Lateral barn doors on fixtures for precise beam control and elimination of spill light.
Technical Details
Standard side wings for 15mm rod systems have an aperture surface of 80 x 120mm and weigh approximately 150-200g per pair. The flags are made of anodized aluminum with a matte black coating (reflectivity <2%) and feature detent positions every 15°. High-quality systems like ARRI or Chrosziel offer interchangeable flag sizes from 60mm to 150mm in height. Mounting is done via 15mm or 19mm rods with quick-release levers that can handle a torque of up to 8 Nm.
History & Development
Side wings evolved in the 1920s from the rigid sunshades of the silent film era. In 1934, Mitchell Camera Corporation introduced the first adjustable side wings for their BNC cameras. In the 1960s, Panavision standardized the 15mm rod mount, which is still used today. Modern carbon fiber constructions since 2010 have reduced weight by 40% compared to classic aluminum versions.
Practical Use in Film
In exterior shots like in "Mad Max: Fury Road" (2015), large side wings prevented stray light from the Australian desert sun. Indoors, they eliminate reflections from studio lights – for example, in the close-ups in "Blade Runner 2049" (2017), where Deakins utilized precise 45° settings. The typical workflow involves asymmetrical settings: the side facing the light source is shaded more than the shadow side to preserve natural light distribution.
Comparison & Alternatives
Side wings differ from top/bottom flags by their horizontal effect and from lens hoods by their variable positioning. French flags offer more flexible positioning but require additional grip equipment. Digital lens flare removal in post-production cannot fully replace physical shading, as it does not offer contrast enhancement through stray light reduction. Modern LED panels with lower stray light development have reduced the use of side wings in controlled studio shots by approximately 30% since 2018.