Customer Reviews

Digital Cinematography

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'm a freelance cinematographer and this book explained a number of issues that I'd understood peripherally (through looking over my video engineer's shoulder on shoots) but not completely. This is a very practical book that is intended for professionals only. If you are an amateur or are looking for books on shooting with DVcam, this is not for you. This book is at the total opposite end of the spectrum. It's very technical and an invaluable help for those of us who make a living shooting commercial, corporate or broadcast video.

If you're a film or video professional, or want to be, this is a must have book.

To counter the VERY DISAPPOINTING review, I found this book to be of great use. I happen to work at an institute that only uses Sony Equipment. This book was the best source of knowledge I've found dealing with Sony cameras. The sections dealing with the menus have by far been a lifesaver. So should you happen to use, or maybe even own a Sony DVCam, DigiBeta, or HDCam this book is a wonderful reference guide.

First of all, I bought the book because the description suggested me a very high level technical book, and that was what I was looking for.
One of the first things I'm disappointed (agreeing with some other review) is that the book only describes the author experience with Sony 700-790 cameras (the book is labeled "Digital cinematography").
The book is described as including 125 illustrations, but what are counted as illustrations are the tables describing the menu items. The book doesn't contain any illustration about gamma curves, detail signals, knee slopes, etc.
I've been working in video for several years and now I'm trying to move to electronic cinematography. I have operated Sony cameras, and I needed to get the concepts about working in video, but with a film working style.
I thought I could find the answers in this book after reading the contents, but I think the author gives the information through the book, especially when describes the menu items, in a way that is far to be technical.
I was shocked when author refers, for example, to the "level 5/9" page (page 134 in the book, including RGB flare) to be a "purely engineering setup page...live it alone"... What!? flare compensation purely engineering setup? In any case, he doesn't describe what is "purely engineering".
In page 130 he suggest adjusting aperture level framing a middle-aged person close up and watch for the smile lines...what!!!?? This is no technical explanation. What about different focal lengths? what about different f-stops? What about different lenses? What about a chart? Nothing about this is mentioned.
In page 135, when describing white shading/black shading he says "please don't adjust. I tried once before I really understood the menus and cost the production an hour shooting time". So now he knows, but we don't. He never explains what shading is (he only talks about shading correction in page 169, without giving any other clue).
I know the book is not for DIT's, but I found the working descriptions (related to the camera setup) of Mr. Wheeler far from what I expected from a seasoned video cinematographer.
May be is a good way for him, but this is not what I was looking for.
I couldn't find, for example camera tests (aside from back focus), circles of confusion, depth of field tables for 2/3 video, if there are differences of depth of field in SD and HD, lens you can find for electronic cinematography, lens corresponding to 35mm angle of view, how to determine ISO with a different camera than 700-790, etc.
May be I'm asking too much. May be not.

This is for professionals who are seaking to transition from film to digital cinematography. A very large part of this book would be most helpful if you have a Sony DVW 700 or DVW 790 digicam, since the menu items for each of these cameras are covered in depth.
Clearly Mr. Wheeler knows his stuff, having been in professional film making for many years.
You must have a pretty good technical foundation to understand this book. For example, you should know the difference between a gaffer and a grip!
If you're looking to take videos of the school christmas program this is NOT the book you're looking for.