Cinematography

Netflix approved cameras only apply if you are hired to shoot a show / movie for them. It's totally irrelevant. Any and all cameras are good. It boils down to understanding light and composition. Same goes with audio gear. A cheap recorder can yield great results if you set the levels correct. What I would tell any first time anything...get good at your craft with what you got. It's silly for a first time filmmaker to buy a 4, 5 or 10k camera if they don't know what they are doing.

Here's another lounge post, Fran Harris, I started a few months back that has oodles of information for you. Now, I started the post with two cinema cameras in mind but as you will see many others were introduced. Have fun and let us know what you decide on.

https://www.stage32.com/lounge/cinematography/Thoughts-on-Cinema-Camera-...

Hi Fran Harris - here's a link to a Stage 32 class on cinematography that I recommend. Matthew Boyd is a great shooter and a wealth of knowledge on the subject: https://www.stage32.com/classes/A-Cinematographers-Guide-to-Making-your-...

In addition to Sam Sokolow's recommendation here's a Stage32 webinar I watched last night that was invaluable:

https://www.stage32.com/webinars/Camera-Fundamentals-That-Every-Filmmake...

Hi there Fran, this is a loaded question for sure. What type of movie are you making? A really good master class in how to make a dollar stretch would be to watch El Mariachi, David Rodriguez' feature film, the prequel to Desperado and Once Upon a Time in Mexico. He shot that on 6,000. I'm going to jump the gun and assume you're not shooting on film. I am a huge supporter of the Black Magic Design cameras. They're great and cost effective.

This is really cool, Dustin Quinteros! Great share!

Nathan Woodward excellent point!

Great insight, Dustin Quinteros. As a writer, I only give lighting thought if during a scene it helps tell/sell the story. A dark alley, for example. How the director imaginations that dark alley and the lighting on the characters in the alley to further the drama is best left to them.

Great video Dustin Quinteros

This is great Dustin, thank you! One of my favorite things about watching Knives Out was the special bit they made about the lighting.

Stephen Folker hi again, sorry for the delay. I’ve changed camps and I’m now up in the north-east (family emergency) and have just seen this.

Thank you for sharing the clip. I love it. Even in such low light conditions, you still get a reflection in the microwave, and highlights from the pots on the oven and the ladle above it. I also like the colour range. Very sweet.

Geoff Hall - Thanks for checking out and noticing. Hope your family is okay.

Stephen Folker thank you, Stephen. We are at that emotional time when the decision to consider a care home is the next step, or if it’s possible to increase Mum’s domestic care package so she can stay at home. I’m not sure Social Services will consider the latter, but my job it seems is to represent Mum’s wishes.

They never get enough credit Stephen, but Sears glass is absolute fire!

Doesn't surprise me Nathan! They used to be known for their quality tools. So, why not lenses! ;) Do you own any?

This is such a great conversation. Recommend everyone watching. Jonathan's POV on success is really powerful and inspiring. Thanks for sharing, Ashley Renee Smith!

What a great post!

This is such a great festival and event. Excited to see this year's crop of films and experience the events. Thanks for sharing with the community, Ashley Renee Smith!

Love Hollyshorts!

Are you planning to attend, Gareth Taylor?

Ashley Renee Smith I'm thinking about it. Would be fun.

Got my sick 25-250 fixed and serviced by Duclos and she's locked and loaded—something fun will be made very soon. Probably not for work, but for film!

Hey Kevin James Bond! Here's a great blog that helps walk you through how to navigate Stage 32: https://www.stage32.com/blog/navigating-stage-32-for-your-best-experience-3095

If there's anything else that you need or any questions that you have, let me know!

I love the team over at Duclos! They're so talented and knowledgeable, but they're also fantastic people. Your lens looks great! Do you have a particular project in mind to use it in next?

Kevin James Bond Hi Kevin, It’s good to see you on here.

How best to use it, is to put a little effort into networking (yeah, it’s slow work), but it’s about developing relationships. You can also search for other filmmakers in your area to connect with and how about sharing one of your reels on the Cinematography Lounge. That might kick-start something!

Hi Kevin James Bond - I’m the Director of Education here at Stage 32. There are so many resources and relationships to be had here.

If I can ever recommend any of our education for you or be of any help on your Stage 32 journey please reach out to me directly at edu@stage32.com.

Also, here is a link to the Stage 32 education landing page so you can check out all of the webinars, classes and labs that are at your fingertips as a community member: https://www.stage32.com/education

Great lens Kevin James Bond

Thanks for sharing, Ashley Renee Smith. Sounds like it's gonna be a great vlog and series. I'm gonna check them out.

This is a terrific series and something every filmmaker should take the time to experience. The alchemy between a director and DP is what makes any movie reach its full visual potential - it's so important! Thanks for sharing Ashley Renee Smith!

True that David Abrookin. And doing the same, Ashley Renee Smith - he shot on IMAX cameras and it should be seen on an IMAX screen if possible.

Agreed, Sam Sokolow!

That's great, Sam Sokolow! I like practical filmmaking way more than CG. Like movies in the 80s. To me, practical filmmaking looks better, and it makes movies feel more real. I'm excited to see "Oppenheimer" even more now.

I LOVE practical effects. Takes me back to the 80s. This sounds like a must see on IMAX.

I loved this, Sam Sokolow “We have to find a way into this guy’s [Oppenheimer] head. We’ve gotta see the world the way he sees it, we’ve gotta see the atoms moving, we’ve gotta see the way he’s imagining waves of energy, the quantum world. And then we have to see how that translates into the Trinity test. And we have to feel the danger, feel the threat of all this somehow. Let’s do all these things, but without any computer graphics” Nolan said to Jackson.

That seems to be a great way of thinking about acting, seeing 'the atoms move' and then cinematically too, seeing things from the character's point of view and not the DP's. It's like flipping the lens.

What a great interview. Such a master at work. No accidents - only brilliant preparation and execution using every tool in the production and post-production kit. Thanks for sharing, Florin!

I thought the look, CGI and Deepfake facial tech aside, looked pretty fantastic! Thanks for sharing!

Great stuff here, Harshad Mori. I like the symmetry in a lot of your shots. Where do you work mainly?

Thank you. @nick. I stay in india so mostly in india only. And if anything comes up from outside i will like to do that too.

I don't shoot music videos, but for quick setups with amazing Autofocus tracking, I'd get the A7IV all day. Shoots 10bit, which is more than adequate. Another note, the pocket 4k does not have NDs built in, but it's much cheaper than the 6k pro. You can use cheaper SD cards which will save money. The 6k pro needs a more expensive media and eats up more room on HD.

Also, a friend of mine used to be a colorist for Technicolor and is still a professional colorist told me Sony is not the best for heavy color grading. Where as Blackmagic grades like butter.

Take it all for what it's worth! I'm in the same boat looking to upgrade and I get caught up in the same stuff.

Also... the Panasonic S5 is amazing camera and can shoot external raw with NinjaV.

This this is really really interesting — with two answers you open mind and covered doubts. Thank you so much. Hope to take a decision soon considering money, specs and accessories. Thanks again. :)

Anytime! Keep me posted as to what you end up getting! :)

Thank you for sharing all of this helpful advice, Mathias Rat!

I agree with Stephen Folker. Great thoughts. I have a soft spot for Blackmagic as it grades extremely well and yields pleasing skin tones. The 4K is great and unless you need more resolution, you can't beat the price. Internal NDs are a big plus but that's doubling the price.

I like the FX3 a lot and if you need autofocus, it's the way to go.

Yup it's such a cool converstion