DSLR Video

DSLR tutorial: Using a prime lens

in ,


In this tutorial, Rich Harrington and Robbie Carman explain how to get shallow depth of field with a prime lens. Watch more at http://www.lynda.com/course-tutorials....

This specific tutorial is from the DSLR Video Tips series presented by lynda.com authors Rich Harrington and Robbie Carman. The complete DSLR Video Tips course is presented as a weekly lynda.com series and covers the most common questions videographers encounter when shooting and editing with DSLR (digital single-lens reflex) cameras, from choosing a frame size and frame rate to understanding moiré.

Punching in on LiveView: DSLR Video Tips

in , ,

P5161654-500x375
On this week’s episode of DSLR Video Tips, we look at a key aspect of getting great-looking shots: critical focus. Join us as we head back out on a real-world music video shoot for musician Jason Masi, and discuss time-saving techniques for achieving critical focus:

  • “Punch in” on a shot in LiveView mode to achieve sharp focus.
  • Use a loupe or viewfinder to magnify the image on your camera’s LCD screen, making it much easier to achieve critical focus.
  • Use autofocus to quickly lock in focus prior to recording.
  • Take a look at the benefits of using a field monitor, as well as an electronic viewfinder, to aid in focus. A bigger or higher resolution screen can be a huge help in getting sharp focus.
  • Adjust aperture to help locking focus.



Achieving critical focus is essential to creating beautiful shots. Check out this episode so you’ll be ready for your next production.

Remember, each week’s episode is free for seven days–so tell all your video and photography friends to check it out.

Interested in more?

Setting a Custom White Balance

in ,

klevinsamples
While White Balance presets and Auto White Balance can be quite useful, many choose to manually set the white balance on their cameras.  This is a useful approach if you need to compensate for when multiple lighting sources are mixed together in the same scene.  It is also a way to warm or cool a shot for stylistic purposes.

scale
If you want to work numerically, you can use these numbers in degrees Kelvin as a guide.

  • 1,700K Match flame
  • 1,850K Candle flame
  • 2,700–3,300K Incandescent lightbulb
  • 3,400K Studio lamps
  • 4,100K Moonlight
  • 5,000K Horizon daylight
  • 5,500–6,000K Typical daylight, electronic flash
  • 6,500K Daylight, overcast


If memorizing a bunch of temperatures is too difficult or you aren’t happy with a built-in preset, it’s time to make your own preset. The exact process will vary from camera to camera, but typically the process involves doing the following.

  1. Shoot a reference photo with something white in the shot.  The white should fill most of the frame.
  2. The subject can be a sheet of paper or a more accurate calibration target.
  3. Choose the custom white balance option in your camera’s menu.
  4. Select the reference image so the camera can calibrate itself.
  5. Take a few more photos under the lighting conditions used to make the preset.
  6. Visually inspect the preset’s result and ensure that skin tones and key details in the shot look natural.


Here’s a short video tutorial showing the process.

DP BestFlow - Manually White-Balancing a Camera from ASMP dpBestflow on Vimeo.


Check out Photofocus for more photo news and inspiration.

DSLR Video Tips: What is a follow focus?

in

Screenshot_7_19_13_10_41_AM-500x333

On this week’s episode of DSLR Video Tips, we’ll look at a piece of gear called a follow focus that makes it easier to get repeatable, sharp focus. We’ll examine how a follow focus works, and techniques for using one in the field.

  • Learn the benefits of using a follow focus, the essential parts of a follow focus system, and how to put one together.
  • Learn how to set up marks for your talent, as well as marks on the follow focus—so that you can quickly repeat focus as objects or people move through the scene.
  • Our special guest Kevin Bradley shares his techniques for operating follow focus, and Robbie tries his hand at the task of “focus puller.”
  • After the shoot, we’ll head back to the studio to take a look at the results and discuss how the follow focus helped us, and what we could have done better.

A follow focus is a great addition to any DSLR filmmaker’s kit, and it can help you get consistent, reproducible focus. Join us and learn more as we head into the field on a real-world music video shoot for musician Jason Masi.
Remember, each week’s episode is free for seven days–so tell all your video and photography friends to check it out.
Interested in more?

