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Video for DSLR and Point and Shoot Cameras
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Feb 6, 2018 09:30:02   #
gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast
 
I want to make short video clips to put into my Pro Show shows for added variety. I have a D7000 and can use either a 35mm prime or an 18-200 zoom. I'm thinking that the 35mm would be a good choice for overview type shots. And then what camera settings? I normally shoot in Program mode. Should I use Manual mode? Auto focus or not? What F stop? What's a good way to do follow focus if I pan from distant to close-in? Thanks for your help.

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Feb 6, 2018 12:48:49   #
Bobspez Loc: Southern NJ, USA
 
Lens choice depends on how wide of an angle you need to cover your subject. I'm thinking the zoom would be more useful, giving you a choice of focal lengths from wide angle to close up. You can use manual mode with auto iso if your lighting will change during the clip, otherwise, you can go full manual and take some still pics with the manual aperture and iso settings to check your eposure before you start the video.
Personally I always shoot video with a tripod to eliminate camera shake. Auto focus is fine if you can edit out the parts where the lens is hunting. Manual focus gives you more cinematic choices such as starting with a blur and focusing on the subject, or focusing on a subject and blurring it out as you focus on an object at a different distance without moving the camera.
If you use the lowest f-stop available (widest aperture) you get more light and less depth of field, which is also a cinematic effect. I generally like to keep the iso as low as possible (iso-100 when possible except if I'm going in and out of shadows where I set the iso to auto). Remember sound is at least as important as video, and editing (both video and sound) is how your clips are shaped into a video. Personally I don't like fast cuts. I like to be able to absorb a scene before moving on to the next. I like a two second film dissolve or fade to black or white as the transitions between cuts. Good luck.

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Video for DSLR and Point and Shoot Cameras
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