Analysis of DSLR Camera settings to produce Cinematic Footage

DSLR Cameras

DSLR stands for Digital Single Lens Reflex. It is a digital still image camera that uses a single-lens reflex mechanism. A DSLR works by manipulating light. When the shutter is pressed, the mirror flips up out of the way, the shutter slides open, and light coming from the lens takes a straight shot to the imaging sensor where a photograph is made. DSLR’s have several different camera modes such as creative auto, portrait and manual mode. This allows photographers to take different types of pictures. For example, the manual mode allows the photographer to control the exposure of an image by letting them select an aperture value and a shutter speed value. The DSLR Camera that I will be using is called the Canon EOS 1300D. 

Manual Mode Controls

1. Aperture controls the brightness of an image that passes through the lens. It is expressed in an 'f stop' or an 'f-number'. A large aperture is measured using a low f-stop number, such as f/2. When the maximum aperture (lowest f-stop number) is used, this is referred to as “shooting wide open” which means it is letting in the most light possible. Whereas a small aperture is where less light is being taken in and is measured using a high f-stop number, such as f/22.  An example of aperture being used can be seen in the photograph below. A wide aperture (left) creates a bright, and focused effect whereas a narrow aperture (right) creates a low brightness and is best used when the brightness is too high.

        2.  Depth of Field is the distance between the nearest and the furthest objects giving a focussed image. The depth of field can be controlled by the aperture, the focus distance and the focal length. For example, a large aperture, being close to the subject and a longer focal length will give you a shallower depth of field. An example of a shallow depth of field can be seen in the film ' The Social Network'. A shallow depth of field allows the audience to focus on the character in the center of the shot. This shot is also using selective focus which is where depth of field is used to isolate the subject.

       3.  A Focus Pull is a technique used in cinematography in which the focus is switched from one subject to another during a shot. This is used to pull the viewer's attention from one subject to another during a scene. An example of the focus pull be seen in most films (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tT_qv9ptauU). For example, at 1:13, the camera is focusing on the people talking in the living room. Then the focus changes as the two main characters enter the shot and start talking to each other. This is used so that these two actions can be captured within one shot, and tells the audience what they should be focussing on in the film.

Types of Camera Lenses

1.    A Standard camera lens produces an image that is a similar angle of view to the human eye. This gives shots a natural effect. 

2.    A Wide Angle camera lens produces a wider angle of the view than a normal lens. It allows you to fit more into the frame and are best used for wide landscapes.

3.     A Telephoto camera lens is designed for taking photographs of subjects that are of a far distance.

4.     A Macro camera lens is designed for taking photos of small subjects at a very close distance. They are able to focus much more than a normal lens which allows you to capture more detail of the small subject. 

5.      A Fish-eye camera lens is a type of wide-angle lens and is able to capture an extremely wide image, typically around 180 degrees. This gives shots a very abstract effect. 

Use of Exposure Control for effect

1.      Shutter speed describes how quickly or slowly the shutter on the camera opens and closes again. A fast shutter speed means the shutter is open for a shorter period of time and is able to freeze action of the subject, whilst a slow shutter speed means the shutter is open for longer. 

2.      ISO is a camera setting used to brighten or darken photos. A higher ISO, will increase the brightness of the photo. Therefore, ISO is useful when taking dark photos as the brightness can be adjusted via the ISO setting. 

3.      Light Trails are colourful streaked moving lines across the image rather than just a fixed point of light. They are usually created by the headlights of moving cars on a road. It is created by lowering a cameras shutter speed where light is captured over a long period of time, with every passing vehicle having its lights tracked over the visible distance of the road. 

Frame Rates for different effects
Frame rate is the speed at which images are shown

1.     25 FPS is the standard frame rate for cinematography in films and television broadcasts. It produces the same effect of real life movements and so is used when trying to make the film/tv show look natural. If a video is captured at 25 fps, that means each second of video shows 25 distinct still images, maintaining realistic motion. Most films that people watch are often filmed in 24 or 25 fps. This makes the film look realistic and flow smoothly. 

2.     High FPS refers to higher frame rates than normal (anything over 30fps). This is good for capturing a lot of action in films. Furthermore, an extremely high frame rate is used to create slow motion footage. An example of high fps being used in films can be seen in the movie 'The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug' where the entire movie was filmed at 48 fps. This was done to make the film look less real as the middle earth in the film was supposed to be fantasy and not look too real. Furthermore, 48 fps allows for the creation of very smooth slow motion scenes in the film.

3.     Lower FPS refers to lower frame rates than normal. This is used for time lapse photography and  stop motion animation. Also, early motion picture films used 18 fps. This creates a fast motion effect in cinematography and is used to speed up time. Examples of a lower frame rate being used can be seen in this clip (https://kizny.com/services/timelapse-cinematography/). This is useful when time lapsing a certain environment, and is used in films to show that a lot of time has passed.