Embedded Files
" The best camera is the one you have on you."
" The best camera is the one you have on you."
Chase Jarvis
I often have students ask me for advice when buying a camera. There is no easy answer to this question.
I usually follow this question with a series of follow up questions; what's your budget, what type of film-making are you interested in, what's your level of comfort with manual settings, do you record audio separately, do you work solo or with a team, how powerful is your computer, what kind of editing software do you use? etc
Things to look out for when choosing a camera include: Camera type, price, size, weight, camera resolution, sensor size, video resolution & frame rate options, lens specifications, manual capabilities, stabilisation, audio monitoring, dynamic range, etc.
Note: Camera resolution, also known as the megapixel count (MP) is a measure of the number of individual photosites on a sensor.
Smartphone
Smartphone
Smartphones are always a great option for getting started, and as technology advances, improvements are made all the time and they are becoming serious film making devices in the right hands.
Benefits - Always with us, light, portable, discreet, easy to use, inexpensive, small file sizes, ease of file management, wide range of supporting accessories, stabilisation as standard with most.
Things to consider - Battery, file storage, lower quality, limited control, awkward physical use, limited lenses, casual appearance, recording is limited to battery and storage.
Digital Camera / Point and Shoot - Sony, Panasonic, Canon, Nikon, Fujifilm, Olympus
Digital Camera / Point and Shoot - Sony, Panasonic, Canon, Nikon, Fujifilm, Olympus
On the whole, these types of cameras tend to be more geared towards high quality photography, though videography is often included and considered. Prices range hugely, from very affordable to thousands for premium brands.
These cameras have fixed lenses as opposed to interchangeable. Usually with a wide zoom range to accommodate a range of uses.
These would have a larger sensor and higher quality lenses than a smartphone.
Varying degrees of manual setting adjustments. Higher quality cameras offer more manual features.
Ease of use varies depending on physical size and arrangement of buttons.
Understanding of key photographic principles terminology necessary of ease of use.
They sometimes have an articulated screen, one that can open or tilt, but not always.
They usually don't have audio monitoring capabilities.
Stabilisation of some kind is usually included, but is photography focused.
Bridge Camera
Bridge Camera
Bridge cameras lay somewhere between a digital point and shoot and a DSLR/mirrorless system. They often still lean towards a photo specialism, but usually have decent video capabilities.
They offer more buttons and a physical experience similar to above.
They tend to offer fully manual options for more settings.
They have a fixed lens with a wide zoom range.
Quality depends on sensor and video setting options.
They often have video recording file length limits, somewhere between 20-30mins per file.
Most have a degree of stabilisation built in.
DSLR - Canon, Nikon
DSLR - Canon, Nikon
These camera range in price point from a few hundred to many thousands depending on the brand and specifications.
Most are photo specialist, but have very good video capabilities. Some versions choose to focus on video as their priority.
They usually have video recording file length limits, somewhere between 20-30mins per file. Something to consider if you record longer durational works, as the video will have a moment of pause and you need to remember to hit record again once it stops.
These systems have interchangeable lenses, specific to the lens mount of the manufacturer, so you can choose from a wide range of lens options and therefor looks.
They have fully manual capabilities which allow for greater control of your image, though this requires a grasp of camera fundamentals in order to optimise your images.
A wider range of video recording options are available, which may require larger & faster SD cards, as well as a high spec computer and editing suite to process the footage.
Depending on the camera, you might have the ability to plug in an external microphone for higher quality audio, or to monitor your audio via headphones. You can also often adjust audio levels to suit. All of these elements are desirable for video.
Most offer stabilisation in body or lenses, but not always, so something to look out for.
Mirrorless - Panasonic, Sony, Fujifilm, Blackmagic, Olympus, Canon
Mirrorless - Panasonic, Sony, Fujifilm, Blackmagic, Olympus, Canon
Mirrorless cameras are somewhere between a DSLR and a camcorder. They still have excellent photo capabilities, but can lean slightly more towards video, depending on the model.
They're also much smaller and lighter than their DSLR counterparts, both camera body & lenses.
They have interchangable lenses also meaning you can have a wide range of looks and higher quality glass. Settings are also fully manual.
Some cameras still have the recording limit of 20-30mins per file, but some of the newer or higher spec cameras of this type have dispensed with the recording limit allowing longer durational recording, limited only by the battery or memory card size.
A wider range of video recording options are available, which may require larger & faster SD cards, as well as a high spec computer and editing suite to process the footage.
Depending on the camera, you might have the ability to plug in an external microphone for higher quality audio, or to monitor your audio via headphones. You can also often adjust audio levels to suit.
Most offer stabilisation in body or lenses, but not always, so something to look out for.
