What you need to know to make beautiful, inexpensive movies using a DSLR.
Now available as an updated, expanded eBook — and still 100% free. Subscribe here to receive the free PDF!
If you find this guide helpful, please buy your DSLR gear from the Amazon and B&H Photo links here.
Introduction
That “movie mode” hidden in the menu system of your new DSLR? It’s not just a novelty feature. It’s nothing short of a revolutionary, democratizing, disruptive moviemaking technology, as important as the invention of color film, 16mm, or HDTV. Not convinced? I’ve written more about how the DSLR is affecting the future of not only cinematography but also photography, as well as how their low-light sensitivity enables a whole new generation of international filmmakers to tell their story. However, the proof is in the pudding, so here are ten examples of stunning DSLR cinematography. Zacuto‘s Great Camera Shootout 2010 is another great demonstration of what DSLRs are capable of when compared to (much more expensive) 35mm film cameras.
As for my own DSLR qualifications, I recently shot two episodes of the WBP Labs/Babelgum show RADAR on a Nikon D90; several behind-the-scenes videos for Focus Features on a Canon 5d Mark II; some other DSLR footage I can’t yet talk about publicly; and I’ve lensed plenty of pre-DSLR projects (e.g. The West Side, or a music video I shot when I was 19).
Digital cinematography is changing so rapidly these days that a printed book on the subject will likely be outdated by the time it reaches store shelves; this is especially true when it comes to the rapid release cycle of DSLRs. Up-to-date information can be found on online forums, but forums lack the organizing principles of a book, and as a result it can take a ludicrously long time to piece together reliable information (I spent months forum-surfing to assemble my own camera package). Thus, this guide: I hope it saves readers money they would’ve otherwise spent on an out-of-date book, and I hope it saves forums from so many newbie — sorry, “n00b” — questions.
DSLRs (often called HDSLRs or VDSLRs now) are a great enabler on the “no film school” front, as they are priced to own and allow aspiring filmmakers to follow the “buy a camera and learn” lesson plan. But as with any creative tool, a DSLR is only as good as the person using it — because, while these cameras offer a world of advantages, they also come with a considerable set of drawbacks. However, these drawbacks are worth dealing with in order to get the kind of amazing images possible with an imaging sensor that has twenty to thirty times more surface area than that of a similarly priced, dedicated video camera. To emphasize: these cameras are not designed to shoot movies. Their primary function remains to shoot still photos, but it just so happens that they shoot amazing video very inexpensively, and for that they are worth tinkering with, hacking, and jumping through a number of hoops to use. And make no mistake: to modify these still cameras to behave like “real” movie cameras, there are a lot of hoops to jump through (thus the length of this guide), but you will be rewarded by using a camera that many of us could only dream of a few years ago, for cheaper than any of us imagined.
This guide assumes some basic knowledge of moving images, such as exposure, shutter speed, focal length, and frame rate. It focuses on the technical challenges unique to DSLR cinematography — it won’t teach you how to light scenes, stage camera movements, or cook a full English breakfast. It will, however, give you a huge jump start in figuring out how to make beautiful, inexpensive movies using a DSLR.
I can only take credit for a small percentage of the knowledge here. The vast majority of it comes from terrific user forums like DV Info, Cinema5d, DVXuser, REDuser, and Creative COW; news sites like FreshDV, Pro Video Coalition, and Planet5D; and noted DSLR users like Philip Bloom, Dan Chung, Vincent LaForet, Jon Fairhurst, Stu Maschwitz, and Shane Hurlbut (not to mention firmware luminary Tramm Hudson). I’ve tried to credit and link to others wherever possible, but ultimately this is one person’s opinion. I’ve taken a lot of findings from the forums and aforementioned users, combined them with my own experiences, and distilled everything down into one time-saving guide. Plenty of people will disagree with some of what I say here, so please make the forums your first stop after reading this guide. Let me repeat: if you have questions, take them to the forums — you’ll get a faster response and benefit from the wisdom of the crowd. Finally, take into account the crucial fact that this guide is free! It’s saving a lot of people a lot of time, and it costs nothing, so with that in mind, please keep your comments and suggestions constructive.
The guide is organized in order of basic-to-advanced, meaning you can read it from start to finish if you’re new to DSLR cinematography, or jump around using the pull-down table of contents (top right) if you’re a seasoned vet. Without further ado, click “Next” to get started!
333 COMMENTS
-
Hi Everyone~
Here is a chance to Win Up to $150 Cash!!!
Simply just “Like” our RedStar Supermall Facebook Page!!!
http://www.facebook.com/RedStarSupermallGood Luck to you all~~ :D
-
-
I already subscribe and it is wonderful by the way I love this forum and group of DIY rebels….thanks for all you do and please let me know how I can help? or to post articles or links to other blogs that will give information to this site too….like grip and lights on a dime. etc.
