214 The Digital Filmmaking Handbook, 4E
Guerrilla Shooting
DSLR cameras are very low profile (if they’re not outfitted with all the gear discussed in this chapter) and that means they’re better for shooting guerilla-style (for example, without a permit or permission).
DSLR Camera Settings for HD Video
Still cameras that shoot HD video are still cameras first, and video cameras second. So the first step in shooting HD video with a DSLR is to change the camera settings to accommodate video capture. Also, if you have a lot of video camera experience and are new to using a still camera, there are some camera settings that you might not be familiar with.
nStart by setting the camera to video mode. The available menu options and other settings on the camera will change accordingly.
nSelect a frame rate and size. We chose 1920x1080 at 30fps (see Figure 10.4)
nSelect manual exposure. This lets you choose the ISO, shutter speed, and f-stop yourself.
nSet the ISO. ISO is a rating system originally used in still photography to describe the light sensitivity of various film stocks. Digital still cameras don’t use film stock, but the light sensitivity of the image sensor is measured using the same ISO scale used to rate film. Increasing the ISO is the same as boosting the gain on a standard video camera. How high you can push the ISO before you see visible noise in your footage depends on which camera you have, so you’ll want to do some tests before you commit to a specific high ISO.
nSet the shutter speed. High-end video cameras let you adjust the shutter speed and so do DSLRs. A “normal” shutter speed is usually about 1/50th of a second for 24fps shooting and 1/60th of a second for 30fps shooting. If you want to reduce motion blur and other movement artifacts, choose a higher shutter speed although be aware that some people find video shot with a high shutter speed aesthetically unappealing. If you want to increase motion blur, choose a slower shutter speed.
nSet the f-stop. Again, depth-of-field control is one of the great advantages of a DSLR over a video camera, and you’ll manipulate depth of field by carefully choosing an aperture. Wider apertures (lower f-numbers) will give you shallower depth of field, letting you blur out backgrounds to bring more attention to your subject.
nSet the focus. Although some DSLRs can auto focus while recording, the usefulness of this feature is extremely limited because the auto focus on still cameras seeks focus by zooming in and out until focus is achieved—not something that makes for great video. Manual focusing can be a complex process, and we will discuss it in greater detail later in this chapter.
nSet the white balance. Most digital still cameras offer a selection of white-balance presets: tungsten, daylight, overcast, fluorescent, and so on. But for complex lighting situations, it’s best to custom white balance. On most DSLRs, you’ll set custom white balance by shooting a still photo of a white object (such as a piece of paper) in your lighting setup. This picture will be used as the source for the custom white-balance setting.
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nDecide if you need image stabilization. If your lens has image stabilization (IS), it can help you get smoother footage when handholding. If you’re shooting from a tripod, it’s usually best to turn image stabilization off, as many IS systems can be confused by the smooth pans that a tripod allows.
In addition to the above settings, there are several features offered on your DSLR that you will want to avoid:
nDisable any image enhancement settings. Canon cameras offer a selection of “Picture styles.” Other manufacturers use their own terminology, but whatever it’s called, you don’t need it when you’re shooting HD video. Image enhancement settings are primarily designed for still photographs. Instead, choose “Neutral” and if you want to enhance the image, you can do so later in postproduction.
nAvoid cropping or any other image manipulation. Again, you can do this stuff in post.
nTurn off auto exposure and auto white-balance. It’s not so much that the camera can’t choose a good exposure or white balance for you, it’s that you don’t want it to do so in the middle of your shot.
Figure 10.4
Carefully go through your camera’s menu to select the settings for recording HD video.
Hacking Your DSLR
Magic Lantern is a product that enhances the firmware in Canon cameras to add features such as on-screen audio meters and zebra stripes. But be aware that installing it may void your warranty.