Recording Sound to a Separate Device

You’ve probably heard that most DSLR shooters opt to record audio on a separate device, aka dual system sound. Having a camera with limited audio features isn’t the only reason to use a separate audio recording device. It also frees the camera from lots of unwieldy cables and can work well for multi-cam shooting. See Chapters 8 and 10 for more information.

Media Type

Cameras today record to a variety of media: SD cards, flash memory, optical discs, and digital videotape. SD cards and flash memory use solid state technology, which is more stable than hard discs that spin, because there are no moving parts. Also, damage to one part of the drive doesn’t necessarily result in failure of the whole drive (see Figure 4.23).

Figure 4.23

This typical handheld consumergrade HD camcorder from Sanyo records HD video onto SD cards.

Digital videotape is relatively stable, too, but it isn’t non-linear so it simply is not as convenient to use as tapeless storage. Instead of instant access to any file or piece of media, you’ll have to wait for the tape to fast-forward or rewind.

Optical discs are the least stable and have not proven especially popular, but Sony does offer a line of higher-end cameras that use the Professional Disc format, and there are still some consumer-grade camcorders that record to DVD or Blu-ray out there (all are types of optical disc).

Cameras with Hard Drives

If you are using a pocket camera or cell phone to record to a built-in hard drive, your camera will be occupied while you download the files to your computer. Plan for down time if you’re shooting lots of footage.

86 The Digital Filmmaking Handbook, 4E

There is a lot of talk these days about tapeless or file-based workflow. We talk about working with file-based media at length in the shooting Chapters 7–10, Chapter 13, “Preparing to Edit,” and also Chapter 18, “Finishing.” But here are the basics: file-based workflow is the same for digital video as it is for digital still photography or any other type of file. You have to be extra careful not to accidentally erase or copy over your media, and you have to be very careful about making backup copies of everything.

Working with SD Cards

Not all SD cards are created equal. Rather, there are several classes of SD cards available, and for shooting HD, the top of the line class 10 is recommended. Since SD cards can work in a wide variety of devices (cameras, audio recorders, laptops), and they are too small to write on, it can be easy to lose or confuse SD cards on the set, so extra care is required. A standard 16GB class 10 card will hold about 12 minutes of 1080/24p HD video. At present, the largest size for SD cards is 32GB.

Wireless

Wireless video transmission is available at the very low end and the very high end, although neither can handle streaming full-quality HD. There are several small camcorders that can stream video wirelessly via Bluetooth. And at the high end, some professional cameras can accept special add-on microwave hardware that can transmit a signal wirelessly to a field monitor. Look for expanded wireless options in the future.

Batteries and AC Adaptors

Having a battery die mid-shot is more than just an inconvenience, it’s a waste of time and money. Unfortunately, most cameras ship with batteries that won’t last over a long shoot day. When purchasing, find out what other batteries are available, and how long they will last.

Ideally, you’ll want enough battery life for several hours of shooting. Battery cost should be factored into your assessment of final camera cost. Note that using an LCD viewfinder will consume your batteries faster. If you know you’ll be using the LCD a lot, you’ll need more batteries. This is also true for any other energy-intensive operations, such as lens-based image stabilization and mechanical zooming.

Professional cameras tend to use standardized batteries made by Anton Bauer. These batteries can power cameras, walkie talkies, lights, and many other types of gear. In fact, they can now even power Apple laptops for long-term use on the set.

Some cameras can accept AC adaptors that let you plug them into wall outlets. Naturally, this affects ease of movement, but it can be worth having an AC adaptor on hand just in case.

Third-Party Batteries

For extra-long life, consider a battery belt such as those made by NRG Research. With enough juice to power a camera and light for several hours, a battery belt is a great—though bulky and costly— solution to short battery life.