basic camera techologies and key concepts camera technology and key principles for achieving a...

BASIC CAMERA BASIC CAMERA TECHOLOGIES TECHOLOGIES

AND KEY AND KEY CONCEPTSCONCEPTS

CAMERA TECHNOLOGYCAMERA TECHNOLOGYand KEY PRINCIPLES forand KEY PRINCIPLES forACHIEVING A QUALITY ACHIEVING A QUALITY

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CAMERA TECHNOLOGYCAMERA TECHNOLOGYand KEY PRINCIPLES forand KEY PRINCIPLES forACHIEVING A QUALITY ACHIEVING A QUALITY

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Why know technology?Why know technology?Why know technology?Why know technology?

• Understanding tools critical to producing Understanding tools critical to producing desirable final productdesirable final product

• Video/film are technology intensive Video/film are technology intensive enterprisesenterprises

• Great sound, visual images and editing Great sound, visual images and editing don’t ‘just happen’don’t ‘just happen’

• Painters must know which brush, type of Painters must know which brush, type of paint, sculptor must know stone and chisels paint, sculptor must know stone and chisels - exception: film is a team process- exception: film is a team process

CHIPS CHIPS CHIPS CHIPS

Pick-up device - "retina" of the Pick-up device - "retina" of the cameracamera

• Senses light, changes light energy Senses light, changes light energy into electric energyinto electric energy

• 3 chips are better than 13 chips are better than 1• 'charged-coupled device' CCD, chip'charged-coupled device' CCD, chip

IRISIRISIRISIRIS

• metal leaves which control amount metal leaves which control amount of light entering the camera of light entering the camera

• aperture is the opening aperture is the opening

• measured in "f-stops" 1.2 - 22 (1 measured in "f-stops" 1.2 - 22 (1 stop open, doubles amount of light stop open, doubles amount of light coming in) coming in)

IRISIRISIRISIRIS

• f1.4 = wide open f1.4 = wide open • f16 = small openingf16 = small opening

AUTO IRISAUTO IRISAUTO IRISAUTO IRIS

• "auto" iris - standard setting "auto" iris - standard setting • camera "averages" the light reading camera "averages" the light reading

and adjusts the iris accordingly and adjusts the iris accordingly • causes problems with areas of high causes problems with areas of high

contrast or w/large dark or large light contrast or w/large dark or large light areas areas

• sports event w/harsh shadows, people sports event w/harsh shadows, people shot against dark/light backgroundshot against dark/light background

MANUAL IRIS MANUAL IRIS MANUAL IRIS MANUAL IRIS

• "manual iris" - optional setting"manual iris" - optional setting• manually set the iris so that it manually set the iris so that it

won't change won't change • goal, setting the iris to pick up goal, setting the iris to pick up

your subject accuratelyyour subject accurately

LENSLENSLENSLENS

• focuses light beams on the focuses light beams on the chipchip

• most video lenses are variable most video lenses are variable length (zoom lenses)length (zoom lenses)

LENSLENSLENSLENS

• Digital zoomDigital zoom is not part of lens. is not part of lens. Cam samples part of the image on Cam samples part of the image on the chip and ‘blows up’ imagethe chip and ‘blows up’ image

• Generally creates unfavorable Generally creates unfavorable image - grainy, pixilated image - grainy, pixilated

ViewfinderViewfinderViewfinderViewfinder

• small TV monitor mounted on camerasmall TV monitor mounted on camera • .5 to 1 inch TV (studio viewfinders bigger).5 to 1 inch TV (studio viewfinders bigger)• adjust to be comfortable tilt up and downadjust to be comfortable tilt up and down• Focus is separate from cam focusFocus is separate from cam focus• slides closer and farther from camera slides closer and farther from camera • eye-piece can be adjusted or opened to eye-piece can be adjusted or opened to

allow full view of the viewfinder from a allow full view of the viewfinder from a distancedistance

• Check before recording, set the contrast, Check before recording, set the contrast, brightness controls brightness controls

Other elements of the camera. Other elements of the camera. . .. .

Other elements of the camera. Other elements of the camera. . .. .

Special ControlsSpecial Controls (will vary with the (will vary with the camera) camera)

• manual/auto focusmanual/auto focus - only on consumer - only on consumer models, can be problematic, models, can be problematic, use use manual focusmanual focus

• low light toolslow light tools • gain control - boosts sensitivity of chip gain control - boosts sensitivity of chip

normal, +9db, +18dbnormal, +9db, +18db• use only when necessary, creates grainy picuse only when necessary, creates grainy pic• Some cams have a ‘low lux’ setting also Some cams have a ‘low lux’ setting also

Depth of FieldDepth of FieldDepth of FieldDepth of Field

• Key to controlling and creating depth Key to controlling and creating depth in film, video and still photographyin film, video and still photography

• By controlling several interrelated By controlling several interrelated variables, shooter can manipulate variables, shooter can manipulate depth of field to:depth of field to: • Add depth to a shotAdd depth to a shot• Make shot more interestingMake shot more interesting• Control viewer’s eyesControl viewer’s eyes

• Depth vs. Depth of Field Depth vs. Depth of Field • MAJOR concepts!!! Know them.MAJOR concepts!!! Know them.


