It's Not the Camera...

The common questions that is raised among student filmmakers is, "What camera did you use?" While each camera has it's own perk, the Phantom with amazing variable frame rates, the RED with insane resolution reaching up to 8K, or even the A7s with its outstanding low light capabilities, it all really comes down to the operator. Its proven every day on Instagram that you can produce beautiful images with an Iphone or Go Pro. But there have also been plenty of bad movies shot on high level cinema cameras as well.

Above is a video created by DigitalRev that shows filmmaker Philip Bloom create a very unique piece of work with just the camera that comes in a specialized Barbie doll. If you have the chance to watch it please do, it is quite amusing and the results will amaze you. Below is the trailer to a recent Sundance film that was shot completely on the Iphone 5s and has been one of the most talked about movies to come out of the festival.

These are just two real world examples of how the camera really doesn't matter when it comes to story. Films are about relaying a message. Even though I would love to shoot pretty Bokeh images all day long, the fact of the matter is viewership comes from how well the story is told. Only the film students in the audience will be thinking about what camera and lens the DP used, the rest of the audience will be focused on what is happening in the universe that is being created before their eyes.

Composition of shots and the technical precision of the camera work will be noticed in film only when done badly. But when done right, these factors drive the film. Blown out windows is commonly a jarring feature of a movie and the most common mistake among students is breaking the 180 degree rule. But both a RED and a Iphone can break this universal rule.

We are no longer in the age of film where every shot literally costed money. With digital media you can shoot for hours on end for no extra cost, and this has created a shift in the way filmmakers work. Any yahoo can operate a camera but doing it well is another story. 3 hours worth of bad footage will never trump the longed for 1 minute tracking shot. We are sacrificing quantity for quality and students are the number one culprit. We need to get back to focusing on how the technology we have available to us can add to the story rather than focusing on what certain cameras can and cannot do. Will 4k really make your movie better? Or is it just being used because thats what "The Hobbit" shot in? Story is the center of cinema, the camera is what relays that story, they are two separate factors that combine to make a masterpiece, but only when sculpted together with the right hands.

iPhone 5 Filmmaking

Introduced with the iPhone 4S, Apple's iPhone has had 1080p. This resolution makes the iPhone a viable option for low budget, experimental, and high-risk filming. Now with the introduction of the iPhone 5 on Wednesday, just how accessible is Apple making a high quality camera available to their customers?

I've been a fan of the iPhone's camera since the iPhone 4. People doubted its 5 megapixel resolution, but what it lacked in megapixels, the iPhone 4 made up in features. Features like optional HDR, a flash, and a retina display really stood out on the phone.

I've used the iPhone to record some great things. If I'm just out and about, I can practice my composition and find interesting things in nature and designs. I've seen people use the iPhone as a lightweight camera alternative for weather balloon tracking and recording, thanks to its built in GPS tracking software: iCloud.


I would argue that the use of iPhones allows for great flexibility of environments. Waterproof cases allow for submergible scenes. Inexpensive pricing (see iPods Touches) allows for filmmakers and bystanders alike to enjoy creating personal stories only made possible through the ease and simplicity of good design.


Entire feature length films have been shot on the iPhone.

Now, has Apple improved with it's new model? Lets see how the iPhone 5 has changed. How will it impact the consumer grade filmmaking market?

• Panoramas – Androids had it. iPhone users have wanted it. Apple did it. We can now take up to 28 megapixel panoramic with ease of access. This could ease the job of a location scout in the future, much like how Google's nifty street view does.
• Increase in resolution –  The iPhone 5 takes pictures in 3264-by-2448 pixels. It still shoots in the industry leading resolution for smartphones in 1080p. Additionally, the new larger retina display allows for a great sharing experience for photos captured.
• Improved video stabilization – Even for the shaky handed among us, the iPhone will produce great results using this built-in feature. Stabilization is always the number one reason films and photos come out poorly on mobile devices.
• Shooting pictures while recording – Recording something? It's amazing? You also want to Instagram it? Or Tumble it to your production company's blog? Just snap it while you record now.
• Face detection – and GPS tagging both also help filmmakers if not during production, in post-production. Shots can easily be searched for based on thumbnails, faces, and physical location.