{"id":266,"date":"2015-02-12T13:11:53","date_gmt":"2015-02-12T12:11:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/vision.wettintv.de\/?page_id=266"},"modified":"2022-04-11T11:54:10","modified_gmt":"2022-04-11T10:54:10","slug":"01-camera","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/vision-videoschool.eu\/?page_id=266","title":{"rendered":"Camera basics"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Introduction<\/b><\/h2>\n

The camera is one of the most important tools of film-making. Learning to use it well will help you explore your creativity and express yourself as an emerging film-maker.<\/p>\n

This chapter gives\u00a0basic information about different types of camera. You will also learn about framing, camera angles\u00a0and movements.<\/p>\n

If you are interested in the more advanced\u00a0technical aspects of using\u00a0your camera, or have a particular\u00a0interest in camera work, see\u00a0Camera advanced<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
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\u00a0Vision in action<\/em><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

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  1. Think about\u00a0the type of camera you need. Some cameras will be less well suited to your project\u00a0than others.<\/li>\n
  2. Use appropriate and diverse framing to\u00a0show exactly what you want.<\/li>\n
  3. Adjust the camera angle\u00a0as\u00a0necessary. You\u00a0might have to show objects and people\u00a0from below or from above, so don\u2019t be afraid to place the camera (very) high or (very) low.<\/li>\n
  4. Use different types of camera movement (panning, zooming, etc) to make your video more dynamic.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/td>\n
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Equipment and tools<\/h2>\n

A camera and a tripod are the basic equipment you’ll need to do the exercises in this chapter. Other\u00a0equipment such as a Steadicam can also help but isn’t necessary.<\/p>\n

Main section<\/h2>\n

Different types of camera
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You\u00a0can record videos using\u00a0all sorts of\u00a0devices. Which one you\u00a0choose depends on the\u00a0kind of video you\u00a0want to make, the\u00a0equipment you have\u00a0and your\u00a0technical knowledge.<\/p>\n

Advanced equipment gives you the chance to experiment and be\u00a0more creative. It also means better-quality\u00a0video and the\u00a0option of screening your film on a big cinema screen.<\/p>\n

Even if you don’t have a\u00a0video camera, you shouldn’t\u00a0hesitate to\u00a0make films \u2013\u00a0with your\u00a0smartphone, an automatic\u00a0photo camera, or anything else you have to hand. These days you can find film festivals\u00a0that accept productions made with all kinds of camera.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Types of camera<\/b><\/td>\n<\/td>\nAdvantages<\/b><\/td>\nDisadvantages<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
consumer video camera<\/td>\n\"kamera3pc\"<\/a><\/td>\nlow-cost; good automatic functions, presets and picture effects; excellent picture quality\u00a0in ideal light conditions (bright sunny day); light to carry<\/td>\ndifficult\u00a0to use; few or no manual functions; bad picture quality in poor\u00a0light conditions, stage light, or where there is high shadow\/light contrast; light\u00a0weight can result in\u00a0a shaky picture<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
professional video camera<\/td>\n\"Kamera1pc\"<\/a><\/td>\nuseful\u00a0manual functions; excellent picture quality for use in TV productions and in feature or documentary films; additional inputs for light and sound devices<\/td>\nexpensive; some\u00a0models heavy to carry and difficult to use as a hand-held or shoulder camera; advanced knowledge and experience needed to use some\u00a0professional cameras<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
automatic photo camera (point-and-shoot digital camera)<\/td>\n\"Kamera\"<\/a><\/td>\nlow-cost; good automatic functions, presets and picture effects; excellent picture quality\u00a0in ideal light conditions (bright sunny day); light to carry<\/td>\ndifficult\u00a0to use; no manual functions; bad picture quality in\u00a0poor\u00a0light conditions, stage light, or where there is high shadow\/light contrast;\u00a0light\u00a0weight can result in\u00a0a shaky picture;\u00a0some models allow\u00a0only limited recording time per clip<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
DSLR photo camera<\/td>\n\"kamera2pc\"<\/a><\/td>\nexcellent picture quality;\u00a0useful\u00a0manual functions; use of photo functions in video-making (ISO, different presets and effects); option of additional lenses; cheaper than professional video camera<\/td>\nlimited inputs for light and sound devices; not primarily designed\u00a0for video-filming, various\u00a0disadvantages when operating as a film camera; may need expensive additional equipment<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
action camera
\n(e.g.\u00a0GoPro)<\/td>\n		\"kamera5pc\"<\/a><\/td>\ngood for use in unusual conditions (wet, muddy, etc); wear\u00a0on the head or in front of the chest,\u00a0or mount on different\u00a0objects; useful for documentary filming; very small and light to carry<\/td>\nno manual focussing or zooming; few or no manual settings;\u00a0battery\u00a0doesn’t last long<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
smartphone\/
\ntablet<\/td>\n		\"Tablett\"<\/a><\/td>\ngreat range of price, size,\u00a0resolution and quality;\u00a0good automatic functions, presets and picture effects; light\u00a0to carry; many\u00a0functions in one device (phone, web, photo\/video); easily accessible and simple-to-use editing applications; video easy and quickly to share and publish online; a lot of accessories (selfie-stick, LED lights, stabiliser, etc)<\/td>\nmanual functions difficult\u00a0to use; light weight can result in a\u00a0shaky picture; limited inputs for light\u00a0and sound\u00a0devices;\u00a0not primarily designed\u00a0for video-filming<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Parts and controls of semi-professional video camera<\/h3>\n

