CAMERA EQUIPMENT

Too much light creates an over-bright image with white spots: parts of the image are Over-ExposedToo little light creates an under-bright image with black spots: parts of the image are Under-Exposed

Getting the ‘best’ exposure can be difficult in scenes with contrasting light

Exposure is the total amount of light allowed to fall on the film/image sensor

2006-06-01

How the digital sensor works

- Each digital image is made from millions of tiny squares, known as pixels.

- Essentially, an image is recorded by tiny microlenses (pixels) which make up the cameras sensor

-

2006-06-01

All Pixels are not created equal!

-A digital sensor is essentially made up of millions of tiny micro-lenses (pixels)

- Pixels are analog devices which record light and color data

- Larger Sensors contain larger pixels, which are much better and collecting this data

Types of Lenses for cameras

• Removable – for DSLR cameras

• Fixed – on compact cameras

• “Prime” Lens (Fixed focal length)

• Zoom – most common(Range of focal lengths)

What does Focal Length mean?

• Wide Angle = large field of view (focal lengths under 50mm)

• Standard (50mm) = same perspective as the human eye

• Telephoto = high magnification (focal lengths over 50mm)

ISORefers to the light sensitivity of the sensor

HIGH ISO value means the sensor will be MORE sensitive to light, meaning it will

take LESS LIGHT to get the right exposure

Similar to Film Speeds in 35mm format

ISO

Typically ranges from 100-1600

Newer Digital cameras have a higher range

(up to 64000)

Using High ISO values causes the sensor to produce much more heat, which creates

digital “noise” in images.

1 Lens Alignment - Each lens you use will have a similar red dot. It allows you to align, twist and click the lens in place more easily.

2 Flash Pop Up ButtonPress this to activate the pop up flash. There will be similar buttons on all makes of camera. It is a kind of manual over-ride, useful for fill-in flash etc. If in full auto mode, the camera will decide whether or not to use the flash.

3 Lens ReleaseBy pressing this in, you allow the lens to be twisted and released. Note : Try to change lenses out of dusty areas and try to have the camera switched off. The static produced when the camera is on will attract dust to the sensor.

4 Depth of Field previewThe depth of field determines how much of an image is in focus. For example, if you took a photo of someone with a mountain range in the background, and both the subject and the mountain range are in focus, you have deep or large depth of field. If the subject is in focus but the mountains are blurred, you have shallow or small depth of field.

5 Lens contactsThese line up with the contacts of any compatible lenses, allowing the cameras auto focus and other settings to work in time with your lens's settings.

6 MirrorThis mirror allows you to see, through the viewfinder, almost exactly what you will photograph by reflecting the image up, and into the eyepiece. It flips up the instant that you press the shutter release and returns once the picture is taken. Never touch the mirror with your fingers and use special cleaning equipment and solutions. Some mirrors can be replaced but it is costly.

7 GripGrip that is usually rubberized for more effective handling of the (sometimes cumbersome) digital SLR cameras.

8 Shutter Release ButtonWithout wanting to state the obvious, this takes the picture at whatever settings you have made. A half press will start the auto focus and exposure calculations.

9 Focus Assist BeamMost modern Digital SLR 's have this now. It illuminates the subject in poor light to assist the auto focus. It will sometimes be used as an indicator for the self timer function (I.e. it will flash and beep during delay).

10 Pop Up FlashMost cameras have a built in flash which, when on full auto, will pop up and fire when required. On the manual settings, you will normally have to activate it via a button for more creative photography.

SIDEVIEW

TOP VIEW

Checking focusOn the top right corner of the back of the camera, there are two buttons. One has a - symbol and the other a + symbol. While in movie mode you can zoom in with the + symbol to 5x and 10x to check focus. Hit the same button to go back to regular viewing.

