Books suggestion for DV Camera work at DVinfo.net

Simon Duncan · October 6th, 2006, 09:40 AM

Wondering if anyone has a suggestion for a good Book to have on the shelf regarding DV/HDV Camera work. What I'm after is actually a semi technical book which talks about the nuts and bolts of DOP skills.

This is why,
I am around 3/4's of the way through shooting my own short drama film. I am shooting using a Canon XL1. Now the problems I am encountering are not so much lighting or compositional issues (although these are definitely in need of development) but rather things like focus issues in particular while panning and zooming. I'm reasonably comfortable with playing with adjusting the exposure and f stop but when it comes to using the manual focus with this camera I really enter the world of being uncomfortable and barely compedent.

So anyone with suggestions on a good book that possibly has a series of exercises to do to develop ones DOP skills I would be most grateful.

Chris Colin Swanson · October 6th, 2006, 02:21 PM

Theres a whole section here devoted to books etc. called Read About It at the bottom of the main page.
If you do a search for DOF you should find alot of threads on it. You will also find alot on panning I would assume.
I think the rules of thumb on panning is never go faster than 7 seconds across the screen, or something entering on one side of the screen should exit the other side not less than 7 seconds after. That is a practicable skill. Also panning and image stabilzers don't mix well. If you are on a tripod make sure you turn off the stabilizer but if its handheld you decide if you can be stable enough or better yet make yourself a device to steady it which you can find in the do it yourself section.

October 6th, 2006, 09:40 AM	#1
Simon Duncan Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Angers, France Posts: 181	Books suggestion for DV Camera work Wondering if anyone has a suggestion for a good Book to have on the shelf regarding DV/HDV Camera work. What I'm after is actually a semi technical book which talks about the nuts and bolts of DOP skills. This is why, I am around 3/4's of the way through shooting my own short drama film. I am shooting using a Canon XL1. Now the problems I am encountering are not so much lighting or compositional issues (although these are definitely in need of development) but rather things like focus issues in particular while panning and zooming. I'm reasonably comfortable with playing with adjusting the exposure and f stop but when it comes to using the manual focus with this camera I really enter the world of being uncomfortable and barely compedent. So anyone with suggestions on a good book that possibly has a series of exercises to do to develop ones DOP skills I would be most grateful.

October 6th, 2006, 02:21 PM	#2
Chris Colin Swanson Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 76	Theres a whole section here devoted to books etc. called Read About It at the bottom of the main page. If you do a search for DOF you should find alot of threads on it. You will also find alot on panning I would assume. I think the rules of thumb on panning is never go faster than 7 seconds across the screen, or something entering on one side of the screen should exit the other side not less than 7 seconds after. That is a practicable skill. Also panning and image stabilzers don't mix well. If you are on a tripod make sure you turn off the stabilizer but if its handheld you decide if you can be stable enough or better yet make yourself a device to steady it which you can find in the do it yourself section.