I often find that one of the more common questions I get asked is, "What
is the best camera?". I've always been a firm believer that when it
comes to cameras, you need to select the right tool for the job. While
some cameras have distinct advantages, and those advantages often grow
exponentially as the price tag increases, there is something to be said
for picking the camera that is going to work best for the specific
project you are shooting.
Some factors to consider:
Environment:
What's the light like? If I'm shooting something for a commercial, I
like to polish and shape the light to get that image to pop off the
screen. In this situation, I often prefer a more production-ready camera
like our RED Epic or our Canon C100. However, if I'm shooting in more
of a documentary format, sometimes that option isn't available.
Cinematography is the art of painting with light (and sometimes framing
it with movement) to create an immersive, visual world. But what if
you're struggling to get the right amount of light? Nobody likes digital
artifacting and unwanted "noisy" footage. In that situation, I would
look to a camera like the Sony A7S Mk II, which is one of the best,
affordable low-light cameras on the market.
Style:
Are you looking for a polished, Hollywood look? Or is the project in
need of a sense of immediacy and a more organic feel. A polished look
requires more sweeping motions and usually longer set-ups. Immediacy
often dictates more of a handheld approach. But how does that influence
camera choice? If I'm going handheld (or more appropriately -- mounting
the camera on a shoulder rig or gimble), I want to consider stability.
You don't want to necessarily eliminate all the shake of the movements,
but you do want to eliminate "bad shake" or unwanted camera jitters. For
that reason, you should consider a camera with either in-body image
stabilization or lens stabilization. Or both! There are a lot of great
smaller, more stable cameras that have recently hit the market including
some offerings from Sony, Olympus' EM1 MK II, and Panasonic's
fantastically stable GH5.
Time:
How long do I have to get this shot? This is absolutely key and
sometimes an overlooked factor. This, of course, is often dictated by
the shooting situation you find yourself. A DSLR is great for pulling
out a camera quickly and capturing a shot, but it won't necessarily have
that "polished" look that I mentioned earlier. However, the downside
is, it might take me around 30 minutes to get our Red Epic set up and
properly rigged on a jib or slider.
These are just a few of the factors that need to be taken into
consideration, and this is by no means comprehensive. The key point to
remember is that there is no "best camera." There is only the right
camera and the wrong camera for what you are trying to accomplish. It's
no different than a plumber choosing the correct wrench. We always have
to use the proper tools to accomplish our work in the most efficient and
effective manner.
Here at DH
Productions, we pride ourselves on using the right tool for the job. We have a variety of cameras in house and we rent cameras as needed to get our clients the perfect shot. After all, the first and last impressions a video can make will be with your eyes. You can trust that we'll deliver something both visually stunning and effective. And if you are looking to create something on your own, we offer gear rental to assist in your shooting situations. This includes everything from a RED 5K
Cinema package, to a full set of prime lenses, to lights, to a plethora
of other options. More information is available on this site, and we
would be happy to discuss with you what might be the right choice for
your particular project.
