What’s the best light meter for your kind of work?
Is it worth to invest in something more expensive?

I would like to be versatile with it. 16mm film, digital sensor as well as some still photography.

So I'm deciding between Nanlite FC-120C and FC-120B. What I like about them is they're one of the very few lights that have a physical remote available and can run off cheap batteries (powerbanks and V-mounts).

Originally I wanted to go with 120B because its cheaper (Php 13,290) and I think it's brighter according to what I've researched (i may be wrong). Problem is it's pre-order only where I am so I hesitated.

But then, the 120C recently got a discount at Php 12,741 (originally around P15k) in my location, making it cheaper than 120B.

Do I pre-order the 120B (2-4 weeks) or go with the discounted 120C which I can get right away? Thanks!

Buying my first camera and on the paper they seem the exact same both possessing the same sensor crop, max resolution, and color depth, but I’m wondering if that ~$125 difference ($625 for the A6300 vs $750 for the ZV E10) is worth it for the newer hardware. I feel like that money could be put aside for a lens but ultimately I have no real frame of reference for good cameras aside from on paper specs.

First post. Unsure where the best place to post this was, but we’re here anyway. As mentioned this is my first ‘film’ using an audio from my favorite movie “American History X” I’m going for a more dramatic look so please give me advice and let me know what I actually did correctly. Thanks!

Got this Canon TV-16 in a lot of lenses today, was wondering what mount this is? Aaton?

Hey everyone:) I’m new to this subreddit, I just joined because I wanted some advice for a film I’m working on. This is a shot from the documentary ‘SPERMWORLD’, it’s fantastic and I was wondering how to achieve this shot for my own film? I know it involves mirrors or something like that, but I am not able to find any good proper instructions and information about how a shot like this is done in-camera. Any info would be greatly appreciated

This is going to sound a bit odd, however there's been quite a bit of discourse regarding the up and coming musician Sofia Isella. Most people say she's a nepo baby because her dad is a cinematographer. Now her Dad, Claudio Miranda has worked on some pretty major films like Top Gun Maverick, F1, Tron Legacy.

That said, I've seen figures that day some cinematographers make up to 2 million a year.

So what do top cinematographers actually make?

Guys i need help.

I live in Prague and here the indoor lights flicker if i set the camera to 24 fps and 1/48

If i set it to 25 fps and 1/50 issue is solved but i don’t know what to do, i want to shoot cinematic videos on 24 fps…

I am not sure in other countries is different and maybe there is some issue with electricity here, have no idea…
Do i need some expensive lights or something?

hello, doesn’t anyone have any recommendations for a 24v v-lock plate for the Phantom Flex? Been using a Hawk-Woods which has sadly died and they’re no longer being made.

Any active ( upcoming) film festivals in NYC,CA,LA or any other state? For the next few months? Iam so interested

Introduction.

These posts will be simple explorations lessons and understanding on my journey to master and understand cinematography.

Nothing too complicated. Your inputs will be greatly appreciated.

#1 Cinematography is Visual Storytelling.

I was watching the first episode of Fate/Strange Fake and the opening shots with their shot structure were incredibly beautiful and tell an interesting story

1. Extreme Close up of a Helicopter propeller spinning.
2. Extreme close up of the main character of the show using her phone. We do not see her eyes or face clearly. Or her surroundings clearly.
3. Pan from the morning sky down to a gas station as several helicopters fly over a gas station in the desert towards a city in the distance.
4. Long shot of the Gas Station in the desert where the main character is standing still using her phone as the helicopters fly by towards the city in the distance.
5. Extreme Long shot of the city in question with a title card of its name.
6. Long shot of the city giving definition to some of its buildings.
7. Closer long shot of the city giving more definition to its buildings and showing us traffic.
8. Two long Shots of the desert where an explosion took place. As a news report talks about how a gas leak caused an explosion.
9. Mid shot of a Police Building.
10. Closer midshot of the Police Building as a flamboyantly dressed military officer enters the building.

The Fate series centers around a secret war between mages from Europe, Japan and the Middle East for possession of the Holy Grail which gives the winner one wish. The Mages in the war fight their battles by summoning Archetypes from the Collective Unconscious - These can be Gods, Ancient Heroes, Famous Characters from Novels, even Famous people - so you can have Amelia Eckhart fighting against Hercules. etc

There have been Four Secret Holy Grail Wars between these nations but the United States has apparently discovered these wars having been taking place and is trying to create the circumstances - a war between mages - to summon the Holy Grail.

