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t2i video advice
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Nice guide to DSLR filmmaking. Very well-said.
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Joe Shapiro
Director / Freelance FCP Editor
206-420-6411https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1497731/
https://JoeShapiro.com
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoo_(film)
https://NWFilmForum.org/PoliceBeat -
“You don’t have the skill or experience yet to bother with trying to maintain focus on moving subjects – that’s something experts camera operators can do with lots of practice…so keep your iris in in the high numbers”
My thoughts exactly! I definitely want to learn how to use this camera to it’s full potential, but I still have work to do in the mean time. Seems like the shutter speed is really the only question now. I have tried to play with several options, but I’m wondering if the high shutter speed that was recommended to me wasn’t causing allot of my problems. I was thinking that I needed to go even higher to handle the motion blur, but it appears thats incorrect. I also didn’t know about the exposure comp. That should be a nice feature for someone like me thats trying to keep everything in focus.
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Chris, while I know you’re asking about shooting with a “t2i”, the subtext is how to shoot motocross.
In my view, the real work of making movies happens in the editing room. In this digital day and age, to a great extent the actual filming is, in reality, data collection. So much can be dealt with in post, particularly when you’re doing the sort of work you’re doing.
Let me suggest two things. First, shoot a little wider, and get closer. This will give you an easier time of following the action and keeping everything in focus. For closer shots of action, you can always cheat a 20% enlargement in post, and almost always get away with it. Secondly, invest $150 bucks in a GoPro camera. Strap it to a driver’s helmet or bike or plant in the middle of the track, and get yourself the kind of shots that you’ll drool over.
At any rate, it’s not the camera that matters so much but rather the shots and, almost above all, the editing, and above all of that, the story.
Lastly, the dirty secret about video is that the sound is more important than the pictures. Get good sound and get yourself a music library. Sound and music can make a still look good.
Regards
Stephen Best
https://stephenbest.ca -
I can agree with that for sure! I have been using a gopro (although the 1080p version I’m using cost closer to #300) and I’m editing with vegas movie studio platinum 10.0 HD. I would like to move from PC to mac and start working with final cut though. I’ll stick with the current lens and look into some other items to help the finished product such as an external mic, better quality tripod etc. Heres a couple of my vids that I’ve gotten so far, as you can see, my quality is nowhere near what I’d like it to be. But I think I’m improving each time I shoot and I feel that I am creative enough to put together some good edits. Take a look and tell me what you think:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POqVsY-ZFOw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeJMgN1yfZM
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Yeah, I watched the first video you linked to…it looks like you don’t have to tell the story of the entire race and just show highlights which is great for you. I don’t film action sports so keep that in mind but here are my thoughts:
I think your next step is to mix in interview footage and more closeups of the bikes while they are being prepared for the race and also in the pit stop (if that’s the right word!) For both of these shallow depth of field and for the interviews good audio will really spice up your presentation.
You had one section (around 2:11) where you were able to position yourself in a nice spot to capture the riders getting some good air….for that particular spot you might try getting a tad closer and, again, going for the shallow depth of field. Combined with the slow motion effect you’ve already learned to do – that will make for some dramatic footage.
By the way I firmly agree with the earlier comment about sound and the fact of how 80-90 percent of the story is really brought out through editing….of course you need the raw footage to work with.
When you have the budget for it – check out the “sliders” they really can add a lot of drama to your shots in the right circumstances.
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Remember that advice from photographers doesn’t always apply directly to video – a high shutter speed is great for a still shot when you want to freeze the action – but for video ….errrr…..not so good. Keep it at 1/50th if you film at 24-26 frames per second and then don’t touch it! 🙂
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Oh and then when you’re REALLY good check out the remote controlled helicopters (one popular model is called the Parrot) that are designed to carry small video cameras – then you can chase the riders, hover in a dramatic spot or fly parallel to the action – just don’t crash into any of the riders – that will be the end of your sweet production deal! ha ha
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Thanks! Yeah, I work for a suspension company, so I really just have to show the riders running our products. I posted the second video, because I tried to use a little of the shallow DOF to focus on some of the bikes and products as well.
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First, I would never use a DSLR for filming fast moving sports.
A Sony EX-1 works great for this.
Brent Dunn
Owner / Director / Editor
DunnRight Films
DunnRight Video.com
Video Marketing Toolbox.netSony EX-1,
Canon 5D Mark II
Canon 7D
Mac Pro Tower, Quad Core,
with Final Cut StudioHP i7 Quad laptop
Adobe CS-5 Production Suite -
If you are showcasing your company’s products, you should try to get some rider testimonials. Shoot it like a commercial spot.
I don’t think the parrot remote helicoptor can carry a camera. It has a built in camera, but the quality is poor. It’s made of foam, which is safe. It only has a lens that sends a wireless signal to an ipod, iphone, ipad.
Brent Dunn
Owner / Director / Editor
DunnRight Films
DunnRight Video.com
Video Marketing Toolbox.netSony EX-1,
Canon 5D Mark II
Canon 7D
Mac Pro Tower, Quad Core,
with Final Cut StudioHP i7 Quad laptop
Adobe CS-5 Production Suite
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