Using the Right White Balance Preset

in ,

The White Balance setting on your camera is one of the most important choices to make. This control can be used to neutralize any color cast in an image and to set the overall color (or tone) for the scene. White is most often used as a reference point because it is the perfect blend of all the color channels.

While many are perfectly content to shoot in an Auto White Balance setting… this can lead to extra work in post.  Changes in lighting conditions (such as clouds passing overhead) can create variations in skin tones or subjects that just end up being frustrating. Ideally, strongly consider setting your white balance correctly before shooting in a location.  If shooting raw, you have greater flexibility to compensate in post.

white_balance

The presets for your camera may vary slightly depending on the model and manufacturer. However, they’re usually easy to understand when you think about them. Typically, the presets are named for the type of lighting they are designed to work best with.

  • Daylight or Direct Sunlight. This option works best for general shooting under daylight conditions where the sun is readily visible.
  • Shade. This option is used when shooting in sunlight and your subjects are in the shade. It tends to make the image more orange to compensate for the bluish tones of the shaded areas.
  • Cloudy. This setting is similar to daylight but compensates for the sky having some cloud cover (which cools down the color temperature). Many prefer this setting because it is a little warmer.
  • Tungsten or Incandescent. This white balance setting is designed for shooting indoors with standard lightbulb illumination.
  • Fluorescent. This setting works best when shooting under standard fluorescent tube lights. However, some lights are daylight balanced, which would require you to switch to the daylight setting.
  • Flash. This option is designed to be color balanced for your camera’s flash. You won’t use this option when shooting video because you can’t use a flash.

Be sure to experiment with your settings as well as apply your own judgement to get the best results.

Check out Photofocus for more photo news and inspiration.

DSLR Video Tips: How Do I Shoot in Small Places?

in

Have you checked out the new and enhanced DSLR Video Tips series? Rich Harrington and Robbie Carman head out into the field weekly to explore practical tips for all levels of shooters. In this week’s episode, we tackle shooting in small places. You’ll learn how we get great shots where there’s very little room to fit a crew.

dashboard_lights-500x281

  • Learn how to use small lights to shoot in small places. LED lighting along with batteries pull off great light inside a car.
  • We walk through how to use wide-angle lenses to shoot in small places. Learn how affordable prime lenses can open up a scene to fit more action. We also demo how a GoPro camera can give you more options for shooting in tight quarters.
  • We’ll look at options to mount cameras to windows and smooth surfaces, including mini tripods and GorillaPods for positioning cameras into cracks and gaps.
  • Learn how to use an ad hoc Wi-Fi network to control cameras wirelessly. We’ll also show one of our favorite new tools—the CamRanger—for adjusting, focusing, and controlling a DSLR with an iPad.
  • After the shoot, we’ll look at the raw results, straight from the camera. You’ll see what worked, what didn’t, and how to improve the shot next time.

We’ve got a bunch of great stuff as we go out into the field. We’re joined by special guest Kevin Bradley, and take you onto a real-world shoot behind the scenes of a music video for musician Jason Masi.
Remember, each week’s episode is free for 7 days. So tell all your video and photography friends to check it out, and try the show for free.
Interested in more?

DSLR video tutorial: Syncing sound with PluralEyes

in , ,


In this tutorial, Rich Harrington and Robbie Carman explain how to sync sound with PluralEyes. Watch more at http://www.lynda.com/course-tutorials....

This specific tutorial is from the DSLR Video Tips series presented by lynda.com authors Rich Harrington and Robbie Carman. The complete DSLR Video Tips course is presented as a weekly lynda.com series and covers the most common questions videographers encounter when shooting and editing with DSLR (digital single-lens reflex) cameras, from choosing a frame size and frame rate to understanding moiré.

Get 7 days of free unlimited access to lynda.com.

DSLR Video Tips Series Goes On Location

in ,


Robbie Carman and I head into the field in the new season of the DSLR Video Tips series presented by lynda.com. The complete DSLR Video Tips course is presented as a weekly lynda.com series and covers the most common questions videographers and photographers encounter when shooting and editing with DSLR cameras. Each week's episode is free to view the week it is released.

Get 7 days of free unlimited access to lynda.com.