Posts Tagged ‘production services new york’
The Difference Between Film and Digital Camera
Posted by Tim Norton in Cameras Saturday, 22 August 2009 04:29 No Comments
Filmmakers have a lot of choices to make when taking on a film project. Things such as script choice and what team to put together are very important. However, another crucial decision that must be made is whether to use a film camera such as a High 8 or a digital camera that uses a hard drive or SD memory card.
Whether film or digital is your choice, both are perfectly fine. However, each one has its own list of advantages and disadvantages. Listed below are just a few for both methods.
The Film Camera
As you would suspect, a film camera requires film. The most recognized film camera is the High 8. This cameras film quality is very similar to that of a digital camera. Additional models include the 16mm and the Super 8 which are the old reel to reel cameras invented way before VCR’s.
Film cameras offer a richer looking film. However, this form does require the need for processing. While this task usually only takes a day or two, it is very difficult to find a processing center willing to work with a filmmaker on a budget. If you do in fact find one, your reward will be a clear and engaging film.
A camcorder that uses VCR tapes is another option. The tapes needed are very inexpensive and generally readily available. However, the disadvantages to this method are the fact that you must rewind in order to see the scenes you have already shot. If you find a scene you are not satisfied with your options are to tape over it or use a new tape. Furthermore, VCR tapes tend to wear down over time which will give your film a choppy, poor quality look.
Film and tape have an additional downfall, they most often appear dark. In order to prevent this, your goal is to provide adequate light while maintaining a natural feel.
Digital
Digital cameras are easier to find new, as they are phasing out the old tape camcorders. With the abundance of effects and editing options on a digital camera, you can make a professional looking film much faster than with film or tape.
If you have ever looked at a photo taken with an old 35mm camera and compared with digital, you will see that the disadvantage is that digital produces a picture that is often too bright and clear and contains no depth.
While digital cameras are very clear, it is very difficult to get the same shading and lighting unless you are an expert at lighting and editing programs.
Digital cameras allow you to check your shots right away, by simply clicking on the play button or connecting the camera to a computer and watching it. It’s much easier to erase too, just click the delete button and it’s gone. You don’t have to worry about re-using tapes and having them wear out on you.
Another advantage to using a digital camcorder is it’s much easier to upload your film to your computer for editing. All you have to do is connect the camera, upload the files and open your editing program. With a tape camcorder, you will need a convertor to connect to the computer.
Special effects are a breeze with a digital camcorder as well. All you need is to open the files already loaded on your computer and simply add the effects you desire.
One disadvantage to digital cameras, they are more expensive. A hard drive camcorder can run you upwards of $400 or a bit more. You can also get one that uses SD and XD memory cards, the same ones your still digital camera uses. These cameras tend to be a bit cheaper, but no less useful than the more expensive ones.
Before choosing the camera that is right for you, you must first ask yourself some questions. Do you want the ease and convenience of a digital camera? Or, do you prefer look and feel of the old school film and tape cameras?
Once you decide this, it will make the choices much easier to make.
Spy Pen Digital Video Recording (DVR)
Posted by Jarrett in Cameras Friday, 7 August 2009 14:41 No Comments
Technology is advancing, fact. As time passes by more and more products are slowly upgrading. The latest craze and trend within the recording sector is going digital. Every single product that can seems to be turning digital, they tell you it’s for good reason. We couldn’t agree more.
The very first spy gadgets all recorded in a quite inconvenient way that required extra set ups of equipment else ware and generally proved to be quite a pain. Whilst the camera was small the other equipment was big, bulky and awkward to handle. Transmitter / receiver set ups were common place limiting their use to people willing to pay the money forcing them to require a proper need for one.
The decision to turn the spy pen into a digital device and bring in spy pen DVR completely reinvented the product. It allowed the user to operate the device on their own, and it made the footage easily accessible and easy to view. So how did spy pen DVR do all this?
The device was completely self-contained within the spy pen meaning you required to extra equipment in order to record the footage. It gifted you the key concept of independence and being able to carry out covert surveillance alone keeping it truly secret.
Spy pen DVR normally records in .avi format. This format is widely supported and can be played on most devices without additional software. We have found it compatible with some cell phones, i-pods, and every pc or laptop we have ever come across.
Live streaming has now also become an option with all sorts of hidden camera devices. By connecting the camera up to a live Internet connection you can make it possible to access it from anywhere in the world and view what’s going on. Whilst not a convenient set up with a spy pen, its cousin products make great hosts.
Poor lighting conditions constantly plague devices such as spy pen recorders, digital footage has the advantage of been easily edited or enhanced. This is an excellent tool which although not unique to digital footage. Has software easily available and the clip can be transferred freely between devices.
There is no doubt that spy pen DVR is the way forwards in all devices of this time. It is a solid update that offers you no distinct loss and can be produced cheaper than some of the bigger bulkier set ups. Make sure your spy pen has DVR.
