Robin Raskol

I just wanted to thank you all so much for your amazing and multifaceted replies! This has been so educational/helpful to me (and I'm sure others as well!)

Very insightful responses guys, thanks so much!

That's the thing I'm wondering though. Why aren't those other cams up to snuff, so to speak? From a technical standpoint. I know you mention the support and ease of use for the Alexa/RED, but what is it about cameras like the Sony A7S (w/ Shogun output for 4k) or GH4 that prevents them from seeing more professional use?

So I was wondering, what are your guys opinions on the following subject: With the upcoming prevalence of affordable 4k Cameras (and the ones already on the market such as the A7S, BMCC4k, GH4, GoPro Black), what is stopping these cameras from being used more often in serious feature film production? I know they're already being used here and there of course, but when you look at which cameras are PREDOMINANTLY being used to this day in feature films that make it to serious festivals like Sundance, Cannes, Venice, SXSW, etc, you almost completely only see the Arri Alexa or variations of the RED camera seeing use as main cameras. I'm wondering, technically speaking, with these other 4k Cameras that I mentioned (and ones hitting the market shortly), what inhibits them from being used more commonly considering their VERY SIGNIFICANTLY lower cost? What is preventing more aspiring DP's and Director's of this generation to say hey why don't we make a feature for like $20k with all this available and affordable 4k Equipment? Technically speaking, is there something that is so lacking in these cameras when compared to the Alexa or RED?

So say for instance two characters are sitting in a diner having a conversation, I've seen it shot where answering shots are merely clean singles and sometimes they have the hand, or the shoulder, or the head, or something minuscule of the other character in the frame, as well as the face of the person answering. What are the established rules for when to include a "piece" of the other character in the answering shot and when to make it a clean shot of just the person answering? Is this "dirty" shot kind of a variation of an OTS (Over the shoulder)?Thanks in advance!

Perfect response, thanks much!

Hi all. I've been self-teaching myself cinematography for the past few years. My question in this thread pertains to what the "accepted" terminology is for certain angles/shots. In terms of framing and the position of the camera in relation to the actor on the X-axis, what are the accepted terms for the camera being placed: - Directly behind the actor. - Directly in front of. - Directly profile (this I'm assuming is called merely called "profile") - An uneven position. For instance, directly behind the talent, but 30 degrees skewed to the right. Or directly profile, but 20 degrees skewed to the left. This is the one I'm most fuzzy on. What do I call this when trying to communicate with other DOPs? Thanks in advance!

Hi all, I'm an aspiring cinematographer, and had a few questions pertaining to composition. I'm aware of all the shot types, ranging from Extreme Close-UP (ECU) to Extreme Long Shot (ELS) but I'm having trouble 'classifying' certain shots. For instance, a "Medium Shot" is defined by capturing a subject from Waist to Head, but what if there is a shot of the subject is in the forefront of the frame, let's say the right side of it, and is captured from Waist to Head, but the shot itself is actually a "Long Shot" or "Wide Shot", and shows a lot of additional background, like a boat or church or school in entirety. Would this shot be classified as a type of Long Shot or would it still be considered a Medium Shot because it simply frames the subject from Waist to Head, regardless of how big or wide the shot is in totality? Additionally, a Medium Close-Up (MCU) is defined by framing a subject from Shoulders to Head yet in some frames with unusual angles, the frame is more closely zoomed in, and while it shows the subject from the shoulders to the head, the shot only goes to the forehead. Would this still be considered an MCU because it shows the subject from shoulders to head, or would it be more accurately described as a Close-Up (CU)? Thanks very much in advance for any help you all may offer.