Nikon D3100 Video is really giving me a hard time…

[Slade Mitchell]

I will test these out, and get back to you. I’ve been looking into T3is recently because I think I made the wrong choice in going with Nikon for a video focus, what do you think of the video capability with your D800, Ken?? Would you change to Canon if you could, or does Nikon do everything just as well. (In your opinion, of course.)

[Ken Jones]

The Neutral setting won’t look all that different on the camera LCD. You will notice the difference when you transfer the file to your computer.

I like the D800 a lot, but my background is shooting corporate videos with broadcast camcorders like Ikegami, Sony, Panasonic, so the D800 form factor is a pain to deal with, mainly because you do not have an XLR input built in. But the video capabilities are awesome. I like Nikon better than Canon because my brain understands the Nikon menu structure better. I have shot several projects with the 5D MkII with excellent results, but Canon cameras confuse me. Everything seems counterintuitive. When Nikon came out with the D800 I shot a couple of projects with another producer’s D800 and I was sold. I now own two of them and shoot tons of two camera interviews. For lenses I use the Nikon 24-70/2.8 and a Nikon 70-200/2.8.

Most of the work I do is internal corporate communications, but a few videos are external. Below are some links to videos I have shot over the last year or so with the D800.

eVgo/Nissan Pilot: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIxgzRmu4cM

TransCanada
Energy Day 2012: https://vimeo.com/51926265
NBPL 30th: https://vimeo.com/52494954
Prague, OK: https://vimeo.com/64166268
Kountze, TX (Read Ice): https://vimeo.com/66659835
Beaumont, TX (Quality Mat Company): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMswnHQ6kDM&feature=c4-overview&list=UUc9XJFfPASK593DnDlUp3Og
Energy Day 2013: https://vimeo.com/77814350
Gulf Coast Pipeline Project – Vital to America: https://vimeo.com/60205791

FMC/”IQ Style”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=T7WtxcE9Vz4

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[Slade Mitchell]

Ken–

Thanks for the reply! I also shoot a lot of corporate video for a living, and interviews. I got the D3100 to upgrade from a Panasonic “point and shoot.”

I will test out your settings when the sun is up tomorrow, and show them to see what you think (How I can make the picture better, etc).

Thanks again!

[Rob Manning]

Slade, Steve makes great points however, back to the issue at hand. You purchased a Nikon HD enabled DSLR, so as with most ‘tools’, master it’s capabilities and it should work for you until you trade up.

Focus: Neither the Canon or Nikon offerings use on camera technology for fast motion resolution (focus) unlike Sony (FS7/A99), or the GH series from Panasonic which resolve motion (movement of a subject) using the sensor/cpu. In other words, until this week when Nikon released video about the new $800 (D5300) body did they address trying to solve that issue (a new lens designed for the body).

So you will be better off shooting in manual mode.

While adherents of the Ford versus Chevy camps (Nikon/Canon) can argue till the cows come home, by most photography measures, Nikon (arguably) has a better DR over Canon. Don’t ask me for links though, the threads on that are buried somewhere in Nikonians archives.

Picture Control: Shooting with neutral is best but a Flatt profile, will get more bang from your camera, reducing crushed blacks and burned highlights. https://www.similaar.com/foto/flaat-picture-controls/index.html

ND Grad: Many choices, Genus is what I use and yesterday I shot Eagle Rays as the bright white late afternoon sun was overpowering everything, but set the exposure (for video and stills) on the D800, using the histogram for balance, not how it looked in the live screen because the graph isn’t playing tricks on one’s eyes. As the sun moved behind the clouds for good, I took the grad off and adjusted once again.

On a machine without LV histogram, set the shot using a still, making sure the ISO, frame rate, etc. are the same. Then look at the NEF to gauge the situation. This is what we do on our D7000s.

Note that on Nikons, the video frame rate (24/30 etc.) is hard set in the movie menu and adjusting the frame rate on camera during a shot or between shots has no effect on the capture. It does affect the exposure. Easy enough to check, shoot with different frame rates then open up in Premiere or other NLE and the data shows filmed at whichever setting is chosen in the movie.

I (we) own 1) D90, 2) D7000s, 1) D3S and 1) D800 plus over a dozen older and newer primes, and the requisite f/2.8 zooms.

There is no way anyone can tell me that buying a camera like yours was a bad decision, based on economics, OK, but bear in mind, no matter which brand of body you choose, the h.264 codec is burning into the data things like WB so getting as clean and balanced a shot as is possible is what matters. They ALL render files at 2MPs.

