Are there exercises or things I could do to practice? I would advice you to go out and shoot some stock footage of different places where you live, any thing that seems interesting to you at the time like people, places and events. Explore and play around with the camera, see what different things you can achieve with it.

How familiar do I need to be with the settings on a camera? This depends on what you intend to achieve with the production? but its always good to play around with the different settings by changing them when you filming to see what affect each setting does & write it down, a good camera operator understands what every thing does, this means that he's more capable of manipulating the settings to benefit of the production as a whole.

What are the most important settings on a camera? There all as important as each other in reality, but you need to understand how they all work in order to get a feel for which best suits your purpose.

What is a good first camera? Different people value different cameras as they all appeal to different people in different ways, so its not really about being recommended a camera if Im honest, its about going to the shop and having a play around with a range of cameras until your happy with one that your comfortable using.

What are the most common mistakes beginners make? Personally I think that they make things too complicated, when in reality if they learn how to do the basics well it gives them a brilliant platform to develop from. So I would make things minimalistic if Im honest.

What helped you most the first time you ever started shooting some thing? Defiantly making mistakes, the more mistakes you make the more you'll learn what not to do next time/how to improve it better next time.

Are there any books, audio programs or instructional DVDs that you would recommend? 'Filmmaking for dummies' more than likely you'll be able to get this book from your local libary, if not then I would recommend that you order it off line because this is easily the most useful book Ive ever read with regards to filmmaking because it makes it so easy to understand that you'll regard it as your filmmaking bible because its my personal filmmaking bible.

If you only take one thing away from this contribution, then let it be 'Filmmaking for dummies" because I personally believe that its the holly grail. Cleary.

www.myspace.com/michael_mccleary_films www.youtube.com/cleary82

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Originally posted by jtheplay

What are some good ways for a beginner to learn how to use a camera? I don't expect to go shoot a movie tomorrow, but I'd like to learn some basics about getting comfortable with a camera.

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If I bought or borrowed a camera tomorrow, just to learn, where should I start? Start by just shooting anything. The point of this is to get you used to having the camera in your hands and on a tripod with your eye in the eyepiece. Get used to the controls, where they are, how image changes when you pan, tilt, zoom, change focus. Try whip pans and slow pans.

Put the camera on your shoulder and practice keeping the camera steady as you just stand still. Do this with the lens zoomed all the way in and all the way out and note how much more difficult the long lens is to keep steady. Then try the same exercise while walking.

- Are there exercises or things I could do to practice?
See above.

- How familiar do I need to be with the settings on a camera?
VERY. You should be entirely comfortable with basic photography fundamentals (exposure, lighting, movement)so that you're not worrying about the mechanics of how to achieve something. You should also eventually become extremely familiar with where all the switches and settings are on the cameras you are using so that you're not wasting time looking for them.

- What are the most important settings on a camera to keep in mind?
On a "video" camera, you need to know ALL of the settings. In particular, you need to know how to set the film speed (if the camera allows it to change), the white balance, gain settings, zebra settings, shutter, aperture, focus, backfocus, and focal length.

- What is a good first camera? (I'm thinking in the $500-$800 range, but please be honest about what I need and what's available in all price ranges) What constitutes "good" depends on what you need it for. Your PROJECT(S) should determine what kind of camera you purchase, not your budget... if you need a camera at all. Ask yourself first, why you want to purchase a camera. Do you intend to become a Cameraman/Director of Photography in the future as a career? Or is your goal to become a Director or something else in the film industry? If you don't want to become a Cameraman, then why purchase a camera at all? Why not invest your time and money in writing and directing while looking for others to collaborate with who want to be Cameramen for a living?

If you DO wish to become a Cameraman for a living, then truly ANY camera at this point will do. Do NOT worry about getting something that is expensive or high quality. Your goal at this point in the learning process is to just learn the basics of photography and lighting. When you're ready to get truly serious about the quality, it will be time for you to get an internship or something like it at an established production company or local affiliate news station. You'll gain exposure to higher end professional equipment that you can't afford right now plus, you'll be meeting real working professionals who will call you for actual paid work, assuming they like you enough. 🙂

- What are the most common mistakes beginners make?
Assuming that they need to purchase an expensive camera in the attempt to find a cheap one that is just as good as what the professionals use. There is a reason that professional cameras are expensive and a reason that prosumer cameras are cheap. You simply cannot purchase a cheap camera that is as good as one that costs $30,000 and up.

Beginners also tend to not be aware enough of the basics of photography. LIGHTING has just as much to do with creating an image as the camera/lens does yet whenever the question "Which camera should I buy?" is asked here and elsewhere, almost never is there the accompanying question about lighting, grip, and electric equipment.

And, if you plan to make movies on a student/low-budget level, SOUND is almost always more important that picture. Audiences are very forgiving when it comes to a inferior picture, but if they cannot hear the dialogue clearly and/or the entire soundtrack sounds amateurish, they'll write off your movie immediately. Make it SOUND excellent and they will remember your project positively no matter what it looks like.

- What helped you the most the first time you ever started shooting something?
The freedom to experiment in the field. But more than that, I spent A LOT of time editing. I edited my own material that I shot as well as footage from other Cameramen. I edited my own projects and projects being directed by others. Investing time in the edit bay will teach an aspiring Cameraman and Director how NOT to shoot in the field as you deal with having to "cut around" problems and shots that don't work or shots that aren't there. You'll learn how to "shoot for the edit," so that you get all the shots you DO need while you're out there on set.

I can't say it enough. Edit edit edit!!!!

- Are there any books, audio programs or instructional DVDs that you would recommend?

I'd skip most "How to make a movie" books, opting instead for books and other resources that focus on the fundamentals of basic photography and lighting. Many of these are based around still photography, but that is perfectly fine as the fundamentals are the same and you'll apply the same lessons to motion-picture photography. Frequent professional forums like http://www.cinematography.com and http://www.cinematography.net and the CML Discussion List they have there.

As soon as you can, contact a local production company in your area and let them know of your interest. Volunteer to carry cases or whatever grunt work they have in order for you to observe real professionals in real situations as they light and shoot. You WILL learn far more by being in the trenches like that than you will sitting and reading books.

Ultimately, just getting out there and shooting in real situations is how you learn what works and what doesn't. You'll find out quickly which equipment is good and which is junk. Every setup is a new "problem" to solve as you collaborate with the Director in where to place the camera and how to light the set and the Actors.... all within the parameters of time and budget. Theory can only get you so far, but being able to apply those lessons in real life situations is how you become a real Cameraman and/or "filmmaker."

Brian Dzyak
Cameraman/Author
IATSE Local 600, SOC
http://www.whatireallywanttodo.com
http://www.realfilmcareer.com

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skip most "How to make a movie" books, opting instead for books and other resources that focus on the fundamentals of basic photography and lighting. Many of these are based around still photography, but that is perfectly fine as the fundamentals are the same and you'll apply the same lessons to motion-picture photography. Frequent professional forums like http://www.cinematography.com and http://www.cinematography.net and the CML Discussion List they have there.

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bjdzyak's give you some really really good advice there with regards to lighting, but personally I would get the book as lighting's also covered with in it. Ive just signed up to the cinematography forums cause it looks really useful so Id do the same if I was you.

Cleary.

www.myspace.com/michael_mccleary_films www.youtube.com/cleary82