Ep 199: How to shoot video on your DSLR and Mirrorless Part 2

With more photographers being asked to shoot short video clips, we’re definitely seeing a trend that you need to uplevel your skills to include video. While this may seem daunting, Gina and Valerie discuss the basics for you to consider to explore this exciting new side venture. From frame rate, to shutter speed, and everything in between, listen up!

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Show Notes

How to shoot video on your DSLR and Mirrorless Part 2

  • Camera settings
  • Why shoot in manual mode
  • What is frame rate
  • How does Shutter Speed affect the “look” of your video
  • What’s the difference between 1080P and 4K
  • How to get the “film” look
  • Post production and editing
  • Storage and backup

Basic Camera settings

1. Switch from still to video mode

2. NTSC or PAL? NTSC

  • No difference visually
  • 23.98 (24FPS) FPS is NTSC North America
  • 24.98 (25 FPS) is PAL. rest of the world including Europe, Australia
  • Youtube will accept any frame rate
  • Frame rate can be changed in post

3. Switch to Manual Mode

4. Set camera picture style to neural profile and remove all sharpening and noise reduction lower contrast

  • Starting with as low contrast an image as possible gives you the opportunity to colour grade the image in post production.
  • It’s much easier to add sharpness, contrast and saturation than to remove it.
  • Set white balance . If you a total newbie use AWB auto white balance
  • If you are recording sound off the camera then don’t use auto focus because you can hear the auto focus.
  • Use aperture to create depth of field.

Resolution
What size or resolution should you record in?

Above: A comparison of resolution 720P 1080P and 4K
  • Use the highest resolution available to you.
  • You will get the best quality shooting in 4K and downsizing video but in doing so you will need extra memory, bigger CF cards and a faster computer to edit videos.
  • The advantage is superior quality and more detail and the ability to crop into frames without loss of quality.

I use 1920×1080 All I Easier to colour grade (post production)
ALL I higher quality will take up more space

To get smooth motion in video your shutter speed should be twice your frame rate

  • This is based on the 180 degree rule which is a formula that was first used in the early days of film.

What is frame rate and what frame rate should you shoot in?

  • One of the most confusing aspects of shooting motion pictures is the difference between Frame rate and Shutter speed.
  • The frame rate refers to the number of still images or frames that are displayed per second.

  • The Shutter Speed refers to the amount of time the frame is exposed to light or how long the shutter remains open per frame
  • Eg if you are shooting at a shutter speed 1/60th it means that the camera shutter on a DSLR will remain open of 1/60th of a second.

Shutter speed controls

  1. The amount of light entering the frame
  2. Motion blur in each frame.
  • A faster shutter speed with reduce motion blur
    A slower shutter speed will increase motion blur
  • Shutter speed and Frame rate are not the same thing.
  • Both Shutter speed and frame rate will affect the look of your film.

Frame rate

  • There is no “ideal frame rate” for shooting video.
  • Based on the look you want to achieve.
  • Frame rates have evolved over time and are getting higher and higher

Ye olde time movies 1890s – early1900 12-26 FPS

 

  • Classic silent movies were shot at 12-26 FPS that’s why they are so jerky looking.
  • The reason fewer frames were used was because film was expensive. The fewer the frames the less materials needed and the lower the cost.
  • Fewer frames per second = jerky movement
  • The introduction of the “talkies” in the early 1900s threw a spanner in the works because the sound recording and lower frame rates didn’t sync up.
  • The techs started playing with frame rates and the first “talkie” was created with 24FPS
  • This then became the standard frame rate for shooting motion.
  • So for those of us born in the 20th Century we grown accustomed to watching films at 24FPS

‘Days of our lives’ or classic soap/sitcom/reality tv look Look 30fps

  • When TV was introduced in the 50s 24FPS caused flicker so TV needed to be shot at 30FPS.
  • The extra frames added extra information and that’s why TV sitcoms and reality shows have a crisper look than film.
  • TV soaps and sitcoms were traditionally aired at 30fps (for NTSC broadcast).
  • More frames = more information and a super detailed “clinical’ look
  • Commercials and B Roll 60 – 300 FPS.
  • Shooting high frame rate and slowing footage down gives a smoother epic look to footage
  • Shooting at 60FPS and slowing down to 40% speed = 24 FPS

Super HD
Sports (300fps)

  • Sporting events are often shot at a fast frame rate so they can be slowed down for action replays
  • Today we have the technology to shoot at 60FPS. This is a look that not everyone loves.
  • This may be a fashion thing that is because we just aren’t used to it.
  • So the ideal of 24 FPS is based on a cost and style decision 100 years ago.

Editing Colour Grading and Post Production

  • Apple iMovie (free)
  • OpenShot (Windows, Mac, and Linux)
  • Adobe Premiere Pro
  • DaVinci Resolve
  • Apple Final Cut Pro X
  • Photoshop
  • Camera Raw Filter

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About Gina

About Gina

Gina Milicia is one of the most widely known and respected photographers in Australia. She is the master of capturing that ‘magical moment’... READ MORE

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