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How can I shoot video in low light with minimal bokeh (i.e. everything in focus)?
Hi all,
I’m planning on shooting a music video in low light conditions (think a subway station platform),but I’m looking for a way to get both the background and subject (who is in the foreground) in sharp focus, as I need the station sign in the background to be clear.
In well lit conditions, this is not so much of an issue since I can put my aperture to 11 or higher. Problem is, I can only use available light on the platform so I may not be able to get my aperture past 3 or maybe 5.6 (generously), and thus the frame will have lots of bokeh/depth of field.
Any idea how I can get everything sharp with no additional lighting and keeping my shutter speed as at acceptable level for smooth motion?
I’m using a Canon 5D Mark III (possibly a T2i), and I’m planning on renting a lens, so the latter piece is flexible. I’m probably going to go 35mm for wideness, but I might even go wider (as wide as I can without major edge distortion).
All ideas are welcome! Thanks!
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6 Replies
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the only obvious thing left is high ISO and then use neatvideo to remove the grain afterwards.
or.. you could shoot the sign focused separately as a matte then track it back in post.
I would do a test before committing to either of these.
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If you’re renting a lens, rent the fastest you can find in the Canon Primes. Also bear in mind that if you want a wide (35mm) lens that because of the T2i’s sensor size, there’s crop factor of 1.6. It will make your 35mm lens a 56mm lens. So rent a 22mm lens, which would give you true 35mm. The Canon 24mm here would be a good choice, if you can find a rental:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=590449&is=USA&A=details&Q=
These guys are well known, and you can get the above lens for three days for 52 bucks:
https://www.borrowlenses.com/AdvancedSearch.do?searchString=canon+22mm
Joe Bourke
Owner/Creative Director
Bourke Media
http://www.bourkemedia.com -
I don’t think a fast prime will help give a high depth of field. You’d need f/11 anyway. no point in paying more.
and actually a wide angle lens like 15mm will give more depth of field than a large mm lens.
since you don’t want shutter blur, I still think you’re stuck with high ISO noise or a roto matte, or buy some lights!
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Rent a 1/2″ broadcast camera, or even a 2/3″.
Second option: tilt-shift lens.
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Another approach would be to plan it as a day-for-night shoot. Lots of lights so you can shoot f11, and then darken it in post.
It’s a lot more labor intensive, but you will get rid of the high-iso noise and have a lot more freedom in post. -
Thanks for all the advice! A few points:
– Using lights are impossible due to restrictions on use in the subway, so that is not an option. I also cannot use reflectors or a tripod, but that’s only semi-related to my issue.
– I don’t think I’ll have much choice except to punch my ISO up to 6400. I was not planning on making this vid black and white but I suppose a high ISO could be offset with an artistic look if I convert to black and white, where high grain isn’t that unusual. Would I better off shooting in color and converting in After Effects, or shooting in black and white using my camera’s built-in filter?
– As for lenses, as you guys saying that the lower the mm, the higher the bokeh? Maybe I should get a very high mm prime lens (like 100mm and higher) and shoot from further away?
– Sareesh mentioned a tilt-shift lens. I can look into it but wouldn’t it worsen my problem by creating a ton of bokeh?
– Unfortunately the subway station is underground an indoors, so natural light will not be available.
I would love for the video to look super crisp like all the visuals in 99 Problems:
https://www.blastro.com/player/jayz99problems.html?detect_bitrate=_2000Any further advice would be much appreciated.
Thanks!
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