• Area in focus in front of cameraArea in focus in front of camera

• Variables affecting DOF: Variables affecting DOF: • lens length: shorter lens = greater DOF lens length: shorter lens = greater DOF • aperture/iris: smaller iris = greater DOF aperture/iris: smaller iris = greater DOF • light: more light = greater DOF light: more light = greater DOF • shutter speed: faster speed requires shutter speed: faster speed requires

more light, shallower DOFmore light, shallower DOF


•Shallow DOF: only Greeny in focusShallow DOF: only Greeny in focus•Open Iris, f 1.4, 2.0Open Iris, f 1.4, 2.0•Low lighting or Neutral Density filter on Low lighting or Neutral Density filter on camcam•Faster speed requires more light, Faster speed requires more light, shallower DOFshallower DOF

DOFDOF


•Great DOF: All 3 in focusGreat DOF: All 3 in focus•Closed iris, f-12Closed iris, f-12•Well-lit scene, no ND filterWell-lit scene, no ND filter•shutter speed: slower speed requires shutter speed: slower speed requires less light, yields a greater DOFless light, yields a greater DOF

DOFDOF


• Manipulate DOF to keep part of the Manipulate DOF to keep part of the frame out of focusframe out of focus

• OTHER METHODS OF CREATING OTHER METHODS OF CREATING DEPTHDEPTH

• Rack focus Rack focus • Foreground framing Foreground framing • Positioning of objects & characters Positioning of objects & characters

w/in framew/in frame

Color TemperatureColor TemperatureColor TemperatureColor Temperature

• Light temperature measured in Light temperature measured in degrees Kelvindegrees Kelvin

• Outdoor light = 5600Outdoor light = 5600oo Kelvin BLUE Kelvin BLUE

• Typical studio/field video light = Typical studio/field video light = 32003200o o degrees Kelvin degrees Kelvin REDDISH/ORANGE REDDISH/ORANGE

• Fluorescent light is 4900Fluorescent light is 4900oo K K

Color TemperatureColor TemperatureColor TemperatureColor Temperature

• Be aware of the light situation where Be aware of the light situation where you are shooting you are shooting

• 1) SOURCE - sun, field lights, 1) SOURCE - sun, field lights, outside/inside, color temp?outside/inside, color temp?

• 2) DIRECTION - overhead, behind/from 2) DIRECTION - overhead, behind/from front? front?

• 3) INTENSITY - strong/intense or diffuse?3) INTENSITY - strong/intense or diffuse?• Control as many variables as possible, Control as many variables as possible,

try to use uncontrollable variables to try to use uncontrollable variables to your advantage.your advantage.

White balancing the camera White balancing the camera White balancing the camera White balancing the camera

• Proper color temperature can be Proper color temperature can be attained through adjustments to attained through adjustments to the camera (white balance the camera (white balance settings), camera filters and settings), camera filters and lighting gels. lighting gels.

• Color balance - tells camera what Color balance - tells camera what "white" looks like under existing "white" looks like under existing lighting conditions. lighting conditions.

White Balance continuedWhite Balance continuedWhite Balance continuedWhite Balance continued

• Most cameras have 4 white Most cameras have 4 white balance settings:balance settings:

• Automatic - camera automatically Automatic - camera automatically adjusts to the light temperature.adjusts to the light temperature.

• Inside - 'light bulb' icon indicates Inside - 'light bulb' icon indicates tungsten light balance (3200K)tungsten light balance (3200K)

• Outside - "sun" icon indicates Outside - "sun" icon indicates outside light setting (5600K)outside light setting (5600K)

White Balance continuedWhite Balance continued White Balance continuedWhite Balance continued

• set it manually if at all possibleset it manually if at all possible

Manual White Balance - Manual White Balance -

• 1. set master switch to 'manual' 1. set master switch to 'manual' • 2. fill screen with white surface 2. fill screen with white surface • 3. push white balance button, 3. push white balance button,

when it stops blinking, camera is when it stops blinking, camera is balanced. balanced.


• hold white object under existing light hold white object under existing light MAKING SURE THAT DOMINANT LIGHT MAKING SURE THAT DOMINANT LIGHT SOURCE FALLS ON white objectSOURCE FALLS ON white object

• some cams require you to hold the some cams require you to hold the

button down until indicator stops button down until indicator stops blinkingblinking

• others, just push button, release, others, just push button, release, wait for "OK" signal in viewfinderwait for "OK" signal in viewfinder


• Professional cameras require that Professional cameras require that the proper internal filter is selected the proper internal filter is selected BEFORE setting the white balance.BEFORE setting the white balance.

• 'Manual' is the preferred method 'Manual' is the preferred method as it guarantees proper balance. as it guarantees proper balance.

The issue of ControlThe issue of ControlThe issue of ControlThe issue of Control

• Know the effect you want to Know the effect you want to achieve and attempt to control as achieve and attempt to control as many variables a possiblemany variables a possible

• Take control of the production Take control of the production locationlocation

• Control lighting - location, Control lighting - location, intensity, directionintensity, direction

• Control sound - eliminate Control sound - eliminate unwanted sound, enhance desired unwanted sound, enhance desired sound sound

ControlControlControlControl

• Purposefully decide on talent, Purposefully decide on talent, camera and lighting location camera and lighting location before setting up.before setting up.

• Control as many elements as Control as many elements as possible.possible.

• Control comes through Control comes through professional preparation and professional preparation and communication.communication.

basic camera techologies and key concepts camera technology and key principles for achieving a...

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