Hey I wanted to find the PDF to download again…but I already subscribed…
It isnt on this laptop….and I need it for reading…thanks
singleton
-
solomonwh white on 05.9.12 @ 7:40AM
it is good, it makes me to more better am happy being a prat of it. thanks to u all keep it on one love.
-
Solomon Emmanuel on 05.9.12 @ 8:16AM
I appreciate the content of this book because it has boost thinking and
my level in Cinematography. -
ZAmaverick on 05.15.12 @ 8:54AM
As someone upgrading to a more compact setup, this book has definitely been the best starting point! Not only from the amount of info packed into the pages, but from the amount of further resources this ebook opens up.
I commend you for taking the time to write this, it’s set a benchmark of how much I can contribute back to the community!
-
joel on 05.25.12 @ 1:04AM
Hi, I use 720p footage to edit videos with.
Supposedly, my flip ultraHD records at 60fps..but when I convert it to a wmv file for smoother editing(corel pro x3, yuck), it renders it at 24fps..which is cool, but something tells me it isn’t like film and to make matters worse, I need the 60fps intact so I can do slow motion.
My first question, if anyone is so inclined to answer, is:
Is there any way to keep the fps intact when I convert the mp4 files to wmv (in wondershare video converter)?
I run an HPdv7 with quad core, 1.82ghz, 4 gb, 64 bit.My second question is:
I’ve been using corel videostudio prox3 for a while and simply cannot take the lag when I’m in the heat of editing. I can’t review my last cut or even playback without ‘mixing it down’ to a file first and then re-importing it into the timeline because it’s madness trying to watch it back or scan through a clip. That’s a huge workaround and I already do a workaround converting the mp4 files to wmv because Corel cannot handle mp4′s.Is there a free video editing software, or ANY editing software for Windows that can handle the modest format of 720p WMV and allow a smoother, faster handling of clips? It’s almost like the PC or software itself is slowly looking at all the footage and it cannot keep up even though I only import 30-40 second clips(maximum) at a time directly to the timeline (usually only 5-10 sec clips) with no library load (BIG problems doing that!)
Thanks -
This is the most useful introduction to DSLR cinematography I’ve ever seen. Love the dedication to every single part of the process. Thank you!
-
I’ve been a subscriber for a long while to NoFilmSchool but did not download the DSLR Guide… is there a way to do that separately from subscribing?
-
Dina Saluna on 07.19.12 @ 7:02AM
Like you is inspirations. I really appreciates the effort you put in your site.Congratulation! God Bless You..
-
Tony Charles on 07.30.12 @ 4:40AM
The DSLR cinematography guide is both useful and informative as a referance book and it is free.
Nice work.Thanks Tony Charles -
Hi Ryan, hi everybody,
first of all – thank you very much for this awesome guide! I really enjoy reading it in the evening, after work. I started reading yesterday and straight at the intro-chapter (when it comes to the frame rates) the following question came to my mind:
Cause I am from germany I am used to european 25 PAL frame rate. If I plan to do slowmotion, I record in 50fps (720p). In the guide you recommend 24fps as for a cinematic look. Would you advice me to convert/interpret my 25tps-footage into 24fps? Is that even possible with Premiere/AfterEffects? Will it make a difference? The guys from http://www.indymogul.com/ propose to do the whole workflow in the same framerate, to avoid quality issues.Would be great, to have your adive/tip. Thanks in advance!
DanielAs far as I know, you should always produce and postproduce in the same frame rate unless
-
Wayne on 08.4.12 @ 10:19AM
I really can’t believe the guide is free. I would happily have paid for it. A tremendous help and I wish nothing but the most awesome things in life to happen to you for making it free.
-
Mher Hakobyan on 08.18.12 @ 4:32AM
Hi, i can’t install MAGIC LANTERN on my 5D mark III, i already upgraded the 5D m3 new version, but after M.L. is not working…. after copiing files to Compact flash.. help to do right way this operation.
-
Michele on 09.23.12 @ 10:31AM
hi…great blog. i have subscribed but have yet to receive the link to the PDF. please forward if possible . thanks so much!
-
Be one of the first to own Nikon’s new D600 camera. This is a full-frame camera, and is very exciting for both amateurs and professionals! Plus, it is available right now at a $100 savings, plus 2% Amazon rewards on Nikon’s brand new full-frame camera! Check out http://bit.ly/NikonD600withlens
-
We featured your eBook here:
http://www.getaddictedto.com/the-dslr-cinematography-guide -
-
http://angrybirdsupdatey8.blogspot.com/
comment:
It’s good to see this information in your post.
I was looking the same but there was not any proper resource.
Thank now i have the link which i was looking for my research.
Interesting post. -
We use rigs like this a lot in our Austin video production company. The DSLRs have revolutionized our industry!
