I work at a small college and at our commencement meeting today I was asked to look into putting together a system to stream our graduation ceremony live (probably on Facebook Live). We are a small college operating on a very tight budget, hence the guy with camera equipment got tapped to look into this. I've done a lot of still photography, but very little video. And have never streamed video. I'd appreciate some input as far as what gear might be best for me to use. Any other advice (settings, etc.) would be appreciated.

I have a Nikon D7100 and a Nikon D500. As far as lenses I think would work, I have a Sigma DC 17-50mm 2.8 EX HSM, Tamron 70-200 2.8 USD SP A009 Di, and a Nikon DX 55-300mm 4.5-5.6G ED HRI. I also have Nikon 35 and 50 primes.

Expectations of video output isn't too high...nobody is expecting cinema quality video. We just think it would be nice to stream for those who can't be there. The commencement will be on a formal stage in a theatre with ample lighting. Camera will be set up on a tripod, and will likely be in a "set it and forget it" mode (unmonitored). It will focus on the podium where the speakers will be and where diplomas will be distributed. I'll run an AC adapter to the camera, so I won't need to worry about batteries. At this point I'm not worried about sound, just the video aspect.

Any productive thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

I work at a small college and at our commencement meeting today I was asked to look into putting together a system to stream our graduation ceremony live (probably on Facebook Live). We are a small college operating on a very tight budget, hence the guy with camera equipment got tapped to look into this. I've done a lot of still photography, but very little video. And have never streamed video. I'd appreciate some input as far as what gear might be best for me to use. Any other advice (settings, etc.) would be appreciated.

I have a Nikon D7100 and a Nikon D500. As far as lenses I think would work, I have a Sigma DC 17-50mm 2.8 EX HSM, Tamron 70-200 2.8 USD SP A009 Di, and a Nikon DX 55-300mm 4.5-5.6G ED HRI. I also have Nikon 35 and 50 primes.

Expectations of video output isn't too high...nobody is expecting cinema quality video. We just think it would be nice to stream for those who can't be there. The commencement will be on a formal stage in a theatre with ample lighting. Camera will be set up on a tripod, and will likely be in a "set it and forget it" mode (unmonitored). It will focus on the podium where the speakers will be and where diplomas will be distributed. I'll run an AC adapter to the camera, so I won't need to worry about batteries. At this point I'm not worried about sound, just the video aspect.

Any productive thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Forget your dSLR. As others noted, it either shuts off due to heat, or by design, to avoid a tariff restriction, in 12 to 30 minutes.

The Lumix GH4, GH5, and GH5s mirrorless cameras from Panasonic record until the memory card(s) are full, or the battery dies, whichever comes first. A GH5 with AC adapter can record indefinitely if you swap out each card in its dual slots.

The GH5 is also equipped with proper audio inputs, level controls, peak limiters, meters... it can be used with an adapter to connect pro audio mics or sound boards.

Get a mic within three feet of the sound source. If you understand the “inverse square law,” you know why — at ten feet, you have only ONE PERCENT of the sound you had at one foot, and the background noise is 100 times louder. (That’s why it sounds so bad!)