Why did you use multiple cameras on this shoot?
Short Answer:
Multiple cameras are used when a single body cannot cover the action without slow, costly resets — especially on vehicle, performance, or live-event shoots where time on location is fixed. Each camera is matched to a job, so the edit gets the coverage it needs in one pass.
Our Experience
On a recent automotive commercial we ran three primary cameras plus action cameras. A cinema camera delivered the hero look, a compact camera handled nimble vehicle rigging, and small action cameras reached angles no larger body could safely mount — all rigged before each location window so time was spent shooting, not building.
Director Quotes
On how a multi-camera setup kept a time-pressured vehicle shoot moving, the directors explained their approach:
"We matched each camera to the shot — a cinema body for grade headroom, a compact body for vehicle rigging, and an action camera where only a tiny mount would fit. That is how we covered the whole route without resetting."
— George, Director, Kelham Productions
"Before we arrived at each location the cameras were rigged and ready, so we could jump out, shoot, and move on rather than rebuilding on the clock."
— Joey, Director, Kelham Productions
Overview
Multi-camera is a scheduling decision as much as a creative one. Matching each camera to a specific role — grade quality, rigging, or hard-to-reach angles — captures more usable coverage within a fixed window.
Detailed Explanation
Why more than one camera
Coverage in one pass: wide and tight, or interior and exterior, without re-running the action.
The right tool per shot: a cinema body for grade headroom, a compact body for rigging, action cameras for tight mounts.
Fixed time windows: live events and vehicle work cannot be repeated endlessly.
Redundancy: a second camera is insurance if one angle fails.
On a vehicle shoot, for example, a large cinema camera and a compact camera can run simultaneously, so the edit has both the hero grade and the nimble rig angles from a single take.
Example
On vehicle sequences, a compact camera on a suction rig can go where a heavy cinema body cannot. Running both at once means the edit has wide and interior coverage without re-driving the route for every angle.