Cinematography: Key Concepts, Camera Types, and Shot Techniques
UPDATED ACTUAL Questions and CORRECT Answers
What is cinematography? The process of capturing moving images on a film or a digital storage device.
What are the responsibilities of the Director of Cinematographic properties of the shot, framing the shot, speed and length of
Photography (DP)? the shot, and special effects.
What is the difference between a shot, take, and a setup? Shot: one unbroken span of action captured by an uninterrupted run of the
camera; Take: the number of times a particular, planned shot is captured; Setup:
one camera position and everything associated with it.
What are the major differences between film stock and Film stock uses physical film to capture images, while digital cinema uses
digital cinema? electronic sensors.
What is the aspect ratio? The relationship between a frame's two dimensions, or the ratio of the width of the
image to its height.
What is color temperature? The degree of warmth or coolness reflecting light as different colors in a graded
spectrum.
What is color grading? The process of altering and enhancing the color of a motion picture.
What are the basic properties of camera lenses? Lenses reflect subjects in front of the camera into images on the film or a sensor.
What is aperture in relation to camera lenses? An adjustable iris that controls the amount of light passing through the lens.
What is focal length? The distance from the center of the lens to a point of the film stock or sensor
when the image is in focus.
What are the four major types of camera lenses? Short Focal Length (wide-angle), Long Focal Length (telephoto), Middle Focal
Length (normal), Zoom (variable-focal-length).
What does a short focal length lens do? Produces wide-angle views and stretches the appearance of depth.
What does a long focal length lens do? Compresses the appearance of depth, making distant subjects look closer
together.
What is a middle focal length lens? The most commonly used lens in feature films that creates images corresponding
to everyday experiences of depth and perspective.
What is a zoom lens? A lens that allows for a variable focal length between takes or setups.
What is framing in cinematography? The process by which the frame determines what and how we see elements on
screen.
UPDATED ACTUAL Questions and CORRECT Answers
What is cinematography? The process of capturing moving images on a film or a digital storage device.
What are the responsibilities of the Director of Cinematographic properties of the shot, framing the shot, speed and length of
Photography (DP)? the shot, and special effects.
What is the difference between a shot, take, and a setup? Shot: one unbroken span of action captured by an uninterrupted run of the
camera; Take: the number of times a particular, planned shot is captured; Setup:
one camera position and everything associated with it.
What are the major differences between film stock and Film stock uses physical film to capture images, while digital cinema uses
digital cinema? electronic sensors.
What is the aspect ratio? The relationship between a frame's two dimensions, or the ratio of the width of the
image to its height.
What is color temperature? The degree of warmth or coolness reflecting light as different colors in a graded
spectrum.
What is color grading? The process of altering and enhancing the color of a motion picture.
What are the basic properties of camera lenses? Lenses reflect subjects in front of the camera into images on the film or a sensor.
What is aperture in relation to camera lenses? An adjustable iris that controls the amount of light passing through the lens.
What is focal length? The distance from the center of the lens to a point of the film stock or sensor
when the image is in focus.
What are the four major types of camera lenses? Short Focal Length (wide-angle), Long Focal Length (telephoto), Middle Focal
Length (normal), Zoom (variable-focal-length).
What does a short focal length lens do? Produces wide-angle views and stretches the appearance of depth.
What does a long focal length lens do? Compresses the appearance of depth, making distant subjects look closer
together.
What is a middle focal length lens? The most commonly used lens in feature films that creates images corresponding
to everyday experiences of depth and perspective.
What is a zoom lens? A lens that allows for a variable focal length between takes or setups.
What is framing in cinematography? The process by which the frame determines what and how we see elements on
screen.
