRI Prime DNA
4. Judas and the Black Messiah: DP Sean Bobbitt – ARRI ALEXA Mini LF. Lenses: ARRI DNA LF
5. Da 5 Bloods: DP Newton Thomas Sigel – ARRI ALEXA LF,  ALEXA Mini, and ARRIFLEX 416. Lenses: ARRI DNA LF, Angenieux Optimo, and Zeiss Super Speed
6. One Night in Miami: DP  Tami Reiker – ALEXA 65. Lenses: Prime DNA
7. Tenet: DP Hoyte van Hoytema – ARRIFLEX 765, IMAX MKIII, IMAX MKIV, IMAX MSM 9802, and Panavision Panaflex System 65 Studio. Lenses: Panavision Sphero 65 and Hasselblad
8. Minari: DP Lachlan Milne – ARRI ALEXA Mini. Lenses: Panavision PVintage
9. News of the World: DP Dariusz Wolski – ARRI ALEXA LF and Mini LF. Lenses: Panavision Sphero 65
10. The Trial of the Chicago 7: DP Phedon Papamichael – ARRI ALEXA LF. Lenses: Panavision C- and T-Series
11. Mulan: DP Mandy Walker – ARRI ALEXA 65, and LF. Lenses: Panavision Sphero 65
12. The Father: DP Ben Smithard – Sony VENICE. Lenses: Zeiss Cinema Zoom, and Supreme Prime
13. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom: DP Tobias A. Schliessler – Sony VENICE. Lenses: Zeiss Supreme Prime
14. Emma: DP Christopher Blauvelt – ARRI ALEXA LF. Lensses: ARRI Signature Prime, and Zeiss Compact Zoom
15. Ammonite: DP Stéphane Fontaine – RED MONSTRO
16. The Prom: DP Matthew Libatique – ALEXA Mini LF. Lenses: LEITZ Prime
17. Malcolm & Marie: DP Marcell Rév – ARRICAM LT
18. I’m Thinking of Ending Things: DP Łukasz Żal – Sony VENICE. Lenses: Panavision H-Series
19. First Cow: DP Christopher Blauvelt – ARRI ALEXA Mini. Lenses: Cooke Panchro
20. Nine Days: DP Wyatt Garfield – ALEXA Mini. Lenses: Optica Elite Anamorphics
21. Pieces of a Woman: DP Benjamin Loeb – Lenses: Panavision Zoom
22. The United States vs. Billie Holiday: DP Andrew Dunn – Panavision Panaflex
23. Wonder Woman 1984: DP Matthew Jensen – ARRIFLEX 235, 435, IMAX MSM 9802, and Panavision Panaflex Millennium XL2. Lenses: Panavision Primo and Hasselblad
24. The Invisible Man: DP Stefan Duscio –ARRI ALEXA LF, Lenses: ARRI Signature Prime
25. The Personal History of David Copperfield: DP Zak Nicholson – ARRI ALEXA XT. Lenses: Zeiss Master Primes
26. Supernova: DP Dick Pope – ARRI Mini. Lenses: Cooke Panchro/i Classic
27. Promising Young Woman: DP Benjamin Kračun – ARRI ALEXA Mini. Lenses: Panavision G-Series
28. Cherry: DP Newton Thomas Sigel – Sony VENICE, RED Monstro. Lenses: Leitz M 0.8 and Hawk Class-X
29. The Forty-Year-Old Version: DP Eric Branco – ARRICAM LT. Lenses: Zeiss Super Speed
30. The Glorias: DP Rodrigo Prieto – Sony VENICE. Lenses: Panavision PCZ and H-Series

Oscar 2021 Predictions: Best Cinematography-Camera Chart

Explore the Oscar 2021 Predictions: Best Cinematography-Camera Chart below. Filmmakers! Click on the chart to view it in full resolution. You can also download it for your personal use. HOWEVER(!), when you publish and share it, please give proper credit + link to this article. We’re investing a decent amount of effort creating those charts for filmmaking educational purposes. ENJOY!

What are your thoughts regarding the data above? Are you surprised to explore so many film cameras? Can you see a significant tendency concerning large-format cinematography? Let’s know your insights in the comments section below.