How to Make the Best Camera Decisions for Video Production
Making the right camera decisions for the project you are planning is crucial in ensuring you get the results you want.
You have to consider factors such as versatility, picture quality, and budget.
There is more to choosing the right camera than just comparing and contrasting different brands. You must look into each camera's unique capabilities and decide what features you want to highlight.
In this article, we will be focusing on the first two factors: versatility and picture quality because they are what we have to deal with in our continued use of the camera.
Versatility
To get a good shot, you must have a good camera that works well with your lifestyle and job. Whether you are part of the paparazzi or are a nature-centric photographer, you need to be able to trust your camera as if it were an extension of yourself.
It’s hard to capture the nuances that make the three-dimensional world so exciting and let the same beauty shine through a video. Your camera should be ready to be held, placed on a tripod, and remain steady enough to follow a moving object for maximum efficiency.
Over the years, cameras can endure a lot of “abuse.” They are positioned this way, and that all in an attempt to get the right angle for a shot. That’s why the nature of your work or your lifestyle must coincide with your camera decisions.
For a camera to be considered versatile, it has to quickly adapt to different situations because you can’t just run off and purchase one camera for every occasion. It’s going to cost you a lot of money, and it’s inconvenient to bring around so many cameras for a multi-occasion shoot or project.
To showcase an example, an FS700 has a high production quality but does not have the same mobility of cameras often used in the news. The Sony FS7/FS5 and the C300 are also great options, but they aren’t as good at keeping up once you’re on the field.
Being on the field involves a lot of running around and short times setting up so you can’t lug around a camera rig with you to maintain stability.
Picture Quality
What use is a camera if it cannot place your subject in a great light? A camera has to have a picture quality that brings out your work’s best features.
Professionals have to contend with a level of picture quality so that their shots are more noticeable than others’. They have to consider the richness of the colors a camera can capture and the appropriate field depth.
Some cameras are versatile enough to have lenses that can be switched out depending on what you need. Lenses are a better alternative than buying multiple cameras.
However, consider how mixing and matching lenses can affect the quality of your shots because the sensor and the lens are not as close as they should be. It is an excellent idea to reduce or avoid using adapters for your cameras.
Known mounting systems for lenses are the E-mount system and the EF-mount system, which belong to Sony and Canon, respectively. Meanwhile, the industry standard is the PL-mount.
In the context of broadcasting, most broadcast cameras are unable to capture the rich field of colors in front of it nor maintain a depth of field observed in production cameras—which can shoot in a 4Kresolution.
The Camera of Choice
The Red Epic and the Sony F5 are cameras commonly used throughout the film industry because of their photo quality, but their price is on the steeper side. Meanwhile, the Sony A7R and the Black Magic Ursa Mini are affordable, and the A7R comes with the bonus of having an internal 4K.
However, the Canon C300 is what we’d recommend. Despite its tie with the Sony FS7 in versatility, picture quality, and affordability, the C300 proves more versatile than the FS7.
Conclusion
One of the things you must consider if you still have a tough time making the right camera decisions is the equipment you already have. It makes no sense to buy a Canon when most of your camera equipment (tripod, rig, adapters) is meant for the brand Sony.
Considering your current equipment is just as important because you save yourself from additional purchases. You also don’t have to go back to square one and relearn how to use the new equipment.
You must also keep a close eye on your budget and factor it into the final round of decision-making. Doing so ensures you can get the best camera possible. Do your research and compare and contrast before making a final purchase.
And once you've made your decision, bring your camera out for a test run so that you familiarize yourself with its features. By doing this, you will also detect any defects and make the necessary arrangements before the warranty ends.
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