FUNDAMENTALS OF CINEMATOGRAPHY 4A

WEEK 1 – CAMERA AND CINE BASICS SPOT TEST

BASICS OF CAMERA & CINEMATOGRAPHY

SPOT TEST

NAME:
STUDENT NUMBER:

Please note: This is an informal test. You are neither expected nor
encouraged to answer in essay-form. You are welcome to use bullet-points,
diagrams or mind-maps. One-word answers or incomplete sentences are also
allowed.

SECTION A: CAMERA

1. What are the three aspects of photography/cinematography that

control exposure? Each of these has a creative consequence. Describe
them.

2. Between f/1.4 and f/16, which one is “open” and allows more light, and
which one is “closed” and allows less light into the camera?

3. Complete the following table to keep the exposure exactly the same –
you are required to adjust the controls by determining how many
stops need to be increased or decreased for the missing exposure
setting:

ISO 400 1/50 f/2.8

ISO 3200 1/50
ISO 400 f/5.6
1/200 f/2.8
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WEEK 1 – CAMERA AND CINE BASICS SPOT TEST

4. Describe the visual differences between the following focal lengths:

8mm, 35mm, 85mm?

5. What is the difference between NTSC and PAL?

6. What is the difference between interlaced and progressive?

7. What is the white balance temperature setting (in Kelvin) you would
use for daylight, and tungsten lighting?

8. You are in South Africa, shooting indoors using household electrical

fixtures and lamps as your lighting source. What precaution would
you take to prevent banding? Explain why banding occurs with the
wrong camera settings in these conditions.

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WEEK 1 – CAMERA AND CINE BASICS SPOT TEST

9. What is a polarising filter? In what scenarios would you use a polariser

and for what purpose?

10.Name three other kinds of lens filters – under what circumstances

and for what effect would you choose to use each of them?

11.What is moiré, aliasing and chromatic aberration?

12.What are the in-camera features available to you to ensure that your
footage is in focus, and exposed correctly?

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WEEK 1 – CAMERA AND CINE BASICS SPOT TEST

SECTION 2: CINEMATOGRAPHY

13.What is the 180° shutter rule? Describe, as a cinematographer, when

you would break this rule and for what purpose. You may provide an
example scenario.

14.What is the 180° rule?

15.What is the 30° rule?

16.What is the rule of thirds?

17.What is the rule of sixths?

18. What is the rule of odds?

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WEEK 1 – CAMERA AND CINE BASICS SPOT TEST

19.Define the technique, mise-en-abîme.

20.What is a Dutch tilt?

21.Draw diagrams to illustrate the provided shot sizes. Draw them with a
human character as your subject.

Close-up shot Medium shot

Wide shot Medium-wide shot

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WEEK 1 – CAMERA AND CINE BASICS SPOT TEST

22. What is the difference between low-key and high-key lighting?

23.Name the three types of light you would use for a traditional three-
point lighting setup. Where would each light respectively be placed in
relation to your subject?

24.What is a master shot?

25.What is the difference between shooting in REC.709 and S-LOG?

26.Name one advantage and one disadvantage for shooting in RAW?

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WEEK 1 – CAMERA AND CINE BASICS SPOT TEST

27. Describe how you would approach shooting a scene, prioritising

coverage.

28.What is the difference between panning and tilting?

29.What is the difference between a dolly shot and a tracking shot?