Philip M Russell Ltd

01442 234892

As we make better photographs and videos, we provide this free series of articles and videos to help you become a better photographer and film maker.

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We are making a series of videos and web tutorials to enble you to make the most of the equipment and talent you have. We give a guide on what to buy and how to best use your equipment.

Choosing the Best most affordable equipment.

Using your equipment to the full

Working on a Budget

Overview Equipment

Basic Setup - the minimum you need

Basic Equipment

What sort of videos do you want to shoot?

The steps to shoot a video

The clapperboard

White Balance

Colour Balance

Syncing cameras

Tentacle time sync

Multiple camera sync Davinci Resolve

How to use the cameras onboard mic

Different types of mics for different uses

Lavalier Mic

Shotgun Mics

Studio Mics

Lollipop mics

Using a camera monitor

Camera Supports

The tripod

Choosing a tripod

Using a tripod

Vertical panning using gravity

As steadicam

As a jib

Upside-down low shots

Panning using an elastic band or pulley and mass

The Monopod

Upside down steadicam

High above head

Tilt forward

Different tripod heads

The dolly

The dolly on straight tracks

The dolly on curved tracks

Using a rail system

The slider

The motorised slider

Parallax slider

The Jib

The Jib panning up and down

The jib panning across

The jib on a dolly track

Steadicams

Using a Zoom lens

Using Prime lenses

Using Long lenses

Simple Lighting

Lighting outside

Lighting inside

Lighting techniques from stills to video

Choosing a type of camera

DLSR

Mobile

Action

Compact

Why a 4K Camera?

In camera editing

Using one camera

Using two cameras

Using three cameras

Using more than three cameras

Basic sound recording

Using a smartphone recorder

Using a sound recorder

Using a wireless recorder

Using a boom Mic

Using a deadcat

Deadcat smooth or furry

Using a turns pro

The Pulse

The Spark