Video Camera / Camcorder - Sony, Panasonic, Canon
Video Camera / Camcorder - Sony, Panasonic, Canon
Video cameras are very much focused on video. Some can take the odd shot, but that is not they're aim.
They again can vary hugely in price and specs, depending on budget or needs.
They're not always as fully manual as DSLR or Mirrorless cameras, some lower spec models may have more automation or limitations.
Higher spec models would usually facilitate fully manual operation.
They often come with a good quality microphone, or the ability to connect one as needed. They'd almost always offer audio monitoring via headphones and the ability to adjust audio levels.
Stabilization is usually included and of a decent standard.
Some high spec models offer built in ND filters as an additional exposure adjustement option.
Cinema Camera - RED, ARRI, Blackmagic, Canon, Panasonic
Cinema Camera - RED, ARRI, Blackmagic, Canon, Panasonic
Cinema camera are extremely high spec specialist video cameras.
Whilst the cameras themselves are not necessarily particularly large, heavy or even complicated, they are designed to be built up, and almost everything is manual.
Lenses, monitors, microphones, focus systems, rigs, barn doors, battery packs, hard drives, handles, etc are all separate items and need to be attached to the camera which can result in a large, more complex operating system.
They require a lot of technical knowlege and proficiency to function optimally.
They would be the most expensive camera option, with the added cost of additional equipment and crew adding to their expense.
The files generated are extremely large and require a high spec computer and editing suite to process.
The resultant set up can also aften be large and heavy, requiring support and sometimes physical strength to operate.
Studio Camera - Blackmagic
Studio Camera - Blackmagic
Studio cameras are equiped for a studio enviroment.
They often have a much larger screen / monitor than traditional video cameras.
Whilst some can record internally as a back up, most rely on video transmission to an external mixer / recorder.
They're often used as part of a live set up where multiple cameras are cut together live. As a result they can come equiped with audio communication 'tally' systems where they can receive audio direction from producers, etc.
Room audio in these settings is often a separate set up, so audio monitoring of the scene isn't usually a priority for these cameras and isn't usually included.
PTZ (Pan Tilt Zoom) - Sony, Panasonic, Canon, Obsbot, PTZ Optics, Birddog, Marshall
PTZ (Pan Tilt Zoom) - Sony, Panasonic, Canon, Obsbot, PTZ Optics, Birddog, Marshall
PTZ cameras have been arounds for a long time in the realm of security cameras, but have been making a move into traditional film-making contexts as a result of the pandemic where filmmaking at a distance became a necessity.
These cameras can be operated in a different location from where they are placed. They can also be mounted and positioned out of way so can be useful in locations where the physical presence of a large camera, operator and tripod could be intrusive or obstructive.
They don't always have internal recording available (some do), instead transmitting a video signal, to an external recorder.
Most are wired and involve a lot of cabling.
Action Camera - Gopro, DJI, Insta360, GoXtreme, Kaiser Baas, Kodak
Action Camera - Gopro, DJI, Insta360, GoXtreme, Kaiser Baas, Kodak
Action cameras are specialist cameras for capturing dynamic actions and activities, often in a wide range of weather conditions and environments.
They are very small and very light in comparison to other options.
They need to be weatherproofed and rugged for possible drops, etc.
They are highly automated, most features are set by the camera to minimise camera handling during challenging activities. They have excellent stabilisation and autofocus to account for this and are often very wide angled in order to capture as much as possible.
They come with a variety of mounting options for use on the body, equipment, vehicles, etc.
Audio options are in camera and limited, some facilitate external microphones with adapters, etc.
Drone – Dji
Drones are specialist action cameras which allow you to capture shots at a height.
They are operated by remote control, sometimes with a screen / phone / ipad attached to view what the drone can see.
Settings are often automated due to the nature of the device.
They often have short battery lives and this needs to be taken into consideration to allow time for landing, some drones include 'return home' functions to account for this.
They can also loose connection during certain conditions and in certain locations, this can result in they falling from the sky.
There are a lot of regulations and restrictions relating to drone use due to the height involved and the potential risk to the public, property or wildlife.
Gimbal Camera - DJI Osmo / Osmo Mini
There are few specialist cameras available from DJI which are cameras and gimbals combined. Some are larger, others small, light and portable.
Their area of expertise is movement and stabilisation.
They're very useful for capturing dynamic handheld movements with silky smooth results on the go.
Audio options again are limited along with manual capabilities, which are largely automated.
360 Degree Camera – Gopro, Insta360, Samsung, Ricoh, Kodak
These are specialist cameras designed to capture and produce a 360 degree image.
The footage requires the use of professional editing software if you wish to edit the footage. It also often requires a high spec computer system to process and a lot of file space.
You also have to consider the viewing platform where these images can be displayed and interacted with.
Uses for these cameras would be very specific and limited, they wouldn't be suited to everyday use.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse