Quantum leaps in the image quality and features of Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) cameras have made them capable of shooting great video. First embraced by Indie filmmakers, professional DSLR cameras, like the popular Canon EOS 5D, with full 1080p capture, 24p frame rate and quality lenses, have become a tool for network television producers and Hollywood feature filmmakers. DSLRs can produce higher quality video that many compact video cameras while being more versatile and compact than typical cinema cameras. They can also more be more affordable. However, because still photography remains the DSLR's primary function, setup can represent a serious hurdle for those looking to use their camera for video.
Dedicated video cameras are pretty much ready out-of-the-box to shoot clean video, whereas, DSLRs typically default to basic still camera settings. So, you don't really get a good starting point. To further complicate setup, video options on DSLR cameras aren't grouped together and aren't always obvious. Knowing some key areas to look for can help you to navigate the substantial menu structure of most professional DSLRs.
The following are the key options used to create a working video setup for your DSLR.
DSLR Video Setup
Basic Menu Controls
This probably goes without saying. As with any new device, your first challenge is to learn to navigate the menus and set options. With DSLR video options this is particularly important, as the options are not typically found together. You may never have to refer back to them, but taking notes can sometimes help you to learn and remember the option landscape of your camera more quickly.
Viewing Option
Since DSLRs, at least historically, are most typically used with a viewfinder, you may have to turn on an LCD screen to monitor video recording. Canon has a “Live View” mode activated with a button on the back of the camera.
Recording Size
DSLR cameras that support video recording will provide typical choices for video recording size. What you choose will depend on what you intend to use the video for, but a good quality standard is 1920x1080px at 24fps. 1920x1080px is also known as 1080p or Full HD. The term usually assumes a widescreen aspect ratio of 16:9, implying a resolution of 2.1 megapixels. It is often marketed as Full HD, to contrast 1080p with 720p resolution screens. 1080p delivers a great result, but there are some good reasons to use other settings. For example, 720p is less data intensive and so ideal for Facebook and other live streaming applications. If you want your finished product to have an HD look or you need to slow motion, then higher frame rates can be selected.
White Balance
While still photographers like to change white balance settings to compensate for changing lighting, video and film producers want white balance to be locked in so there are no abrupt and distracting changes in color between scenes. Choose a white balance setting (preset or manual) that works for your environment or represents a good compromise if you are shooting in more than one space. Lock it in. Some cameras allow you to preview white balance, which can be handy since what the camera renders isn't always what our eyes tell us about color in a scene. On the Canon 5D you can press Live View then White Balance buttons and flip through the white balance settings to see how each will impact your recording.
Picture Style
Modern DSLRs have a Picture Style function that brings together the settings for image processing parameters (you many have seen these in the past as tone curve, sharpness and contrast) and color matrix settings (previously, standard, portrait, high and low saturation and Adobe RGB). For video, many professionals like the setting that changes the image the least and produces a usable file that can be adjusted later. On the Canon 5D this is labeled the Faithful setting. The manual for your make and model DSLR will provide the key differences in these settings and they are a constant source of discussion on blogs about video and video recording.
Auto Power-off
DSLRs like to power off automatically after one minute of non-operation to save battery life. While this makes good sense for a still photographer, having your camera power off while you are adjusting a scene or otherwise inactive can be a pain. You can generally specify a period of time from 1 to 30 minutes for auto power off, or you can disable the feature entirely. 30 minutes seems to work well for most video purposes.
LCD brightness
While changing LCD brightness can help some photographers to see their images on the back of the camera, changing LCD brightness makes it difficult for filmmakers to judge exposure consistently. Therefore, you'll want to set LCD brightness to manual and choose a value somewhere near the middle of the scale for the screen to be most accurate. When shooting in bright sunlight, you might need a hood or other viewfinder device to help.
Media Formatting
This is not a setting, per se, but worth mentioning because it is both part of the DSLR menu structure and knowing about its importance for video will help guarantee that you get a quality result. Video professionals choose high-quality video memory cards that can meet the speed demands of shooting video and they are careful to format cards before every session. Find the format option on your DSLR and use it before each shoot.
Save/Recall Settings
Since important camera options are not all located on one screen, it's good to know how to quickly store and recall a set of options that you know will give you the result you want. It's especially handy if you are using your DSLR for both stills and video. Learn to save and recall custom settings. Canon's Custom Menu lists all the options and asks you to register which settings to store. Once that is done, a group of settings can be stored for quick access.
Setting ISO
It's sometimes debated, but many film industry engineers recommend (for very technical reasons) selecting an ISO setting that is a multiple of 160 (160, 320, 640, 1250, etc) to get the best image with the least noise. After reading a few lengthy discussions on the reasoning, you'll probably agree that it's good advice.
Shutter and Aperture
All photographers are familiar with shutter and aperture settings, but they work a little differently when using a DSLR for video. Shutter speed is not used to control exposure for video and is almost always set at a speed that is roughly twice the frame rate. So, for 24fps that would be 1/50th of a second, at 30fps, 1/60th and so on.
Checking Focus
A useful technique that works for both shooting ‘tack sharp' stills and video is to use your camera's magnify features to zoom in to pull in the perfect focus for your shot. On most cameras the function is a button marked with a magnifying glass. On the Canon 5D, frame your shot, use magnify to increase your image to 10x normal, focus and then return to normal viewing. It's very handy to create a custom function on your DSLR that makes maximum magnification a one-button function.
DSLRs for Live Streaming
For live streaming, DSLR cameras considered in the same category as HDMI cameras by most popular content distributors. A common configuration requires HDMI output from the camera with a capture device or capture card between the camera and the encoding (streaming) computer. Your content distributor's website will usually point you to more specifics on camera setup, based on the make and model, and suggest supported capture device types. Using a camera that has been tested by the content distributor, along with a supported capture device, can make your setup and operation go smoothly.
It's important to note that not all DSLRs are good for streaming. Here are three common reasons a DSLR might not be suitable for live streaming applications:
No Clean Output Option - Some DSLR cameras don't have configuration options that will provide a clean output over their HDMI port. Cameras that mirror what is in the viewfinder, with overlays showing settings like battery life, etc. without an option to turn off these character displays off are not suitable for live streaming.
Poor Audio Quality - Some DSLRs offer less audio capabilities than a true live video camera. You will want to make sure that the camera you are using can input live audio from an external microphone or audio source (and avoid the low-quality built-in mic). Also, be sure that your DSLR can output that quality audio over the HDMI port.
Limited Runtime - Not all DSLR cameras are designed for extended live use. Some models may overheat and automatically shut down if shooting video for extended periods of time. While camcorders are built specifically to record for long periods, not all DSLRs can run for even an hour. Check the manual to be sure to be sure your camera can record continuously for longer than 2-3 hours a time.
