Advantages and Disadvantages of Single and Multiple Camera Production

Advantages of Single Camera Production:

• Cheaper; if more cameras were used, each camera man would cost money and lighting and sound units. With multiple cameras running, the costs increase.
• More aesthetic control; lighting and sound for each shot, enhances the detail and excitement.
• Don't need both actors on set at the same time; film the shots for one whilst the other is in their trailer and vice versa.
• Practicality; you aren't limited in how much space you need to set up your shot. 

Disadvantages for Single Camera Production:

• It takes longer to set up because of all the cameras and camera men.
• Less realistic reactions; as one actor gets filmed at a time, the reactions aren't as natural.
• Repetition; repeat the same shot 3 times to get each angle as you can only get one at a time, however use of multiple cameras you're able to capture everything at once.
• Editing time; you'll be spending a lot of time in the editing suit because of all the shots that have been taken. With multiple cameras, you could shoot different angles and takes at the same time, using different people for the cameras.

 Single Camera TV Programmes/Films 

• The Pacific
• X Files
• True Blood
• Sex and the City
• Peep Show
• Shutter Island
• The Beach
• Spaced
• The Tourist
• Run Fatboy Run
• Skins
• C.S.I
• Lost

Advantages of Multiple Camera Production

• It doesn't take as long to shoot a production because of all the cameras that are recording.
• The reactions are more realistic because you're doing the scene with the other actor so the emotion that you create; therefore enhancing the reactions.
• Using lighting and sound is a lot easier because you don't have to keep packing the equipment to move to the next location like single camera production.
• You get a lot of the scenes covered in a shorter amount of time compared to single camera as you capture various angles and shots within 1 day.

Disadvantages of Multiple Camera Production

• It takes longer to set up due to the large amount of equipment unlike single camera production.
• It's definitely more expensive; the camera-men you need to hire and the additional cameras are going to cost a little more than single camera production!
• The locations that the director uses are mostly sets and not real places which, in some cases, you can see through windows or mirrors the cameraman filming or a piece of their equipment.

Multiple Camera Production:

• Hollyoaks
• Friends
• Bad Boys 2
• Scrubs
• Lost: Episode One
• Britain's Got Talent / X Factor
• Jonathan Ross
• Babylon A.D
• C.S.I
• The Pacific