Getting Started! A Basic guide. Part 1.

[Badllarma]

Ok I've read sooooo many threads on this section of the forum about getting started what cameras to buy etc........

I though I'd give a bit of advice to everyone firstly my back ground I'm a full time photographer but also have shot commercial videos and worked on film special effects.
I've used all sorts of editing software and currently run a VT 5.2 edit bay system with a full suite of digital compositing applications as well.

So let get started
The kit
Cameras Canon XL1 XL1S or XL2 if you have the cash there is the HD version of this camera but expect to pay big ££££ Or the newer Sony ones with the detachable lenses of even the modern DSLR's with HD video.

Then extra battery's, tapes, memory cards cleaning gear (blower brush etc) and finally a bag to lug it all with you

Then you NEED A TRIPOD the heavier the better one with a nice fluid head a good starting point would be something like a Velbon DV7000 but if you have the coin go for the (even second hand) manfrotto, best their is and will last for donkeys years.

Right so now we have the kit how do we use it?
First rule the camera stays on the tripod no matter what!! anything that is filmed off a tripod will look like errrr.................rubbish amateur footage. There is a reason firms pay £££££big money for steady cam kit when the camera is taken off a tripod so keep yours on it!

So attach your camera to the tripod and leave it on it!.

Secondly video is different from stills photography (it's much harder!!) as you need to have a little planning you need to try an work out the message you getting across basically you trying to tell a story even if it's just three takes your telling a story just panning around randomly and zooming in and out is not telling the story it's just moving a camera around.

Thirdly you never zoom on shots! Never ever ever..... use the zoom within a shot. You use the zoom to compose the shot not while the shot is taking place.

Fourthly the shots the three shots you need for any subject are Wide establishing shot, Medium show the main subject Close Up used to pick out the detail.

Fifth
Shoot B roll.........what's B roll?? B roll is the footage of anything not really the main subject it is used to connect footage together or even bulk it out in cases, but B roll is worth it's weight in gold at the editing stage of the process.


Right for Part 2 I'll go out and film something it will be any random subject but I just want to show how it all works and how what I have said above comes together.

If one person finds the above information of use I'll be a happy man, right watch this space for Part 2.

[david156]

HI.

That sounds really interesting.
Would love to have a go at that but only just started on Photography. (think her who must be obeyed would shoot me if I went out and spent more money on film equipment!).
Will keep an eye on this thread and will wait for part two, "the film"

David.

[MeadsMan]

I was rather excited when I see your newly started thread,then I see the camera model`s you mentioned,and like a lot of other people I can not justify those amounts of money on such things,I was hoping you was going to suggest more realistically priced cameras,that us not so flush amertures,could use but hopefully still get good quality footage from,seems such cameras do not exist. Particularly if you want to shoot in low or poor light situations.

[Badllarma]

MeadsMan,
I am actually trying to save you money whats the point in me telling you yup that standard consumer camera will be great for filming wildlife with it's digital zoom or 10 x standard magnification.

When the 10x zoom will get you no where near the wildlife and the digital zoom image will be a pile of xexexexe. You will able to get the wide shots and maybe the medium shots with any camcorder but you will struggle on the close ups.

And to be honest the reason I recommend the cameras above is the fact you can add adapters so you can add cheap Digital camera lenses so you can get very tight in on wildlife for those close ups.


I'm just being realistic don't get me wrong you could stick a consumer camera in the garden (or other outdoor location) and if you have done your research you may get some cracking UK wildlife shots. Maybe this is the way forward if that is what you can afford shoot your wide and medium with you manning the camera then the close ups via a camera unmanned but it will limit you to what walks in front of the camera.

I tell you why I'm saving you money, if you really want a crack at wild life film making you may and go and buy a consumer model first for £300.00 to £400.00 but them within 6 months if your really enjoying it you will then want the bigger better kit anyway and the go out and buy a second hand XL1 etc for £800.00 -£900.00. So trading from consumer to a camera that will do the job better is going to cost you more why not save up that little bit more save yourself some money and go for the XL1 etc..straight away.

[Deer Hunter]

The advice that Badllarma gave in his first post is sound good advice.
I'm a professional cameraman working on wildlife and other documentaries.
As Badllarma said get a good camera to start with - it will save you money and perhaps even earn you money.

Wildlife filming is a very competitive market indeed, unless you are going to produce some cracking footage, and the only way to do that is with a decent camera and a selection of lens - you will not survive.

I use amongst others a Canon XLH1 together with a wide range of Canon EF lens including the 600mm. This combination produces some stunning footage - eye ball stuff!

Another very good point that Badllarma mentioned was the Tripod. Get a decent one to start with what ever your camera. Nothing worse than a tripod that blows around in the wind. I use a Arrow/Miller a very solid job

The other option and I now speak as a Canon man - the 5D Mkll still and video for the price of one camera!

I've just completed a short documentary, as an experiment I used the 5D Mkll, most shots using either 24-105mm , 70-200mm and the 600mm lens. The results are very good indeed. So much so that I was able to edit some of this footage into a documentary shot with the XLH1.

[Badllarma]

Originally Posted by Deer Hunter

I've just completed a short documentary, as an experiment I used the 5D Mkll, most shots using either 24-105mm , 70-200mm and the 600mm lens. The results are very good indeed. So much so that I was able to edit some of this footage into a documentary shot with the XLH1.

I really see these DSLR's as a work of genius for those that do both stills and video work and that includes myself. The footage i'll be posting in this thread will be shot on a 7D as I had to give up my XL2, XL1 and my XM1 at the start of 2009
I now shoot with the 7D not quiet as good as the 5D MkII but good enough for my purposes and a Sony HC9 for aerial UAV work (testing stages at present)

[Words]

Good thread, and the technique side makes absolute sense even with a cheap camcorder. I can see exactly where I've gone wrong in the past. Thanks!