HTHs

Rob Manning

[Slade Mitchell]

Rob-

Thanks for the very in depth reply! All these things have been noted, and I definitely thank you very much for all the details. If you have a job opening, I would love to operate one of those cameras! 😉

I picked up an ND filter, and decided to keep my D3100 for now. I figured you’re right, it’s better to start with something, rather than wanting to change around cameras already. It’s a great camera now that I have fixed the issue, now I just have to learn how to use it better. Especially trying to focus, and record steady at the same time… that’s tough.

Thanks again!
Slade

[Slade Mitchell]

Hey all! I fixed it! Try not to laugh at me too hard… please…

But I have been watching all these videos about people saying to turn the contrast all the way, down, so I did, not realizing that Nikon’s contrast starts at 0, so I was technically adding contrast by moving the slider all the way to the left as per the videos I was watching (on Canons). More over, I used the Neutral setting, and a 1/50 shutter to make it all better. The results are as follows:

NOTE – I understand the lighting is crap, that is intentional to make it more comparable to the initial video which was shot in the woods as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGGE0p0-j8g&feature=youtu.be

[Rob Manning]

Good job Slade.

Some folks would add the sun-lens flares in (a fad these days on TV commercials) in post, yours is au natural of course ;-).

[David Rehm]

Most likely you’re shooting in the “Standard” mode(?). Shooting in the “Standard” mode will give you crushed blacks and bright highlights.

Shoot “flat”. This takes the saturation and contrast out. This is what you want as it can be recovered in post and you won’t have that “harsh” look.

Check out Philip Bloom’s site as he will have some info on this.
https://philipbloom.net/

Some custom picture styles to look for:
1. TassinfFlat
2. https://alvaroyus.com/

Here’s a video I found compaing some of the picture styles.
https://vimeo.com/37974093

David

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[David Rehm]

Slade, You did not make the wrong choice. Keep in mind it’s not the correct choice either. Nikon, Canon, Panasonic (even other names) all make great video.

Check out this video of a short film that used a Nikon D7000 and a Mark 5D (which is considered the king of DSLRs).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYwOf-BtiNY
You can’t tell the difference as to which shot is which in the film.

I left another post explaining that your whole problem seems to be that you are shooting in the “Standard” picture style. This is great for photos but not for video. Blacks will be too black and highlights slightly blown out. With ALL DSLRs (this includes Canon, Nikon, Panasonic, etc…) you must shoot “flat” – turn down the Saturation and Contrast.

If your camera was a Canon T2i and you shot in a Standard picture style you would have the same feeling. Shoot “flat”. Oh, did I say shoot “flat”.

For me, (I have a Nikon D7000) my first few video were dark in the shadow areas, and I wasn’t sure why. I learned about shooting “flat” and I was actually scared to do it at first. Just one day I was shooting a presenter (a preacher actually) and at the last second I switched my camera to Neutral picture style. I’ve never looked back since.

Admittedly Canons have that “edge” on video in the DSLR department. But that edge isn’t in picture quality, it’s in other things. I can’t image anyone on here would say Canons have a superior picture quality over Nikons (or vice-versa).

Another added problem you might be facing too is your lens. Did you use the kit lens? If so, that adds to your problem. While the kit lens is OK for some things, I wouldn’t recommend it for serious video work. If your budget is tight try getting either one of these two lenses for starters:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/247091-USA/Nikon_2137_Normal_AF_Nikkor_50mm.html
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/606792-USA/Nikon_2183_AF_S_Nikkor_35mm_f_1_8G.html

Lately though I have been using the Tamron 17-50mm 2.8 lens alot as I find it very all around handy. DO NOT get the Vibration Reduction model – as it actually can blur the picture. I found it on eBay for less than $300.

Here are more videos comparing Nikon and Canon.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lv4MSezWQo4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZPNwIMMFik

Again – you did not buy the wrong camera, you just have to know how they work and how they are to be used.

Hope this helps,
David

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[David Rehm]

Slade, The tiny screen on the DSLR will look focused to our eyes, but it is deceiving. You get home and examine your shots and they’re a little soft or even alot out of focus.

A couple of months ago I was getting ready to tape my wife’s brother’s wedding (with my Nikon D7000) and at the last minute I ordered a loupe. Money was a little tight and this is the one I purchased:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/896300-REG/Vivitar_viv_dslr_lm3_3_LCD_Hood_2X.html

It saved my butt. The wedding would have been ruined without it.
Definitely get one – even if it’s a cheapy for $20. It’ll work.

This will ensure you are in focus. The problem (most likely) isn’t you, it’s trusting that little screen on the back of the camera that tells you you’re in focus when it’s really not.

David