Guides to movie cameras?
Question by ESVFF94: Guides to movie cameras?
I am a student currently studying media and have made home movie project things since i was little. I thought about buying a good quality movie camera and researched a bit, but realised i really had no idea what people were talking about on the cameras. are there any guide books / handbooks etc which can explain all of the terms etc. i know roughly what they’re talking about, it’s not like i have no clue…but these cameras have a lot more to them than standard video cameras.
I some cinematography courses when i was younger, but i know lots about cinematography (how to film etc) but not alot about how the cameras film it, if that makes sense?
Any help appreciated!
Thanks
Best answer:
Answer by Dennis C
Hi J.A.:
Since you mention the terms “movie camera” and “how the cameras film it”, I’ll assume you mean professional motion picture film cameras (those using 16mm & 35mm gauge cine film stock).
The American Society of Cinematographers has published many editions (currently in its 9th edition) of its “ASC Film Manual”, and it is often available at college campus bookstores (as it is widely used in film courses). It may seem a bit technical for the novice (and a bit pricey – $ 99 list; $ 60 direct from its website), as it has lots of tables and practical reference pages for the working professional, but it can be an essential guide and memory jogger for masses of information.
Look for a good used edition online at Amazon or elsewhere, and check any university bookstores locally. You can often find good film course textbooks, as well. Public lending libraries are another good resource.
ASC also publishes a great print magazine, also available online, called “American Cinematographer”. At university, I had the good fortune of working for a professor who subscribed to ASC’s publication, and browsed back-issues almost daily. The behind-the-scenes articles contain a wealth of knowledge and hands-on photos. To help budget-conscious film students, ASC also has a “Student Cinematography Pack” for around $ 20, which is a pared-down (124pg.) version of the Film Manual’s tables & charts, along with a “Jumpstart Calculator” reference card for lighting, exposure settings, etc.
And since Eastman Kodak is in the business of selling film stock and promoting the use of film, they publish a lot of free guides and information. Kodak’s “Cinematographers Field Guide” (see: http://motion.kodak.com/motion/uploadedFiles/H-2_Cinematographers_Field_Guide_6-09.pdf ) and their “Essential Reference Guide for Filmmakers” (see: http://motion.kodak.com/US/en/motion/Publications/Film_Essentials/index.htm ) have free PDF downloads.
The free online encyclopedia, Wikipedia, has lots of well-written articles (with HyperText linked words and phrases, to help with the jargon & technical terms) on this topic —as well as countless others— and you can explore as deeply as you wish in the subject. Use their “Cinematography” article as a good starting point. You can Hyperlink into subtopics from there.
hope this helps,
–Dennis C.
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