-
This book has been my saving grace. I’ve learned a ton within the last few days that I’ve been reading. I’ve recently gotten back into the game of filming and this guide has proven to be very beneficial. Haven’t gotten a Rig yet for my DSLR but when I do I’m gonna go in even more depth.
-
Nick Coleman on 11.19.12 @ 5:04PM
I downloaded this guide some time back, and I’m already a subscriber. Any way to get the updated PDF?
-
-
-
Hello!
New to filmmaking, directing my first movie over the course of the next month. I am loving the guide, but I have a quick question. We are using someone elses camera for this film, but I know we have some projects lined up next year and I would like my own camera. Budget is VERY low right now. I am finding some 550Ds on ebay for as low as $400, and that is the path I was seeking originally.
Today, however, i was offered a GREAT deal on a panasonic dvx100, which is not HD and uses mini-DV (or, if you hack it some, can record directly to a computer. HD is awesome, but I am wondering, at a price lower than the $400 for a SD camera like the DVX100, which is the better buy?
-
Rebecca Goodrich on 12.4.12 @ 8:53PM
Great content, but this publication needs MAJOR copy editing. Rife with grammatical and spelling errors.
-
John on 12.7.12 @ 4:17PM
“In the filmmaker’s toolkit, bokeh is not only an aesthetically pleasing quality, but it also allows the filmmaker to focus the viewer’s eye on an object or area of interest in the frame. Bokeh is a function of shallow depth-of-field (see below).”
This isn’t quite right. Shallow DOF is shallow DOF, period. Bokeh refers to the visual character of the out-of-focus image.
For example, a 50 mm prime @ f2.8 and a 35-70 zoom @ 50 mm and f 2.8 will have identical depth of field, but the bokeh may be somewhat different due to the different lens design and placement of the diaphragm in the lens mount, or the number of blades the diaphragm has.
People are using DSLRs for the shallow DOF not the bokeh, which is dependent on lens design. Luckily your average camera lens has decent bokeh, so no worries. However some feel that primes are better than zooms. Here’s an example of “bad” bokeh taken with a mirror lens, as you can see the DOF is very shallow but in spite of that the look is pretty awful:
http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A4%D0%B0%D0%B9%D0%BB:Bad_Bokeh_Background.jpg
-
Rob192 on 12.24.12 @ 11:00AM
check out ‘Mine’ : http://vimeo.com/52334511
Winner of ‘Smoke and Mirrors 48hr Film Competition’ 2012
Shot on: 5d mkII (with MagicLantern)
Lenses: 24-105 L , 70-200 f2.8 L -
Leah on 12.28.12 @ 2:43AM
Has anyone been able to find an actual book of the guide, paperback or hardcover?
134 pingbacks
- Quick Start Guide to DSLRs - Mercenaries Media Blog on 10.30.12 @ 12:27PM
- Nofilmschool… « MainVisual on 11.20.12 @ 2:38PM
- donde veo o descargo video curso de cine o cortometraje? on 11.22.12 @ 6:07PM
- Skilled your Tool Set & get Impressed! | P2STTJ's Blog on 12.12.12 @ 9:45PM
- DSLR Documentary Film-making on a Budget | LandsLeaving Media on 12.16.12 @ 8:52AM
- NoFilmSchool’s Top 10 Posts of 2012 - NoFilmSchool on 01.1.13 @ 11:25AM
- Guides | Sunil's Media Blog on 01.17.13 @ 6:27PM
- The DSLR Guide from No Film School « Gabriel Guerrero on 01.28.13 @ 12:57AM
- 100 Great Resources for Cinematographers, Camera Assistants, and Film Professionals | The Black and Blue on 02.17.13 @ 10:21PM
- FILM LTK – Filmmaking Links, Tutorials & Knowledge (2013) | U, S and Toby on 02.22.13 @ 3:42AM
- 10 Basic Things You Need To Know To Start Thinking About Digital Cinematography | Filmmaking Review on 02.24.13 @ 10:14AM
- Multimedia Journalism: Useful Links | The Multimedia Journalist on 03.12.13 @ 9:39AM
- Guest Post: Shooting with a DSLR | The Multimedia Journalist on 03.14.13 @ 3:36PM
- DSLR filmmaking guide on 06.16.13 @ 10:06PM
Hi.
I’m new to this site, but I’m already hooked, and halfway into the DSLR’s Cinematography Guide, also an amazing idea. Reading throughtit, I arrived at the “cameras” section and noticed there’s no mention about the amazing Canon 60D at all, whereas the 7D (just high up above in canon’s range) and 550D (just below) are mentioned. I wanted to know if perhaps I own an outdated copy of the book. If not, I’m just curious why it wasn’t included in the book, and where in the web site can I find useful info about it. I happen to own a 60D (which, in my opinion, is the same as a much costly 7D with very few drawbacks) and I’d love to have more information about it. After all, I’m reading this book to improve my skills with MY OWN DSLR!!
Thank you in advance.