American Cinematographer Manual
The American Cinematographer Manual is a filmmaking manual published by the American Society of Cinematographers. Covering lighting, lenses, and film emulsions, it is considered “an authoritative technical reference manual for cinematographers.” The manual also defines the cinematography profession.
Publishing history
The first version was published in 1935 by as The American Cinematographer Hand Book and Reference Guide. That handbook went through nine editions before it evolved into the American Cinematographer Manual. The first edition of the Manual was published in 1960. The book is now in its tenth edition. The eleventh edition was announced on January 14, 2022 to be available in late March 2022.- 1960 October, First Edition, ed. Joseph V. Mascelli, 484 pages.
- 1966 September, Second Edition, ed. Joseph V. Mascelli, 628 pages.
- 1969, Third Edition, ed. Arthur C. Miller and Walter Strenge, 652 pages.
- 1973, Fourth Edition, ed. Charles G. Clarke and Walter Strenge, 658 pages.
- 1980, Fifth Edition, ed. Charles G. Clarke, 628 pages.
- 1986, Sixth Edition, ed. Fred H. Detmers, 440 pages.
- 1993, Seventh Edition, ed. Dr. Rod Ryan, 618 pages.
- 2001, Eighth Edition, ed. Rob Hummel, 972 pages.
- 2004, Ninth Edition, ed. Stephen H. Burum, ASC, 919 pages.
- 2013, Tenth Edition, revised 2015, ed. Michael Goi, ASC. 2 volumes: vol. 1, 504 pages; vol. 2, 582 pages.
- 2023, Eleventh Edition, ed. M. David Mullen, ASC, Rob Hummel, ASC associate member, 685 pages.