Cameras in Church

Cameras in Church: What Difference Do They Make?
By Michelle Carey

The problem some are beginning to discover is that these cameras that look okay on small TV screens don’t look good at all on big screens. Grainy shots, mismatched colors, insufficient lenses for the distance and lighting – all these factors contribute to the problem. That’s why churches that are looking for excellence in their media ministry are beginning to look at professional cameras today the way they looked at projectors a decade ago. With prices on higher-quality cameras inching down every year, good cameras are not just for the largest churches anymore. It won’t be long before cameras are as common as projectors in churches.

If you’re beginning to consider cameras for your church, where do you start? The camera itself is actually the last thing to investigate. Just like with projectors, you have to understand your purpose and how your room conditions affect your needs before you try to meet these needs.

The very first thing that you have got to do is ask the question “why?” Is the camera strictly for recording? Is the recording for distribution to church members or just shut-ins? Do we want the camera images on the screen in the main sanctuary? Do we want to stream our services on the web or by podcast? Are we looking for all of the above? One particular camera or camera type can be the right choice or a very wrong choice depending on the answers to these questions.

Of all your room conditions, light is the most important one to take into account. The camera “sees” differently than the human eye. The greatest camera/lens combination in the world is still going to be limited by the available lighting. For example, the best possible lighting scenario for IMAG should have a variety of light fixtures (using different colored “gels”) covering the stage so that they combine to give the closest approximation of true white light. You need different colors to get skin tones that are accurate and pleasant, as well as true color reproduction of the scene.