What is a Telephoto Lens? How to Get the Shots You Want

Telephoto lenses are used by photographers from every skill level and in various situations. In other words, have a telephoto lens in your kit is a must. They’re a lifesaver when it comes to shooting distant subjects, but serve quite a few other purposes. In this post, we’ll outline some advantages of going with a telephoto lens, and what to consider when shooting with one. But first, what is a telephoto lens?Continue reading What is a Telephoto Lens? How to Get the Shots You Want

What is an Anamorphic Lens? How to Get that Cinematic Look

What does tank-warfare and the aspect ratio of movies have in common? Anamorphic lenses! These technological marvels are legendary in the world of cinematography. Over the past 100 years, Hollywood has constantly experimented with various innovations, seeking not just to push creativity but to increase profit. A brief journey through history will help us appreciate the anamorphic format and its unlikely invention and popularity. And if you're a filmmaker looking to get that "anamorphic lens look," we'll go over all the visual characteristics that will get the job done. Continue reading What is an Anamorphic Lens? How to Get that Cinematic…

What is Lens Flare? How to Get It & How to Avoid It

What is lens flare? It’s probably appeared on some of your photos or footage. Sometimes it ruins images, and sometimes it surprises you and makes you feel like you are the greatest photographer in all the land. If you’re an aspiring photographer or filmmaker, though, you’ll probably want and need more control over your images. So, once we determine what is lens flare, we’ll provide some suggestions for how to avoid it and how to capture it.Continue reading What is Lens Flare? How to Get It & How to Avoid It

The Split Diopter Lens Explained with Eye-Popping Examples

Filmmakers have a wide variety of camera techniques to implement to adequately tell a story. One of the most powerful tools directors have at their disposal is the split diopter lens, which is capable of having two subjects at different distances in frame simultaneously.In this blog, we’ll go over what exactly a split diopter shot is. We’ll also include plenty of examples, so you can see it first-hand. Used properly, you can use a split focus diopter to convey a certain mood and direct your audience to exactly what they need to pay attention to.Continue reading The Split Diopter Lens…

What is a Dolly Zoom — Scene Examples of the Vertigo Effect

The dolly zoom is one of the most discussed cinematic techniques. You can use them in many ways, but a great director will find a logical reason to include them. When paired with the correct story moment, the dolly zoom can draw the audience into the story and the character's state of mind.  Continue reading What is a Dolly Zoom — Scene Examples of the Vertigo Effect

When Was the Camera Invented — Dates & Inventors Explained

Crediting one person and nailing the exact year of when the camera was invented isn’t that simple. Mainly because the internet gives a ton of different answers. It turns out, a quick history lesson solves the problem. So, if "when was the camera invented" or "who invented the camera" are questions that keep you up at night, you’ve come to the right page.Continue reading When Was the Camera Invented — Dates & Inventors Explained

Best Cell Phone Camera — Latest Models, Prices, & Features

It’s 2021, and just about every cell phone you can get your hands on has a camera. In some cases, the cameras on your phone rival ones used by professional photographers and filmmakers. But for most of us, the cameras that come on a cell phone do just enough to satisfy. As such, we have provided a list for you to look through, featuring the best cell phone cameras available today. For your convenience, we have ranked them in order of price, from lowest to highest. Continue reading Best Cell Phone Camera — Latest Models, Prices, & Features

4 Best ARRI Camera Stabilizer Systems

If you’re like me, you and a few filmmaker friends love to send each other videos and news about the latest state-of-the-art filming equipment. Camera gear is always improving, and we like to keep ourselves educated on the cutting edge film technology. Today, we’re going to show you pro ARRI camera stabilizer systems. Let’s look at some of the best film gear around: Continue reading 4 Best ARRI Camera Stabilizer Systems

Watch the Best DJI Ronin-S Footage from Indie Filmmakers

Whether you’re filming features, live shows, or weddings, gimbals are one of the best ways to capture movement eloquently with that cinematic touch. This isn’t a review of one of our favorite gimbals the DJI Ronin-S, but we will give a very brief overview of the device. This post takes a look at the best Ronin-S footage so you can get inspired and see if maybe it’s right for your next project.Continue reading Watch the Best DJI Ronin-S Footage from Indie Filmmakers