Comprehensive Guide to Raw Footage, Camera Mechanics, and Exposure Techniques

debayer

Convert raw image data into RGB image

raw data

The signal sent straight from the sensor before it has been debayered

working with raw footage

Raw footage gets debayed and turned into RGB video, meaning that the signals representing each colour channel are recorded individually

gamma operation in the camera

The sensor's native response to light is linear; some cameras can record in raw and directly send that linear signal

file format that records all the raw data

Records all the raw data/signal from the camera sensor with no compression

debayer process

The image is decoded through a colour matrix/mosaic

shooting in raw

You can change the colour temperature in post production; it's not baked into the image

ISO in raw

Doesn't affect the actual exposure baked into the file, but it does affect noise and dynamic range

Depth of field

Range of distance where objects appear in sharp focus

shallow depth of field

When only a small part of the image is in focus, caused by wider apertures and longer focal lengths

deeper depth of field

When a large part of the image is in focus, caused by smaller apertures and shorter focal lengths

film chamber

Holds the film before it is exposed to light

magazines

Detachable film chambers

raw stock

The unexposed film that is delivered through the feed reel

film gate

Where raw stock is exposed to light that comes through the lens

shutter speed in film cameras

Determines how long the camera's shutter stays open

lens in digital camera

Focuses the light onto the sensor and includes the aperture

photosites

Millions of elements on the sensor that collect light and turn it into electronic signals

processor in digital camera

Converts electronic signals into digital data

focal length

Measure of a lens's power to bend light rays coming from the scene

f-number/f-stop

Camera setting that measures the aperture's size, controlling how much light enters the lens

film ISO

Fixed physical property of the film's light sensitive crystals

digital ISO

Adjusts the sensitivity of the camera's sensor by electronically amplifying the light signal

highlights in film vs digital

Film tends to handle overexposed highlights softly, while digital highlights clip more harshly

white balance in film vs digital

With film, you can buy tungsten or daylight stock; with digital, you can change the white balance in each shot

PL to RF adapter

Adapter used for connecting PL mount lenses to RF mount cameras.

PL to Sony E adapter

Adapter used for connecting PL mount lenses to Sony E mount cameras.

Tungsten lights

Continuous light spectrum sources usually balanced at 3200k.

Tungsten halogen bulbs

Bulbs made of tungsten filaments surrounded by halogen gas in a quartz glass bulb.

LED lights

Light and compact lights using lighting emitting diodes.

HMI bulbs

Very bright daylight balanced lights produced by creating an electric arc in a quartz bulb.

Incident meter

Measures the light falling onto the subject, regardless of reflectivity.

Spot meter

Measures the light reflected from a specific subject or area.

Watts

Unit of power representing the rate at which electrical energy is used or produced.

Volts

Unit of electrical potential difference, the pressure that pushes electricity through the circuit.

Amps

Unit of electrical current, the flow of electrical current through the circuit.

Aperture

Affects how much light hits the sensor; larger apertures let in more light.

Shutter speed

Controls how long the sensor is exposed to light.

Shutter angle

Alternate setting for shutter speed, controlling exposure per frame.

ISO

Controls how sensitive the camera's sensor is to light.

False colour

Visual measuring tool showing overexposed and underexposed parts of the image.

Zebra tools

Overlays striped patterns onto the image based on IRE values.

Histogram

Shows the distribution of brightness and RGB values on the camera's sensor.

Bayer pattern sensor

Type of colour filter array used on most digital camera sensors.

Digital cinema package (DCP)

Standardized format to deliver movies for theatre projection.

Film processing

Chemical reaction that makes a latent image visible on film.

Characteristic curve

Graph showing the relation between light exposure and density in film.

Depth of focus

Zone inside the camera that can record an acceptably sharp image.

Gamma

Measure of the straight line section of the gamma curve affecting contrast.

Circle of confusion

Describes how a point of light is rendered on a camera sensor.