Shooting Formats are different ways cameras utilize the space on the strip of film with the final viewing aspect ratio in mind.

The most common format is 4-perf 35 mm, where the height of the frame is roughly 4 perforations on the 35 mm film. Other variations include 4-perf scope, which produces an anamorphic image, and 4-perf super 35mm, which utilizes the entire space between perforations.

There are also 3-perf and 2-perf shooting formats that utilize the film efficiently but record slightly lower quality images. Vistavision records images horizontally, allowing for a much higher quality image usually used in special effects work. Some formats allow for an optical soundtrack by either offsetting the frame or using single-perforated film, like most 16mm film.