Prelim 4: Equipment Experimentation
Functions of a DSLR
Stands for digital single lens reflex
Lens: Is what focuses and allows for zoom in the photo
Screen: displays the image for viewing, it shows you navigate through the settings. You can press the LV button to get a live view of your picture or video.
Menu button: This is for getting to your main menu and access to some settings.
Info button: You can press this button and it toggles what information you see on the screen from your pictures.
Media/View pics button: This is the button you press to see all of your photos.
Scroll Wheel: this is what you use to navigate with.
Zoom in/out: This is for, when you are reviewing a picture that you've already taken, to zoom in closer or further on that picture.
View Finder: Where a person looks to take a photo. It is much more accurate to look through the view finder and may display a lot more information on the bottom
Shooting mode: Shows what shooting mode you are in.
How to use a DSLR?
Step 1: steady your camera. This could be done buy either finding a flat surface, using a tripod/shoulder mount, or even holding it steady.
Step 2: Switch on the camera using the on/off button which is located on the top of the camera on the right.
Step 3: pick what you want to capture. If it’s a close-up, you should be close to the object/person; if it’s a long shot, then you should get the whole thing etc…
Step 4: adjust the focus using the focus ring. The aperture controls what is in focus in the picture. To change the aperture, use the black main dial on top of your camera to adjust the aperture.
Camera shot types :
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| This is an extreme close-up shot |
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| This is a close-up shot |
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| This is a long shot |
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| This is a medium shot |
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| This is an extreme long shot |
Wide shot- a shot using a wide-angle lens that distorts what we see so as to include objects from a wider area of vision than a normal shot.
· Extreme long shot- used for landscaped or cityscapes; Humans are barely significant
· Longshot- Humans are prominent but the landscape is still dominant. Providing the whole of the human body and the background.
· Medium long shot- Humans can be seen from the knees and above.
· Medium shot- Humans can be seen from the waist up
· Medium close up- humans can be seen from the chest up
· Close-up- shows the human face or draws attention to a specific object.
· Extreme close-up- shows detail or a specific part of humans
· Establishing shot- shot of the location where the next unit of drama takes place. It is often an exterior shot, showing the building in which action might take place. It may also be an interior shot of the balcony for example.
· Master shot- a shot that shows everyone in the location.
· Two shot- any shot containing two people
· Point of view shot- shows what a character is looking at, often followed by an ‘eye line match’.
· Over the shoulder point of view shot- we see part of the person whose view point we are seeing, usually the shoulder and the side of the head, these features are often blurred
· Aerial shot- camera is looking directly down from above the subject.
· Worm’s eye view- looking directly up at the subject
· Low angle shot- the camera is places lower than the subject.
Camera movements
· Pan- the camera is fixed to a tripod but is rotated horizontally. Used as a POV, it gives the impression that the character is scanning across the landscape
· Tilt – the camera is fixed to a tripod but is rotated vertically
· Tracking shot- where the whole camera is on a shoulder mount so that it can follow the movement of the subject in a continues smooth movement.
· Crane – this allows the entire camera to move in any direction up, down or sideways. The camera can also pan or tilt as it moves up down or sideways
· Hand-held- the camera is held by the operator. The camera may shake and pitch with the motion of the operator.
Steadicam- held by the operator however does not shake or move
· Zoom- change of lens where the camera seems to move closer to an object
· Reverse zoom- where the camera zooms out, object seems smaller
· Crash zoom- a technique of digital editing to speed up so that it is extremely fast towards the object.
How to set up a tripod?
Step 1: Decide on your location
Step 2: Arrange the legs. Point one of the legs in the direction your camera is pointing. Then position the other legs.
Step 3: Extend the legs. Extend the legs to provide a more stable support.
Step 4: Be sure the legs are secure. Make sure the tripods are set on a flat surface for balance
Step 5: Check the level of the tripod. Make sure its perpendicular to the ground
Step 6: Remove the camera base plate from the tripod. Tripods have a plate that screws onto the base of the camera and locks it onto the tripod.
Step 7: Attach the base to the bottom of the camera. Place the screw of the base plate into the hole on the bottom of the camera and rotate clockwise until tight.
Step 8: Place the camera on the tripod. Put the camera on the tripod so that the base plate is in between the camera and the tripod.
Step 9: Secure the release latch.
Step 10: Adjust the camera angle
Step 11: Remove camera from tripod when moving around
- Adjust the height
- Increases stability
- Recommended for shooting stable footage
Disadvantages of using a tripod:
- May slow the capturing of the footage down
- Heavy and bulky to carry around
- Expensive
- They may be prohibited in some areas
- May not be reliable and may break the camera
What is a shoulder mount?
A shoulder mount is a piece of filming equipment that moves with the camera. It’s not stable on the floor like a tripod it is flexible in movement, which can really help increase efficiency during production.
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