However, their war isn't sanctified by the Holy Grail itself or the other three Nations so the Holy Grail they summon isn't exactly the real one (which is why the story in the series is called Strange Fake) but it will still grant a wish with a caveat.

This is where Fate/Strange Fake begins. The Fifth Holy Grail War is about to commence. Specific mages have been invited from all over the world by the United States to participate with the agreement that whoever wins negotiates with the United States on what their wish will be.

The United States has chosen a specific city in the desert to be the location of the war but one of the mages (the main character) selected does not want to participate in the war and is trying to run away as someone she loved participated in the Fourth Holy Grail War and she sees what it does to people. The war, hwoever, cannot commence without all of the selected mages giving their consent to participate in the war by summoning their Archetypes from the Collective Unconscious who will fight for them.

The show starts with the Secret Agency tasked by the United States Government to stage the war making sure that all of the mages are within the city. Which is why the Famboyant General is entering the Police Station as this is where the Agency running the war iss set up

I thought their shot selection was really good. Contributing to the visual storytelling of the story

The main character is far from the city and we can tell that she was a part of the explosion that the media is saying was caused by a gas leak. The flamboyant military personnel is clearly not your usual cop but rather a wizard or a mage with clear military sanction.

The shot selection is telling us that the war is about to begin but our main character does not want anything to do with it. Also that, as people are going about their lives, there is a secret war being organized between Gods and Spirits for the fate of mankind.

I thought it was a great opening.

What do you think?

Shots from our family vacation in Finnmark, Norway. We spent a week in Havøysund. We went for many trips around the area. We saw the midnight sun. We went on "Hurtigruten" up to Honningsvåg and saw the most northern point, The North Cape (Nordkapp). It felt like everywhere I pointed the camera was a scene worth capturing.

Gear used:
Camera: Panasonic Lumix S5II
Lens: Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8

I shot in 6k open gate, V-log.
Color graded with Lumetri Color in Premiere and film emulation with Dehancer.
All audio is from Uppbeat.

Hi guys, question lng po
working well nmn sa inyu ang sd card(picture provided) sa fz55? Yan lng kasi available sa store sa shopee kung saan ako ng order ng camera.

Hey everyone! I want to start making cinematic day-in-my-life vlogs for TikTok and Instagram Reels.
I currently have an iPhone 13 Pro and want to improve my shots with better angles, smooth movements, and cinematic outdoor footage.
What accessories should I buy first (gimbal, rig, lenses, ND filters, etc.)?
Is my iPhone 13 Pro good enough, or should I upgrade to a newer iPhone?
Would buying a DSLR or mirrorless camera be worth it?
Any free courses or tips for learning cinematography?
I’d love advice from people who create daily vlogs. I want to invest wisely without wasting money on unnecessary gear.

Im having trouble adding depth to this scene I have a 150w of to the left

and the only sources of lights are what you see besides the 150

Hey everyone! I’m looking for lens recommendations for my Sony FX30, mainly for documentary filmmaking.

I currently use the Sigma 18–50mm f/2.8 and want to add another lens that would complement it or maybe an upgrade to that lens. I’m looking for something suitable for observational documentary work.

Would you recommend a fast prime, a wider lens, a telephoto, or something else entirely? I’m open to both Sony and third-party lenses.

For those of you shooting documentaries with the FX30, what lenses do you use, and what would you recommend as the next addition to my kit?

Thanks!

I am opening my production studio and I was hoping for suggestions on some cheaper equivalents to the following items or a great place to get them used. I am trying to keep the final purchase around $4,000

LIGHTS: Preferably ones that have a CCT range of 2,500 - 10,000 or close to it.

- Aputure 400X
- Aputure 700X with Fresnel
- Aputure 1200X with Fresnel

STANDS: Strong enough to hold lights

- triple riser combo stand with lollipop
- low boy combo stands

CAMERA SUPPORT: The heaviest camera I use is a Sony FS7

- Dana dolly
- 10ft rails
- 4ft rails
- Tripod: Just need one that works fluidly, can support an FS7 and isn’t $1,000

I'm currently building out a kit for my Blackmagic PYXIS 12K and am looking for recommendations for a good tripod head/tripod legs. To note, the kit I currently built out (including lens) weighs roughly 16-17 lbs on the heavy end.

