Camera Craft
BackgroundDetermining the equipment and settings are crucial to obtaining good video. The following video will provide advise and selecting a camera:
Stabilization & levelingA tripod is an important pice of equipment but for video, one with a fluid head with hydraulic dampening works well - giving you a smoother pan.
Generally it is useful to have the camera level. Some cameras come with a built-in level or the tripod comes with a level. It is also possible to install a level if one is not installed on the equipment. Lens ChoiceIf the camera is moving use wide angle which tends to stabilize the image. Stabilization can be tweaked in post production with the stabilization software but much better off getting it stable to begin with.
Memory CardsVideo requires large memory cards. The actual size is a function of quality and resolution. For instance, 20 min of video = 8 Gig of memory. Check your camera settings for different quality settings - generally the best option is to use the best quality settings but make sure you have sufficient memory cards to accomodate that. Some DSLRs have a 4 Gig limit and will automatically stop when that limit is reached - so plan accordingly.
The class status of a card indicates how fast the card is.The memory card has to be fast enough for video. In most cases, class 6 or higher is sufficient for video. Sensor SizeFullframe sensors cameras (more expensive) will have less noise. However, smaller sensors (crop sensors) can use smaller lighter lens for telephoto shots.
FocusWhen focusing a camera, use high contrast objects that will help get it right. It actually helps to focus quickly rather than slowly. Magnifying in on the LCD screen can help achieve sharp focus. Practice getting sharp focus. Focus on a moving shot is difficult and requires extra attention.
blurry footage is useless - take the time to get it right Pulling Focus
Pulling focus is a term used to change focal points when recording video. One can use tape on a lens when pulling focus to ensure it is sharp when you do the actual shot. Here is an example: ISOISO is the sensitivity of the camera's sensor. The higher the ISO the more sensitive the sensor and the less light it needs to create a properly exposed image. However, that comes at the price of being more grainy - the higher the iso the more noise in the image. Generally an ISO higher than 1600 will be too grainy.
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PurposeTelling a compelling story with video is enhanced by choosing the right equipment and determining effective settings.
Camera BasicsIt is impossible to provide a tutorial on every camera but below is a generic tutorial that can generalized to most video cameras:
SHUTTER SPEED
The slower the shutter speed the more light to enter the sensor and the more blurry the action will be.
For video, a little action blur is considered a good thing so the general rule is to set the shutter speed to double the frame rate. For instance, if you are planning to shoot at 30 fps, then the shutter speed should be 1/60 of a second. For still photography this rule does not apply. F-STOP (APERTURE)
F-stop or aperture settings affects the amount of light allowed into the lens. The lower the F-stop the more light that gets in (yes it seems opposite to what it should be). Another note is the lower the F-stop the narrower the depth of field (DOF). This impacts what is in focus in front of and behind the focal point. A larger F-stop will have everything in focus (e.g. F 11). Narrow depth of field can be used to focus on the subject while having the background out of focus - a more professional kind of look. However, be careful with this because if the subject is moving it is easy for the subject to become out of focus. For instance, in an interview, with a shallow depth of field and the subject is moving their head forward and backward, their head will move in and out of focus.
The following video provides more information on F stops: Depth of FieldDepth of Field is achieved by a combination of aperture (F-stop), distance to subject and focal length (zoom). Essentially the closer the subject is, the more open your aperture (lower F-stop) and the more zoom, the shallower the depth of field; meaning that less of the background will be in focus.
Exposure TriangleProper exposure is achieved by adjusting ISO, Aperture and Shutter Speed. Adjusting one often requires changing one of the other two settings. It can take experimentation so build that into your setup procedures. Since video often has a set shutter speed the only options you have are playing with F-stop and ISO. Autoexposure is not a good option for most situations where the light may change or the camera moves from a bright scene to a darker scene - the camera will try and auto compensate causing an unnatural shift in the brightness. It is best to use manual exposure which doesn't change as you move the camera.
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