Simulators: Digital Cinematography

Simulators are Computer program (such as a game or animated flowchart) or a dedicated device that models (simulates) some aspects of a real life situation (such as flying an aircraft) and can be manipulated to observe the outcomes of different assumptions or actions, without exposing the experimenter to any danger or risk.

Simulators are very popular for Car driving practice, before getting into real Car vehicle through a computor driving is simulated to take control over gear,steering control..etc to get confidence before getting into training  car driving exercise.

Similarly recently many leading Digital Cinema Camera manufacturers had developed a Simulator program that will really a help for DOP’s ,camera operators before hand to know about the camera.

Camera simulators can be helpful for many reasons whether it be to help learn camera settings, Lens coverage,  deciding which zoom lens has the range you’re looking for, or seeing how your new full frame lens will look on your crop sensor camera body.

There are variety of simulators

• Field of View Simulator
• Crop Factor Simulator
• Aperture, Shutter Speed, & ISO Simulator
• Bokeh Simulator

ARRI ALEXA has also got perfect Camera Simulators for all its camera models.

The ALEXA Camera Simulator is an interactive training tool to familiarize yourself with the menu navigation of the ALEXA camera family: ALEXA LF, ALEXA SXT, ALEXA XT and ALEXA Classic (EV and Studio).
The camera simulators mimic the cameras’ menu interface in its respective version.

Here by clicking respective link simulator will load and camera menu will be exactly displayed through that you can navigate into all functions…even you can on/off the camera.

Link: http://www.arri.com/camera/alexa/tools/alexa_camera_simulator/

DOP’s  can  select a specific recording mode on one camera to compare with another. For instance, you can compare the 8K HD mode on the RED HELIUM to the HD mode on the ALEXA Mini. They had  included the latest full format cameras, such as the Sony VENICE, ARRI ALEXA LF, and RED MONSTRO.

The new FOV Tool 2.0 compares:

• camera and lens combinations
• a variety of sensor sizes
• recording resolutions
• aspect ratios.

Link : https://www.abelcine.com/articles/blog-and-knowledge/tools-charts-and-downloads/abelcine-fov-tool-20

These digital age each day many updates in the camera menu’s and Lenses coverage to the size of sensor and recording resolution is a key factor, these simulator guide gives us real operational check before we land it to shooting area with the new cameras.

CJ Rajkumar

Author/Cinematographer