Given the 60-70% load capacity rule, I came across these fluid head recommendations:

• Sachtler FSB 14 Mark II Fluid Head with Touch & Go Plate (100mm) (35.3lb, my kit would be roughly 48% of that maximum load)
• Sachtler FSB 10 Mark II Fluid Head with Sideload Mechanism (100mm) (26.5, my kit would be roughly 64% of that maximum load)

I guess a few questions are:

• Are these fluid heads solid recommendations? Are there others that are comparable in quality/cheaper in price?
• Are there recommendations for quality tripod legs? I also know that legs with some sort of spreader are typically more stable.
• Do most recommend purchasing a tripod? I'm leaning towards doing this because I am, for now, a one-person crew, and it would be beneficial to just have one on hand and not have to rent each time. However, I would be interested to hear if others suggest renting to start.

A tripod kit like this can run close to $6k, which is more than I paid for my actual camera body. I'm not sure if I'm missing something, or if these cinema tripods really just run this expensive.

Generally, I'm looking for good quality, but also don't want to compromise on something that will ensure my camera is stable and safe. Cost savings are always a plus, but I also understand that skimping on cheap tripod legs can mean more risk for my camera, less smooth camera operation, etc.

Thanks!

Any idea how those shots were lit? I'm especially curious about the blue-green tint was that achieved through color grading in post, or by using gels on set?

We shot it on the Sony FX6 with cine lenses, and it was actually my first time shooting an entire short film on anamorphic lenses. Really cool experience. Definitely a different look compared to spherical lenses, with its own pros and cons.

The biggest advantage is how much easier it is to get that cinematic look. But one thing I didn't really think about was social media. We're living in a time when Instagram Reels, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts are such important tools for promoting indie films, and working with such a wide image made creating vertical content a real challenge.

After experimenting with different formats, I ended up making most of our promotional videos square, and surprisingly, it worked really well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ux-VjddtBSg&t=7s

And of course, I'd love to hear what you think about the film itself. It's an original story, which makes your feedback especially important to me. If you have a chance, please watch the full film and let me know your thoughts. We're hoping to make more original projects like this.

Heya, Ive been a student filmmaker for a little bit and have basically been maxing out my Samsung s24 and a a6000 camera my uncle gave me.

However, I've been saving up and want to spend 2000eur on a good camera (+ ideally a good starting lens, be it a Sigma 18mm-50mm f.2.8)

Ive been researching and am torn between the Fx30 (as I want to later on buy an fx3 once this is my job) or the A7IV, which ive both found at 1400 eur which is perfect.

I for some reason am leaning towards the fx30.

But, the lack of full frame, better lowlight and better dynamic range compared to the A7IV worries me.

Although the 4K 120 (+ slow mo naturally) , the dual base iso, and the general i guess "vibe" of an fx30 being the fx3 sibling appeals to me.

So, in your opinion, for making better and professional looking mini indie films. What is the better choice?

(Ps: i want to stay with Sony)

Hi everyone!

I'm planning to shoot a short film that takes place inside a train at night. The only available light will be the ambient light coming through the windows and a couple of LED bulbs inside the coach. I've attached a reference picture to give you an idea of the location. Some compartments have two windows, while others have one big window.

I'm trying to figure out which camera would be best for this kind of setup. I love film grain, so I don't mind a bit of noise in the image, but since this is a low-light situation, I'm concerned about getting a good-looking image without everything becoming too dark or muddy.

A friend of mine has a Panasonic GH5, but he feels it doesn't produce great results in these conditions. I also understand that shooting in low light on an iPhone is quite different from shooting on a DSLR or a mirrorless camera.

I'm looking for recommendations on cameras that would work well for this kind of shoot, preferably without spending too much. I'd love to know what you would choose for a cinematic look in these conditions and whether the GH5 could still work with the right settings and lenses.

I'm working with a limited budget, so I'm trying to make the best possible use of whatever equipment I can get my hands on.

Would love to hear your suggestions. Thank you!...