Single camera

Single camera productions are used more for for than TV, this is because in film, lighting has to be changed for every new camera angle. It involves using one camera to capture all of the action so the action has to be repeated. Its used because a more cinematic look can be achieved due to less standing sets and equipment so theres more versatility. Single camera tents to be more expensive as it takes more time and more expensive equipment tends to be used.

Mult camera

Multi camera productions use several cameras to capture the action. This is a quicker cheaper method of filming so it often used in TV programs where the reactions need to be capture but cant be re-created, for example in comedy. It has its limitations: limited styles (e.g. stand up comedy, sit-com, interviews), more equipment and fixed sets so less flexibility with shot sizes, movement and angles this makes for a less cinematic look.

Crew operation and sound differences

The crews work differently in the two production types. In multi-cam there are the camera operators who set up the shots that the director tells them to via a radio headset from the gallery where the director also communicates with the floor manager who sorts everything on the set out. In the gallery with the director these the vision mixer who changes the live feed shots and graphics when the director tells them too (basically live editing) also these the sound mixer who adjusts the sound levels for all the microphones. In single cam productions theres the camera operator with the assistant camera operator who controls the focus and the director, director of photography, sound technician, lighting technician, boom pole operator and a production manager. The main differences in single cam productions is that all the crew is on the production floor not in a gallery and the editing and other post production is done of site after the filming has been done not live like with multi-cam. The sound in multi-cam productions is edited live like with the video. Wireless radio microphones are used along with microphones on boom poles, the radio microphones are used to pick up the sound from people talking without having larger microphones on sets. In single cam productions the sound is usually picked up with microphones on boom poles, this is so no radio microphones can be seen in shot and they give a clearer sound.

Multi camera is the only way to shoot an event

Filming an event is difficult because action happens once and cant be recreated like you can when filming a narrative. Because of this reason multi cam is the only way to film an event. This is because when filming with multiple cameras the action is more likely to be caught and sometimes from several angles of different shot sizes and movement, also action only has to be performed once and filmed from several angles so the action will cut together nicely in the edit because it will be the same on all the cameras