The camera assistant's manual - David E. Elkins

The Camera Assistant's Manual, Second Edition, is essential reading not only for the beginner but also for the experienced camera assistant. For the beginner, it contains complete descriptions of all aspects of the jobs of first and second assistant cameraman, as well as a new chapter on the basics of cinematography. For the experienced camera assistant, it continues to be a complete reference source dealing with all aspects of the job.


The material has been organized in a way that should make it very easy to find specific information. This extensively updated edition contains information that should make it quite easy for the beginning filmmaker to start his or her career.

The Camera Assistant's Manual, Second Edition, features new sections covering:
The basics of cinematography
The job interview, set etiquette and networking
Camera and magazine illustrations of the currently used professional 16mm and 35mm camera systems
Complete checklists for camera equipment, filters, and expendables
Tables covering f-stop compensations, hyperfocal distances, and footage-to-time and time-to-footage conversions.

David E. Elkins has spent the past ten years as an Assistant Cameraman and Camera Operator on many commercials, music videos, feature films, and television series.
Among his credits are The Wonder Years, Star Trek-The Next Generation, Gabriel's Fire and commercials for McDonalds, Burger King, Coca-Cola and many more.
He has spent many years teaching at Columbia College-Hollywood.
He is also the author of Camera Terms and Concepts (Focal Press).