Closed Captioning – Teleprompter
Posted by John Sally in Cameras Friday, 7 August 2009 14:24 No Comments
Closed captioning is the procedure that makes it possible for people who are hearing impaired to read the dialogue on television programming by presenting the text on the lower third of the monitor. The FCC passed the first|initial|original|earliest closed caption ing law in 1993. This obliged all analog televisions with screens larger than 13 inches sold and/or made in the US include a integrated decoder to display closed display. Congress became involved several years after with the 1996 decision to require all video programming distributors including cable TV, broadcasters, and satellite distributors to close caption their programming.
The FCC furthered this decision a year later with a detailed transition timetable that obliged all distributors to increase|expand the amount of programming that contained captioning.As a final point, in July 2002, the FCC passed a second law requiring digital television receivers to add closed captioning display mechanisms.
Being a part of the communications industry while working at the American Movie Company has given me a personal look at the impact these laws have had on most studio productions. One of these effects has been how video and television productions have adapted the use of the teleprompter.
While we recognize why closed captioning is valuable, many people don’t realize how the teleprompter performs a key role in the providing of closed captioning to your television. There are two sectors into which closed captioning systems are separated: On-Line systems and Off-Line systems. This is when the teleprompter becomes important.
On-Line captioning is the teleprompter-based solution commonly used by broadcasters and news stations. In this setting, pre-scripted stories are fed from the newsroom automation system to both the teleprompter and to the closed caption encoder. This data usually does not include closed caption control codes but rather depends on the encoder inside the screen itself to insert the proper codes each time an ASCII carriage return is received.
The popularity of this type of system is based on the fact that neither a steno-captioner nor a computer with costly software is necessary. In most instances, the teleprompter system is already in place and closed captioning can be integrated for only the cost of the encoder.
Closed captioning is an exciting field that offers many opportunities for both the television broadcaster and the video producer. Hopefully, this introduction will help you to make intelligent decisions as you select a caption service provider, purchase equipment, or offer information to those who will make these choices.
It’s not only the impaired who are also grateful that this standard exists but also those in other countries who get involved in translations of English movies.
A way to Find Quality Cameras and Camera Lenses on the web.
Posted by Emily Salmon in Cameras Sunday, 12 July 2009 07:52 No Comments
You should be ready to make your decisions on camera lens purchases based primarily on these outlines. Whether or not you are a newbie or pro snapper, there are numerous places online to search for the camera or camera lens you would like, whether it be, a Pentax Lens, Canon Lens or Nikon Lens.
What Camera Do You Need? First off, you have to decide what sort of camera will meet your wishes. You may only need an easy point and shoot for family photographs. They are customarily compact and straightforward to use, which makes it straightforward for anybody to take footage.
However, there are constraints with those cameras in the control of exposure and targeting. For somebody that’s more involved in amateur photography, added manual control could be profit-making.
One of the most important advantages is the facility to change lenses to get a better zoom or wide angle shot. Sporting events and holiday photographs will be more pleasing to have a look at when taken with the right sorts of lenses.
The pro photographers will require the best cameras with the features that suit their wants. This would include manual focus to give the clearest and sharpest footage. Also, there are a few different size lenses to get a good picture from a bigger distance.
The second is the 35mm SLR that permits greater variation in lenses and focus.
The third is the Medium Format, which is bigger and gives a larger negative to work with. It is absolutely manual but supplies a high-quality image. It is bigger and harder to use but provides surprising pictures from the bigger size prints.
Shop on the internet for Cameras and Lenses when you have decided the kind of camera you would like, you are prepared to buy on the internet. To start, you simply type in your key words on any of the search engines , Google, Bing or Yahoo.
When you know what you’re looking for the task will be much faster. There are numerous sites that offer cameras and lenses at wholesale or discount costs. They sometimes offer all of the well known brands like Leica, Minolta, Canon, Horizon, Contax, Olympus, Mamiya, Nikon, and Pentax. Buying these cameras or lenses would save you some cash and will usually still come with a guarantee.
Sites exists with online catalogs where you can look for the brand or style you would like. They also provide search features so you can shop by key word or brand. Remember to incorporate the shipping costs when calculating the total cost of a camera or lenses.
Don’t buy a camera at a reduced price just because it’s a good deal. To be certain you are happy with your purchase, look for the main features and quality you need. Purchase a camera based essentially on your wishes and you’ll enjoy taking beautiful photos with it for years to come!
News Casts and Teleprompters
Posted by Neil Barnett in Errol Morris Interrotron, Teleprompter aka Autocue Friday, 5 June 2009 21:34 No Comments
Teleprompter
Think reading a teleprompter is easy? We watch the news ever day and see the anchors reading off of the teleprompter seemingly without any effort. But every now and then a new reporter joins the team and we see them struggling with the teleprompter. It’s painful really and we sit there just hoping the reporter gets it together or that the teleprompter operator somehow helps him out.
I’ve found an example here with a guy clearly new to reading off of Teleprompters and struggling through every sentence. He knows it’s not good and even mouths “I’m so sorry” at one point. He does get through it, but its three and a half long minutes.
The Earl Morris Interrotron is actually something quite special. Get this special Errol Morris Teleprompter Rental by contacting us at the number above .