Video Basics with your DSLR

Adjusting your camera settings for video:

Here is the instruction on how to start and set up your camera so that you can start filming.

1.     Set your camera to PROGRAM, allowing the camera to set the exposure (this is optional. You can always stay on manual mode (I do) and get your settings where you want them before filming).

2.     Go into the MOVIE SETTINGS and choose the quality/frames per second.

Most videos are shot at 1920x1080/30p. This is Full HD, recording at 30 frames per second. If you want to give your movie a more cinematic or film look, choose 30p for 120 frames per second (this allows for slow motion). HD is 1280x720. Note: The higher the image quality, the larger the file.

3.     Optional: Set the ISO to AUTO to allow your D-movie camera to make changes to the ISO as necessary.

4.     Set the Focus Mode. Filming is commonly adjusted manually, otherwise you’ll want to keep your focus plane consistent so you don’t have to regularly adjust.

• Depending upon the subject you are shooting, you may want to set a specific Focus Mode. For general video shooting, AF-S will suffice. AF-S is good to use for subjects that are not moving, AF-F is ideal for moving subjects. The other choice is MF or Manual Focus, which you may want to try as you get more experience shooting video with your HD-SLR.

5.     Set the AF Area Mode. Choices are: Face Priority, in which the camera will focus on faces; Wide, Normal and Subject Tracking, which is good for moving subjects. Normal should work for most subjects.

6.     Turn on Live View.

7.     Press the Record button and you’re shooting the video.