1. A level media
Pre Lim 4 -
Equipment
workshop
Seo Hyun Heo
When it comes to filming, choosing the right equipment is often one of the most important stages. Certain equipment might help
improve the quality of the production, while others don't. Not all equipment are the same, but it is possible to divide its types based
on what their purpose serves as. Hopefully, this guide will be a useful checklist for selecting the most appropriate equipment for
each unique situation.
2. #1
Cinematography
All equipment used for visual recording are
sorted into this category. Lighting is also a
visual factor, however, it will be placed into
another category of its own. Equipment such
as cameras and tripods are listed on this
category.
3. DSLR camera
The DSLR camera is the only equipment on
this list that is capable of recording scenes
visually. They are light and easy in transport
while maintaining superior video quality.
Even though their battery life is rather short,
DSLR cameras are capable of filming in
various conditions without ruining the quality
of the recordings.
How to use a DSLR camera:
> Press the power button.
> Adjust the settings of the camera.
> Adjust the focus of the lens.
> Press record (live footage!)
4. My first time working with the DSLR
camera was a bit rough. The neumerous
amount of functions were quite
overwhelming and I ended up only using a
handful of them. Things seemed to get
better once I got the hang of it, but
practice is still needed.
5. Tripod
Tripods are used to stabilise the camera
movement while filming. Even though the
tripod was made to improve the use of the
camera, tripods can also be attached to
lighting equipment, creating a wider range of
use. Tripods do not require any battery power
and don't have any particular technical
difficulties. However, they will only allow the
user to film a shot in a fixed spot, restricting
the freedom of movement.
How to use a tripod:
> Unfold the legs by unlocking the clasps.
> Adjust the height by locking the clasps.
> Connect to camera/ lighting device.
6. Tripods might be one of the easiet
equipments to use on this list, but they still
take some time to master. It took me a
decent amount time to set up the whole
thing: attatching the camera, checking the
balance, connecting smaller additional
parts etc.
7. Gimbal
Steady panning shots require extra effort. To fix
shaky manual camera movements, we might need
to borrow some help from modern technology.
Gimbals are electronic devices that help stabilize
the camera. This allows the user to take smooth
shots while creating movement. Gimbals are very
good for scenes where the camera moves along
with the characters. However gimbals have short
battery power, making itnot suitable for long
sessions of filming. Users also need to avoid rapid
movement while filming since it will overwhelm
and possibly damage the device.
How to use the gimbal:
> Connect the camera to the gimbal.
> Make sure the weightings are correct (the camera
should be able to balance facing forwards, not fall
downwards).
> Turn on the gimbal, then start recording!
8. #2
Lighting
Finding the right type of lighting can be
tough. Controled by using key light, back
light and fill light, lighting plays a key part in
creating a pleasing mise en scene. Equipment
used to help control the lighting environment
will be placed in this category.
9. LED lights
LED lights are used to enhance the lighting of
a scene. These lights are able to be controlled in
strength and warmth (3200dpi for warm light,
5500dpi for cold light) at will. Some models
can even be connected to the camera and tripod
itself, allowing itself to be more portable. LED
lights are good for creating various lighting
conditions. However, because these lights are
run by battery power, they are not suitable for
long hours of shooting (running out of power.)
How to use LED lights:
> Attach to camera/ tripod.
> Add in diffuser if needed.
> Control the light settings.
> Turn on the lights!
10. Diffuser
(softens the
light intensity)
Connecting the LED lights to the DSLR
camera wasn't as easy as I thought it
would be. This part took me a couple of
times until I got it right. For the actual
filming process, I'll be using the lights with
the diffuser to soften the intensity.
13. Reflector
Reflectors come out in various colors. Gold
reflectors are used for warm lighting, while
silver reflectors are used for cool lighting.
White reflectors won’t really enhance the
temperature of the lighting, only reflecting
what is given to them. Reflectors are easy to
use, don’t require much battery power, but
take a lot of space.
How to use a reflector:
> Hold it up, reflect the light!
14. I wasn't able to add the pictures of the
gold and silver reflectors due to some
technical issues. The reflectors made a
massive difference to the overall lighting.
However, I won't be using these on set for
my filming since my film doesn't really
require any harsh lighting set ups.
15. #3
Sound
The greatest cameras don't always have
the greatest microphones. To collect the
exact sound footage wanted in a film, a
high quality sound equipment is much
needed. This includes the dialog of the
actors, the extra sound effects (e.g.
guns) and the background music.
16. Boom mic.
The boom mic is a combination of two
separate devices: the shotgun mic and the
boom pole. The length of the boom pole can
be adjusted, enabling the user to vary its
needed length. The shotgun mic requires
battery power and can record sounds once its
connected to an audio recorder. Even though
boom mics are made to be adaptable, they
require man power, making it difficult for long
hours of filming(unless a stand is used as
well)
How to use the boom mic:
> Assemble the shotgun mic.
> Adjust the length of the boom pole.
> Connect the shotgun mic to the boom pole.
17. Audio recorder(Zoom H6)
The functions of each audio recorder can be
strikingly different depending on their brand, but
they all share the same base: the ability to record
sounds. The model I am using is the Zoom H6.
The Zoom H6 can record the sounds of up to 5
different microphones at the same time, with each
sound source having its recording volume set
separately. Audio recorders require battery power,
making them not so suitable for long hours of
filming.
How to use an audio recorder:
> Turn the device on.
> Connect the recoding devices to the right
stations.
> Press the buttons for stations that need recording,
then adjust the volume.
> Press record!
18. Learning to identify and properly use the
different functions of an audio mic was a
bit challenging. I had to pay close attention
not to press record on the wrong buttons.
It was interesting to see that so many
recording devices could be connected at
once, saving the time of combing different
sound clips.
19. Radio mic
The radio mic is used a lot in tv shows with
celebrities due its ability to be attached to
clothing. The audio signals picked up from the
radio mic are transmitted in the form of radio
waves to a receiver, which is connected to an
audio recorder. Radio mics are light and
portable, but require battery power to properly
function. Radio mics are only able to send
signals to their paired up receivers, which
makes recording impossible if either one of
the devices are unable to be used.
How to use radio mics:
> Connect receiver to audio recorder.
> Attach radio mic to subject(most likely).
> Start recording