Setting ISO

My general rule of thumb on the T2i is not to go above 400 ISO, but 800 ISO looks pretty good too, depending on the light. I try to keep the ISO at 100 as much as possible because it reduces the amount of video grain in the dark areas of the image. On the camera's LCD you don't see it, but once you get the images on your computer you might see grain on images at 400 or 800 ISO. This is why it helps to have a fast lens like the 28mm f1.8, so you can have your ISO at 100 more often, as opposed to an f4 lens where you'd have to set it at ISO 400 or 800. At f1.8 your depth of field is really thin, so not much is in focus. Be sure to double check your focus before shooting an important shot.

Inserting the batteryThe Canon Rebel T3i uses an LP-E8 battery. The battery is gray with a small notch on one end where the battery make contact with the device. It is important to insert the battery with the notch pointed inward, and facing toward the front of the camera.

Inserting the memory cardTo insert the memory card, slide the side door toward the back of the camera. Insert the card with card-face pointed toward the back of the camera as shown below.

Click MENU to makevarious changes.

Adjust the quality of theimage here.

Autofocus and image stabilizerMost Canon lenses come with an autofocus switch, and sometimes a switch for the image stabilizer. It's important to make sure theautofocus switch is set to AF to enable autofocus.

Conversely, if you want to manually focus a shot then set this switch to MF and use the front ring on the lens to bring a shot into focus.

Keep your elbows inward, and feet spread apart – one slighting in front of the other – to increase stability.

Shutter buttonThe shutter button on the camera is actually two buttons in one.You can press the button halfway down in order to prepare the camera for taking a picture. Holding the shutter button halfway down will activate the autofocus, charge the flash (if needed), set the exposure and prepare the camera for taking a picture.

Pressing the shutter button down completely will take a picture. If you press the shutter button down all the way without holding it at the halfway point first, it may cause a slight delay before the camera will take a picture.

Adjusting the main mode dial

To turn on the camera, flip the switch at the top of the camera to "ON." Make sure the camera has both a memory card and battery inserted.

Aperture is the size of the opening in the lens that allows light through the lens – similar to an eye’s pupil

High f-stop =

Low aperture =

Small opening =

Less light =

Lower Exposure

Low f-stop =

High aperture =

Large opening =

More light =

Higher Exposure

AperturesAperture, measured in f stops, determines the size of the opening inyour lens, which controls how much light strikes your filming during an exposure. The smaller the number, the larger the opening.The larger the number, the smaller the opening. Aperture also determines depth of fieldsmaller the aperture, the greater the depth of field.

O o o o o o of2.8 f4 f5.6 f8 f11 f16 f22Each f stop change lets in either 2 times or ½ the amount of light,depending on whether you are opening up or stopping down.Open up means to make the opening larger (but a smallernumber). Stop down means selecting an aperture that is smaller in size (but bigger in number)

- Use a tripod or lean against something firm

-Switch on self-timer or use a remote control

-Hold camera with arms pressed against body

-Take a breath and then blow it out and then push shutter release

-50% of all student failed photos are due to blur

Make sure you’re in focus and focusing on the right part: turn off auto-focus : it sometimes takes over and confuses the photographer

• 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

• 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”

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

CAMERA BASICS

Aperture: The part of the camerathat lets in light. The larger theopening, the more light gets inand exposes the picture.

CAMERA BASICS

Shutter Speed: How long it takes for the aperture bladesto close. The slower it takes, the blurrier the photo.

CAMERA BASICS

ISO: The ISO is the sensitivity to the “film” or image.The lower the number, the better the quality of theimage. The higher the number, the less light is needed,but the image quality suffers. Night shots are done witha higher ISO, which can look grainy.

TIPS AND TRICKS

• Understand how your camera works before going out shooting. Each one is very different.

• Keep the battery charged. A low battery can cause faulty image quality.

• A standard flash causes fake lighting conditions. Try to avoid them. Use natural light or bounce the flash off of a wall if possible. Using multiple lights is ideal.

TIPS AND TRICKS

• Most cameras have various shooting modes (portrait, landscape, action, macro, etc). Learn them for a point-and-shoot camera to get the most out of it.

• Practice the manual settings to really push the limitations of any camera.