In 2021, around 2.16 million digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) cameras were shipped globally. This is a significant decrease from the 16.2 million DSLR shipments in 2012, less than ten years ago. Market research from Statista suggest the shift to smartphones and mirrorless cameras are some of the reasons for the decrease in demand. Unlike the bulkier camera bodies of DSLRs, mirrorless cameras offer people a lighter tool for a similar high-end video production quality. Paired with the portability of smartphones, it seems people are leaning towards better mobility when it comes to their go-to camera equipment these days.
In spite of the drastic shift, however, there is still a misconception that high-end cameras are a necessity for quality filmmaking and cinematography. While this may be true to an extent, we’re going to discuss some of the reasons filmmaking isn’t reliant on how new or expensive your camera is.
Inexpensive cameras are more than enough
Aspiring filmmakers may be under the crushing impression that their equipment and tools have to be cutting-edge for them to make a successful film. The truth is — they don’t. Indie films are often (beautifully) made on a shoestring budget so the camera doesn’t have to be expensive. The quality cameras featured on Adorama range from $400 – $3,000. This means you really just have to find the right camera at your price point.
Here’s a tip: The standard frame rate in the film industry is 24 frames per second (fps). It’s easy to get lost in specs-speak and fall for a $2,499 Canon that shoots in 4K 60 fps, when you can land a perfectly high-quality Sony mirrorless camera that shoots 4K 24 fps — the industry standard — for $798. Understanding the basics and standards of filmmaking can save you a lot of money, and let those funds go towards other aspects of your film production like location rentals or hiring experienced actors.
Unorthodox filmmaking = unorthodox cameras
Due to the pandemic, many stages of filmmaking had to be improvised. In our previous feature of artist and filmmaker Alma Thomas, the use of Facetime was mentioned in helping with location scouting and preproduction between her crew in Washington, DC and her Los Angeles-bound self. While producing her documentary, she monitored and communicated with on-set interview crew members using live feeds remotely.
On top of improvising tools and setups for a film production, the film industry in recent years have seen the use of unorthodox cameras to tell new stories. For instance, there are horror films that are shot using laptop cameras to immerse audiences into believing they are watching the film on a laptop screen. There are even feature-length and short films shot entirely using Apple iPhones, such as South Korean director Park Chan-Wook’s new short film entitled “Life is But a Dream” — wherein he achieved the visual output and color quality he wanted. There are so many ways to film movies today, and with constant technological advancements, filmmakers will want to adopt more unorthodox ways to tell their stories.
Story is king
Ultimately, different stories may require different tools and equipment to visualize the narrative. No Film School outlines how cinematography, at its core, is simply the framing, composition, and lighting — all of which can be executed using the oldest video cameras in existence, or new high-end ones that could cost you thousands of dollars.
We’ve mentioned it above, but sticking to the basics of filmmaking and cinematography will make sure your film’s quality hinges on a solid story instead of camera quality. Write a story with a message that others need to hear, and inspiration for the cinematography will follow.
