THE TYPES OF CAMERA RIGS
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THE
TYPES OF CAMERA RIGS- CAMERA
GEAR
1. 1. HANDHELD CAMERA RIG
First
on our list of camera gear is the handheld camera righandheld camera
rigs are often used when filming fight scenes. Handheld camera rigs can
produce camera movement that takes a scene up a notch if used correctly
The tripod is the perfect camera gear to
shoot a static shot — a shot with no camera movement. A tripod is a type of
camera stand with a fluid head to which the camera is mounted. If the camera
does need to move, tripods can also pan or whip
pan left and right and tilt up
and down for smooth controlled movements.
Tripods are perfect for typical shot reverse shot coverage which is heavily used when shooting over the shoulder dialogue scenes.
The
tripod serves the story in this scene by creating a separation between the two
characters through separate, static frames. Other times tripods can create a
sense of stability when it is mixed in with handheld shots. This scene from Se7en mixes both handheld shots and tripod shots to
reflect the headspaces of the different characters. A tripod can serve a
story in various ways depending on the context of the scene.
3. PEDESTAL
When
filmmakers need to move the camera vertically in smaller movements, they opt
for the pedestal. Pedestal shots are great for matching the movements of actors.
4. FILM CRANE AND CAMERA JIB
Though the scale of the rig may differ,
the terms "film crane" and "camera jib" can be used
interchangeably. Both versions of this type of camera gear utilize a jib arm to
extend a camera outward, enabling the camera to move up, down, left, or right
in large movements.
Camera jibs and cranes are great for crane shots and camera boom movements. Camera booms are
vertical movements that are often used in establishing
shots to show off the
world of a film.
5. OVERHEAD CAMERA MOUNT
The
overhead camera mount is perfect for shooting top down shots of action and spaces.
They’re typically used for unique insert shots from
a bird’s eye view perspective. One of the masters of the overhead camera setup
is Wes Anderson. To get an idea of how the overshot can be used,
here is a supercut of every Wes Anderson overhead shot.
Overhead
camera mounts are great for establishing a more objective, omniscient point of view for the audience. It often diminishes characters
in the right shot composition creating distance between the audience and them
which can greatly serve a story. Overhead camera setups can be achieved various
ways. Overhead camera mounts can be rigged to a studio’s grid. They can also be
rigged to an overhead tripod.
A dolly is
a wheeled apparatus to which a camera is mounted for smooth horizontal
movements. There are different types of dollies such as the platform dolly. A
platform dolly has a flat dolly surface that other rigs can be placed on such
as a tripod. These dollies are typically cheaper.
Other,
more expensive, dollies are more functional. They often have a fixed head or
camera stand that the camera can be mounted to. Dollies are often combined with
other camera gear to be more versatile such as the dolly crane or the dolly
pedestal.
The
dolly camera rig is used for small push ins, pull outs, and tracking shots. Dollies can also start or
stop at a static frame which allows for precise compositions. The smooth
movement of a dolly makes it a great tool for lateral tracking shots.
Camera stabilizer
One of the most common rigs in the industry today are camera stabilizers. The most typical
camera rig stabilizer on major productions is the Steadicam rig. A Steadicam rig combines the
stability of a tripod, mobility of a handheld camera, and the movement
capability of a dolly.
Steadicam rigs are the perfect rig for shooting long
takes, complex movements, and dynamic blocking
and staging.
Steadicams can also be
rather expensive, but gimbals are
another type of camera rig stabilizer that utilizes battery power to stabilize
a shot. There are a range of gimbals, many of which are more affordable for
lower budget productions. There are even gimbals for iPhone camera rig setups
that have been used for feature films.
8. SNORRICAM
Snorricam
The Snorricam is a more specialized camera gear
system that mounts a camera to an actor’s body, hinging to their movements.
Also known as the bodycam, chestcam, body rig or camera body mount, the
Snorricam is used to create vertigo, dizziness, or panic
Snorricam
shots can immerse an audience into the perspective and experience of a
character in a film.
The
most practical way to shoot any scenes in a vehicle is the vehicle mount. Car
camera mounts can be used either on the exterior or in the interior of a
vehicle. This is ideal for shooting dialogue scenes in a car, helicopter
scenes, or as in Skyfall.
10. DRONE CAMERA
Aerial
cinematography has really taken flight (no pun intended) since the invention
of the drone. Prior to the drone, aerial cinematography was limited to the use
of helicopters. But the size and maneuverability of the drone has resulted in
some amazing drone footage that would have been
impossible not too long ago.
Drones
are great for shooting Expansive Landscapes, Chase Scenes, And Establishing
Shots.
Motion control is a device that allows
for the complete control and precise repetition of camera movements. Camera
motion control systems are used for stop
motion, time lapses, and most commonly visual
effects.
However,
filmmakers have found ways to use motion control to create unique shots that
rely on the precise repetition of camera movements. This shot from The Rules of Attraction uses motion control to combine two
different shots into one.
Waterproof housing
Underwater
camera housing is a completely waterproof housing that allows control of the
camera while fully submerged underwater. Waterproof housing can be used when
completely underwater to capture action happening in a pool or ocean.
This
is important for films that focus around the action below the surface such as
the film The Meg where waterproof housing was absolutely
crucial.
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