Camera 101: Introduction to the Camera System

Ryan E. Walters

Ryan E. Walters

Well-known member
Hello,

I wanted to let you all know that I have just published the first in my Camera 100 series of tutorial / training videos all of which are free. In this first video I explore the make up of the camera system - Camera Body, Lens Selection, Follow Focus, Matte Box, Tripod, Monitor, and Light Meter. I hope you find it useful and helpful. Enjoy. :)

Check it out here:
http://www.ryanewalters.com/Videos/Training/Camera/camera.html
 
It is very, very well made! Thanks!
Good, basic introduction. You come across as experienced and professional. The colored texts give a bit of comic relief. Well made!
Cool graphics, putting much work in setting up the light and background, voice is loud and clear,...
Except three things that jumped into my amateur eye at once:
* With the cold lights/white-balance used you look like your skin hasn't seen sunlight for years.
* You are giving a lot of information very quickly. It's hard co keep up with the voice when new, long texts come into view and want to be reat before they disappear. Maybe slow down the pace or make a small pause between "slides"?
* The embedded video could be larger. It's okay to read this in full screen but in the size you have chosen to embed it in the web page it's too tiny for so many lines of text.
 
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Thanks for the comments. I am fairly pale in complection. I could warm it up I suppose, and give more life to my skin, and give myself a better tan ... :)
 
I finally managed to see the rest of it and edited my post to add 2 more points.
The too-much-text is very easily done when you see the same footage over an over again while working on it and is more a skill that comes with holding lectures then with editing video.
 
Great points Marcus. I'll address them with the new edit I'll put up next week. (I'm re-recording the audio, and will slow down my pace.)
 
Audio updated / fixed, and imbedded video size has been increased. (It still would be better to watch full screen when possible.)
 
Being a newbie to video, I must say that the training video was very helpful to me. I learned quite a few things, and gained professional insight on a few other areas, so from my newbie standpoint I give this tutorial an 'A'! When should we expect the 'Lighting' training video?

I personally want to thank you for sharing your experience and knowledge with beginners like myself!
Dave
 
Ryan-

Thanks for making the effort.

I appreciate your time and obvious experience.

Be well.

Rob
Smalltalk Productions
 
A very informative look over the basics of the camera. Great! Thanks a lot, Ryan!
Looking forward to Lighting 101.
 
I just started watching your series, in "Introduction to the Camera", at 1:16, you spelled "yields" wrong, also at 11:53 you spelled "precarious" wrong. Other then that, it was great!
 
Hey these are great! I just watched them both. What do you think about using a DSLR as a light meter if that is not the camera being used in the production (I would never move around the production cam on-set)? Reason I ask is while I agree with your assesment that we shouldn't shy away from buying good gear because it's expensive, I need to step up to a pro lighting package from the indie lights I've been using and that will cost about as much as the meter you recommend.
 
That is very understandable, and it is always a problem for sure. Basically, my recommendation it to use whatever you can afford, even if it means getting an old used meter from your local photography store. (That's what I did when I started out.) If you have a extra DSLR that you can use, and that fits within your budget, then use it while you save up for a more expensive meter.

Personally, I would put the money towards a meter and then rent the lights I need for the shoots I work on. Lighting needs always change, and the project parameters will effect what lights I choose to use. I have yet to use the exact same set of lights on every project. There will be similarities in lights used, but it is never exactly the same. But on every project, I always use my meter, so that is the one constant. But that may not suite your style of working or needs. So you have to figure out what works best for your situation.

Another option you may want to consider, is to watch E-bay. You can get great deals on Ebay on meters. And if you do not use flashes (you are not a photographer) in your work, then you can even pick up a meter made for the Japan market. Often times you can find those meters at half the price of the US version. It is still in English, and everything functions the same. The only difference is that the remote trigger / wireless trigger for flashes is programed to the Japanese standard. So if you try to use it with an American flash it will not trigger it. You can find these meters for sale through Japanese photography stores.

Good luck- I hope that helps a little. :)
 
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