No laughing matter – Joker movie stills shot on Fujifilm X-T2 and Sony A9

No laughing matter – Joker movie stills shot on Fujifilm X-T2 and Sony A9
(Image credit: Warner Bros. Entertainment / Nico Tavernise)

The genre-shattering Joker movie has made plenty of headlines for its aggressive depiction of societal violence and insightful commentary on mental illness. Now it's making headlines in photographic terms, too, as the film's still photography was shot using Fujifilm and Sony equipment. 

Stills photography in the TV and motion picture industry has historically been the domain of full-frame DSLRs, such as the Nikon D5 and Nikon D850 favored by Game of Thrones' Principal Stills Photographer, Helen Sloan. 

• Read more: Best cameras for professionals

However, Hollywood isn't immune to the industry wide shift towards mirrorless cameras. Indeed, one of the key benefits of mirrorless cameras is the ability to shoot truly silently – and Sloan noted that she was looking to go mirrorless, rather than having to shoot with sound-damping 'blimp' housings for her DSLRs.

While it is less surprising that the full-frame flagship Sony A9 is starting to find its way onto film sets, it's notable that a major studio picture like Joker is using the APS-C Fujifilm X-T2 to shoot publicity photographs. 

This Joker image was shot on the Sony A9, while the main image was taken on the Fujifilm X-T2

This Joker image was shot on the Sony A9, while the main image was taken on the Fujifilm X-T2 (Image credit: Warner Bros. Entertainment / Nico Tavernise)

The images were taken by talented stills photographer Niko Tavernise – and, as discovered by a bit of EXIF data sleuthing by the folks at Fuji Rumors, he paired his cameras with the Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM and Fujifilm XF 50-140mm R LM OIS WR respectively. 

With these images being intended for everything from magazine covers to cinema posters to billboards, it's just the latest puddin' that proves you really don't need full-frame cameras for professional work – a cropped sensor is just fine, if you know what you're doing. 

Starring Academy Award nominee Joaquin Phoenix (known for films like Gladiator and Walk the Line) and directed by Todd Phillips (typically a director of shock or shlock comedy like Borat and The Hangover), the latest DC Comics cinematic effort is anything but your regular 'superhero movie', and is well worth checking out if you haven't done so already. 

Even though diehard Joker fans know that he really uses a 'Witz' camera…

Of course, the real Joker prefers to shoot on Witz!

Of course, the real Joker prefers to shoot on Witz! (Image credit: DC Comics)

Read more: 

The best cameras for professionals in 2019
The best Sony cameras in 2019
The best Fujifilm cameras in 2019

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James Artaius
Editor

The editor of Digital Camera World, James has 21 years experience as a journalist and started working in the photographic industry in 2014 (as an assistant to Damian McGillicuddy, who succeeded David Bailey as Principal Photographer for Olympus). In this time he shot for clients like Aston Martin Racing, Elinchrom and L'Oréal, in addition to shooting campaigns and product testing for Olympus, and providing training for professionals. This has led him to being a go-to expert for camera and lens reviews, photo and lighting tutorials, as well as industry news, rumors and analysis for publications like Digital Camera MagazinePhotoPlus: The Canon MagazineN-Photo: The Nikon MagazineDigital Photographer and Professional Imagemaker, as well as hosting workshops and talks at The Photography Show. He also serves as a judge for the Red Bull Illume Photo Contest. An Olympus and Canon shooter, he has a wealth of knowledge on cameras of all makes – and a fondness for vintage lenses and instant cameras.