Camera Workshop
THE BASICS
How to turn the camera on
How to attach a lens
Where to put your card and battery
Formatting card
How to record video
Auto and Manual are both acceptable for this assignment
How to mount camera on tripod
Using the wired lav mic
SETTINGS
Movie rec. size: Most often in video journalism, you’re going to select 1920×1080 at 30 fps with IPB compression.
You’ll select 60 fps if you’re shooting footage you intend to use in slow-mo.
Frame rate: 29.97 frames per second vs. 23.976 fps (realism vs. dreamy) and 30 vs. 60 fps (larger files and barely perceptible difference, it’s what you’ll use for shooting in slow-mo).
ALL-1 vs. IPB compression: Use All-I for short clips that need tight editing; IPB compression is good when long continuous recording is necessary but tight frame by frame editing is not required in post, and it is better if you’re concerned about running out of space on your card.
Video System: NTSC (most commonly used in North and South America; PAL tends to be the standard elsewhere)
Record button
Moveable LCD screen
In video recording settings, Movie Servo AF is the setting which, if enabled, will automatically cause the lens to focus on a subject as it moves. In some situations, you may want this enabled, but remember that it takes control out of your hands so in many situations you may want to disable it.
FOCUS
It is really easy to shoot video that is OUT OF FOCUS with these cameras. If your stuff isn’t in focus, you just wasted a lot of people’s time. So pay attention to focus at all times, and consider using it artfully to do a pull-focus shot from one layer to another.
- Use the focus ring on the lens to shift focus (turn ring with your elbow down, not sticking out sideways)
- Zoom in all the way on your subject and focus, then zoom back out to your desired framing; the subject will stay in sharp focus
SHAKY SHOTS
Because the sensor on these cameras is so large and sensitive, any little movement you make will cause camera shake. These cameras are basically impossible to handhold. Some camera lenses have image stabilization technology, but it makes a low, constant mechanical grinding sound that is audible on your camera, so unless you are recording audio separately and syncing later, TURN OFF THE IMAGE STABILIZATION (IS) FEATURE ON YOUR LENS. You should be using something else to stabilize the image anyway.
- Use a tripod
- Or use a monopod
- Or use a shoulder mount or a gimbal
- Set the camera down on a flat surface (the ground, a table, a stack of books, etc.)
- If you are in a breaking news situation and must handhold (not recommended) or you are on top of a ladder or in some extreme circumstance, you can turn your body into a makeshift tripod by using both your arms and your face—if the camera is connecting with three points, it is always steadier.
PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR VIDEO SHOOTS
Get comfortable with the settings and equipment before you go out, especially your tripods since those can be a little tricky.
Consider bringing snacks/water! Filming is physically demanding work.
Know where the public restrooms are near you.
Fully charge your spare battery (as well as the one in the camera) and bring it with you.
Dress warm if you’re going to be shooting outdoors! Keep your spare battery in a pocket close to your body heat where it won’t get cold; battery power and camera equipment in general don’t do well in extreme cold or heat.
Consider what kind of light you’ll be working with ahead of time and plan accordingly; if it’s likely to be a low light situation, you may want to check out a lens with a lower f-stop.
SETTINGS CHEAT SHEET
Movie rec. size: 1920×1080 and 30fps IPB
Shutter speed: 1/60 (or multiples of 30, ie if it’s very low light you can go down to 1/30 or if it’s very bright you can go higher)
ISO: Remember that if you go much higher than 800 or 1600, the image will start to get grainy. Sometimes this can’t be avoided, but avoid it if you can.
Aperture: The lower the f-stop, the more light you’re letting in, and the more dramatic the depth of field.
White balance: You can use Auto White Balance (AWB) if you expect to be changing light temperatures mid-shot (following someone outdoors, for instance). Otherwise it’s best to set it manually.
Movie Servo AF: Disable if you want to be able to control focus manually, and set the button on the lens itself to Manual Focus (MF).
In-Class Assignment: The Five-Shot Sequence
Split into groups and head out around the school to find and film a five-shot sequence of a person doing something. Think of an action that is conducive to this sort of thing: someone cooking something, playing an instrument, putting on makeup, playing chess, etc. Film a very brief interview with the person about what they’re doing. “I’ve been playing guitar since I was a kid. I love it, it helps me relax.” “I’ve been cooking at this food cart for a year now. The work itself isn’t bad but it sucks in the winter.” Etc. When you get back to the classroom, you’ll upload the footage to a computer and we’ll use it for an editing exercise on Wednesday.
When it comes to B-roll, your job is to use these visuals to tell a story in a way that is very clear and keeps the viewer not just interested but oriented: clear on what’s happening. Cutting together a sequence is often an effective way of doing this.
The classic sequence that every budding videographer learns when starting out is the five-shot sequence.
- Close-up on the hands.
- Close-up on the face.
- Medium shot.
- Over the shoulder shot.
- One additional creative angle.
You won’t always edit things in this exact way when you do a sequence in the real world; sometimes it’ll only be three shots, or it might be ten, and they might be in a different order. But the five-shot sequence is a useful framework for thinking about depicting an activity clearly and engagingly with video.
If you miss this class for some reason, please shoot a five-shot sequence on your phone and make sure the footage is ready to use (meaning, already sent to your email so you can quickly access it) for Monday’s class. We’ll be using this footage in a video editing exercise. If you’re shooting on your phone, you MUST SHOOT WITH YOUR PHONE ORIENTED HORIZONTALLY.