\"camera<\/a>1. Zoom button, 2. Photo button, 3. Camera-Tape, Camera-Memory, Play-Edit mode lamps, 4. Power switch, 5. Memory stick slot, 6. Access lamp, 7. Active interface shoe, 8. Accessory shoe, 9. Assign button, 10. Night shot switch, 11. Microphone jack, 12. Headphones jack.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"camera<\/a><\/p>\n

1. External microphone, 2. XLR adapter, 3. Lens cover lever, 4. Lens hood with lens cover, 5. Zoom button, 6. REC START\/STOP button, 7. LCD screen, 8. I-link jack, 9. USB jack, 10. Display\/Batt info button, 11. Component out jack, 12. A\/V out jack, 13. INPUT1 LOW CUT switch, 14. INPUT2 LOW CUT switch, 15. RESET button, 16. Eyecup, 17. Viewfinder, 18. Viewfinder lens adjustment lever, 19. LANC jack, 20 CHG (charge) lamp, 21, Speaker, 22. Auto Lock switch, 23. Battery pack, 24. DC IN jack.<\/em><\/p>\n

Framing for film, camera angles\u00a0and movement
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As well as learning about the equipment you need to shoot your\u00a0film, it’s important to learn the basic ‚language‘ of film \u2013\u00a0how to frame your picture, and how to position and move the camera.<\/p>\n

In the early days\u00a0of film-making, films\u00a0usually had just\u00a0one type of framing, one camera angle\u00a0and no camera movement. They\u00a0were short and mostly reflected daily situations (for example\u00a0Workers Leaving the Lumiere Factory 1895,\u00a0<\/i>46 seconds, and\u00a0T<\/i>he Arrival of the Mail Train<\/i> 1895<\/i>, 50 seconds\u00a0\u2013 <\/i>both by the Lumi\u00e8re\u00a0brothers).<\/i>\u00a0In the\u00a0years that followed, innovative men and women developed more sophisticated ways of filming to\u00a0involve\u00a0audiences\u00a0emotionally and help them understand complex stories.<\/p>\n

Framing for film<\/h4>\n

The use of different types of framing is a basic method of telling\u00a0stories in all of their complexity. The aim\u00a0is to draw the audience’s attention to what we want to show, explain situations and heighten\u00a0emotion.<\/p>\n

Framing can be used in all kinds of video to make them more interesting. Whether you’re filming a\u00a0friend’s birthday party, shooting a concert, making a music video clip or documenting a project, your\u00a0film will be richer visually if you use a greater variety of framing.<\/p>\n

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The<\/a> exception<\/a> proves<\/a> the<\/a> rule<\/a>:\u00a0You could also decide to use\u00a0a very small number of framing types as a means of expression \u2013 for example, to show boredom and stagnation.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Most of us are able to use appropriate framing instinctively, but it helps to know how framing is used by the professionals. Using the correct\u00a0terminology is also important\u00a0when you prepare\u00a0a\u00a0filming plan and discuss\u00a0the picture with other people in the project.<\/p>\n

The starting point\u00a0for framing is the human figure. The wider the framing, the more the audience’s attention is drawn to the setting\u00a0and the position of your\u00a0subject in it. The narrower the framing, the more we\u00a0focus on the subject\u2019s feelings or condition.<\/p>\n

Different film schools use different terms\u00a0for types of\u00a0framing. The terms\u00a0below have been specially\u00a0chosen\u00a0for this guide. We feel they are more user-friendly and intuitive than some of the terminology you might see elsewhere.<\/p>\n

Whatever the naming convention, the\u00a0important thing is to be able to recognise the different framing types, understand what they do, and learn how best to combine them.<\/p>\n

Types of framing<\/h4>\n

Total<\/strong>: the whole human figure is in the shot.<\/p>\n

There are\u00a0three sub-groups:<\/p>\n

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  1. Wide total<\/strong>:\u00a0the person is a small dot in the picture; we don’t see whether they are\u00a0male or female, their\u00a0age, clothes, etc. We can see where they are, the setting, the weather, and so on.<\/li>\n
  2. Middle total<\/strong>:\u00a0you see the people in the shot\u00a0better, for example spectators at a football game or people standing in the street.<\/li>\n
  3. Narrow total<\/strong>:\u00a0from the top of a person’s head down to their\u00a0feet.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n