DSLR’s & Other Advanced Shooting Situations

Chapter 10

DSLR’s are being used more in Filmmaking Good option for filmmaker on a budget▪ Good image quality▪ Low price▪ Great low-light performance▪ Huge selection of lenses

DSLR’s are being used more in Filmmaking Challenges▪ DSLR’s were not designed for shooting

moving images▪ Using them can be challenging and

complicated

However▪ DSLR’s make advanced filmmaking

technology affordable for indie filmmakers

What’s Different with a DSLR Structure of the camera▪ Still cameras are designed to be gripped with

one hand▪ And adjusted (Lens zoom, focus, etc.) with the other

hand

▪ Pro video cameras are designed to sit on the shoulder▪ Helps with stabilization and movement of the camera

Rigs have been designed to help with use of DSLR’s for video

DSLR’s have many interchangeable lenses Provides many custom shooting options▪ Wide/Extremely wide angle▪ Telephoto▪ Low light (f1.2/f1.4)▪ Excellent for night shooting with little or no extra

light

▪ Shallow depth of field ▪ (DSLR’s designed for it)

Interchangeable lenses

DSLR’s Shallow depth of field feature▪ Increases need for careful focus▪ DSLR’s usually require manual focus

No motorized Zoom▪ Users will dolly or use tracks to move closer to

subject▪ Zoom lenses are an option▪ Look for lenses with manual zoom option

Poor audio recording option▪ Use “Double-system sound”

Guerrilla Shooting▪ A form of indie filmmaking characterized by ▪ Low budgets, ▪ Skeleton crews▪ Simple props using whatever is available.

▪ Scenes are shot quickly in real locations without warning Often by filmmakers that don't have the budget for

▪ Permits, ▪ Location Rental▪ Set building

Studios avoid guerrilla filmmaking tactics because they could be sued, fined, or get their reputation hurt.

DSLR Camera Settings for HD Video Video mode Frame rate & size Shutter speed F-Stop Set the focus White balance Image stabilization

Working with Interchangeable Lenses Offers for a customizable camera Allows use of High Quality lenses

▪ Canon L-Series▪ Nikon▪ Zeiss▪ And more

▪ Also allows prime lenses

What lens do I need?▪ Three basic lenses to have on hand▪ Wide Angle▪ Normal Lens (Human eye field-of-view)▪ Telephoto lens

How to get a shallow depth of field▪ Shoot in low light▪ Use ND filters▪ Use a longer lens▪ Increase shutter speed▪ Decrease the gain/ISO

Focus

Importance of focus▪ Images in focus on a small LCD Screen▪ May be out of focus when presented on a larger

screen

Measuring Focus▪ Using the focus ring (if applicable) on camera▪ Indicates distance from camera to subject for perfect

focus

Pulling Focus▪ When focus is adjusted as actor move

▪ Rack Focus▪ An intentional visible shift in focus

Camera rigging & support▪ Base plate▪ Rods

DSLR Camera riggings Glidecams/Steadicams Dollies Sliders Jibs & Cranes Aerials, car mounts & shotmakers

Viewing video on set Enhanced viewfinders Camera-top monitors Field Monitors

Double-System Audio Recording▪ When audio is recorded on a separate device

Despite potential for good audio▪ Reasons to use separate device are▪ Using small camera with movements not good for

external mics▪ Multiple microphone use (when multiple inputs aren’t

available)▪ When camera and dialogue are in different location

Camera is on roof, actors are on street▪ Multi-Camera shoots

All cameras will share audio in post

Multi-Cam Shooting Standard for televised broadcast video▪ News, Sports, Sitcoms, etc.▪ Good for capturing spontaneous action▪ With little editing required in post

Multi-Cam basics Cameras need to be synched▪ So footage will line up with time code for all

cameras Cameras should be matched▪ Including:▪ Camera model/type▪ Lens/focal length▪ F-stop, White balance▪ Shutter speed, Frame rate, frame size▪ Codec, filters, ▪ Other features that affect output

Multi-Cam Challenges On set▪ Lighting▪ (outdoor natural light may ease challenge)

▪ Framing shots▪ Shots need to be different enough to avoid a jump

cut

▪ Location of boom operator▪ So they are not in the shot

Going Tapeless Newer cameras are using media cards▪ Less of a hassle▪ Risk of accidental deletion▪ Keep multiple cards on hand

Tape & media card combo▪ Some cameras offer use of both▪ To have a back up tape for archiving