CAMERA TECHNOLOGY
and KEY PRINCIPLES for
ACHIEVING A QUALITY
IMAGE
BASIC CAMERA
TECHOLOGIES
AND KEY
CONCEPTS
Why know technology?
• Understanding tools critical to producing
desirable final product
• Video/film are technology intensive
enterprises
• Great sound, visual images and editing
don’t ‘just happen’
• Painters must know which brush, type of
paint, sculptor must know stone and chisels
- exception: film is a team process
CHIPS
Pick-up device - "retina" of the camera
• Senses light, changes light energy into
electric energy
• 3 chips are better than 1
• 'charged-coupled device' CCD, chip
IRIS
• metal leaves which control amount of
light entering the camera
• aperture is the opening
• measured in "f-stops" 1.2 - 22 (1 stop
open, doubles amount of light coming
in)
IRIS
• f1.4 = wide open
• f16 = small opening
AUTO IRIS
• "auto" iris - standard setting
• camera "averages" the light reading and
adjusts the iris accordingly
• causes problems with areas of high
contrast or w/large dark or large light
areas
• sports event w/harsh shadows, people
shot against dark/light background
MANUAL IRIS
• "manual iris" - optional setting
• manually set the iris so that it won't
change
• goal, setting the iris to pick up your
subject accurately
LENS
• focuses light beams on the chip
• most video lenses are variable length
(zoom lenses)
LENS
• Digital zoom is not part of lens. Cam
samples part of the image on the chip
and ‘blows up’ image
• Generally creates unfavorable image grainy, pixilated
Viewfinder
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small TV monitor mounted on camera
.5 to 1 inch TV (studio viewfinders bigger)
adjust to be comfortable tilt up and down
Focus is separate from cam focus
slides closer and farther from camera
eye-piece can be adjusted or opened to allow
full view of the viewfinder from a distance
• Check before recording, set the contrast,
brightness controls
Other elements of the camera. . .
Special Controls (will vary with the camera)
• manual/auto focus - only on consumer
models, can be problematic, use manual
focus
• low light tools
• gain control - boosts sensitivity of
chip normal, +9db, +18db
• use only when necessary, creates grainy pic
• Some cams have a ‘low lux’ setting also
Depth of Field
• Key to controlling and creating depth in
film, video and still photography
• By controlling several interrelated
variables, shooter can manipulate depth of
field to:
• Add depth to a shot
• Make shot more interesting
• Control viewer’s eyes
• Depth vs. Depth of Field
• MAJOR concepts!!! Know them.
Depth of Field
• Area in focus in front of camera
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Variables affecting DOF:
lens length: shorter lens = greater DOF
aperture/iris: smaller iris = greater DOF
light: more light = greater DOF
shutter speed: faster speed requires
more light, shallower DOF
Depth of Field
DOF
•Shallow DOF: only Greeny in focus
•Open Iris, f 1.4, 2.0
•Low lighting or Neutral Density filter on cam
•Faster speed requires more light, shallower
DOF
Depth of Field
Depth of Field
DOF
•Great DOF: All 3 in focus
•Closed iris, f-12
•Well-lit scene, no ND filter
•shutter speed: slower speed requires less
light, yields a greater DOF
Depth of Field
Depth of Field
• Manipulate DOF to keep part of the
frame out of focus
• OTHER METHODS OF CREATING
DEPTH
• Rack focus
• Foreground framing
• Positioning of objects & characters w/in
frame
Color Temperature
• Light temperature measured in degrees
Kelvin
• Outdoor light = 5600o Kelvin BLUE
• Typical studio/field video light = 3200o
degrees Kelvin REDDISH/ORANGE
• Fluorescent light is 4900o K
Color Temperature
• Be aware of the light situation where you are
shooting
• 1) SOURCE - sun, field lights, outside/inside,
color temp?
• 2) DIRECTION - overhead, behind/from
front?
• 3) INTENSITY - strong/intense or diffuse?
• Control as many variables as possible, try to
use uncontrollable variables to your
advantage.
White balancing the camera
• Proper color temperature can be
attained through adjustments to the
camera (white balance settings),
camera filters and lighting gels.
• Color balance - tells camera what
"white" looks like under existing lighting
conditions.
White Balance continued
• Most cameras have 4 white balance
settings:
• Automatic - camera automatically
adjusts to the light temperature.
• Inside - 'light bulb' icon indicates
tungsten light balance (3200K)
• Outside - "sun" icon indicates outside
light setting (5600K)
White Balance continued
• set it manually if at all possible
Manual White Balance • 1. set master switch to 'manual'
• 2. fill screen with white surface
• 3. push white balance button, when it
stops blinking, camera is balanced.
White Balance continued
• hold white object under existing light
MAKING SURE THAT DOMINANT LIGHT
SOURCE FALLS ON white object
• some cams require you to hold the button
down until indicator stops blinking
• others, just push button, release, wait for
"OK" signal in viewfinder
White Balance continued
• Professional cameras require that the
proper internal filter is selected
BEFORE setting the white balance.
• 'Manual' is the preferred method as it
guarantees proper balance.
The issue of Control
• Know the effect you want to achieve
and attempt to control as many
variables a possible
• Take control of the production location
• Control lighting - location, intensity,
direction
• Control sound - eliminate unwanted
sound, enhance desired sound
Control
• Purposefully decide on talent, camera
and lighting location before setting up.
• Control as many elements as possible.
• Control comes through professional
preparation and communication.