Video settings

Hi folks, I hope all is well.

I'm considering doing some video work for the company. Just some talking head at your desk type shots.

I've done plenty of webinars training and running technical workshops, even multiple day revision workshops (I do consultancy work for professional bodies on their exams) so the talking and technical knowledge is there.

That being said, I'm just dipping my toe into setting up the video on my side of things.

I've been practicing with my OM 5.2 which can do 4k 25 FPS but only 8 bit - not too much of an issue for my audience if I'm honest. I do have the OM1.2 and Z8 but these are all my personal cameras (if company wants me to do it they can get some cameras).

I've set the camera and mic up, manual mode, lowest iso 200, F2.8-F4 and from reading around the shutter speed to 1/50 as I understand this should be twice the frame rate.

I then took some videos and changed the shutter speed to 1/80 and 1/100 keeping the aperture the same (iso changed obviously) but I couldn't see any difference in the output..

They all had a little motion blur if I moved too much. Is this normal? Could anyone recommend some reading or videos to watch to improve my understanding.

I showed the wife and she seemed to say they were good quality, with only minor edits done in Davinci (didn't even load a lut) then I downloaded the video using the YouTube setting.

Sounds like you're off to a great start. There are lots of youtube channels that can help, but I'm not sure if you need them. Some motion blur is normal, and expected for video, and you're right that 1/50th for 25fps is normal. But for talking heads without much motion increasing to 1/80th or 1/100th probably won't make much difference - just increases the file size a bit for the extra data. Most important is sound of course - people will put up with a not so great image if they can hear what's being said but not the other way around. After that it's about framing and lighting the subject, and then possibly adding a second camera to be able to switch for some more interest or help with cuts if the speaker stumbles.

TimHughes said:

Sounds like you're off to a great start. There are lots of youtube channels that can help, but I'm not sure if you need them. Some motion blur is normal, and expected for video, and you're right that 1/50th for 25fps is normal. But for talking heads without much motion increasing to 1/80th or 1/100th probably won't make much difference - just increases the file size a bit for the extra data. Most important is sound of course - people will put up with a not so great image if they can hear what's being said but not the other way around. After that it's about framing and lighting the subject, and then possibly adding a second camera to be able to switch for some more interest or help with cuts if the speaker stumbles.

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Thanks for this.

I have a sennheiser mke 200 that I got thrown in with my S5 originally, only opened it this week (I knew it would come in handy some day). I also have the DJI mics mini with the receiver - so that should be good for sound.

I have some basic understanding of sound editing in Davinci but I've only really delved into it over the last few months.

A lot of stuff in my profession is done with web cams lol so 8 bit, 10 bit, 12 bit or 4k or 6k doesn't really matter too much. A lot of the training I've done has been done on webcams and laptop speakers as that's the kit they supplied lol .

So hopefully my basic understanding and basic set up will be ok (still going to push the business to buy their own gear).

I'm a long way off B cams lol and not sure they will push to two Z6 iiis and two lenses lol

Adamcski said:

They all had a little motion blur if I moved too much. Is this normal?

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Dont move, lock the camera on a tripod pointing at the person speaking, while that is going on use your phone to get extra shots. A different angle, closer or wider, some b-roll of what they are doing even if its just typing a keyboard anything to make it a bit more interesting.

On behalf of everyone thats had to sit through work videos anything you can do to make them a bit more interesting will be very well recieved

I'm the person speaking and camera is on a tripod.

I can set another camera up, even if it's an action camera but it's my editing skills that are lacking currently.

I don't know how to add B roll and all that as of yet.

Like I said, a lot of stuff in my profession is laptop to laptop type interviews and such. Not much in the way of proper video.

Actually sound is far more important than the image when shooting video. You can get away with shaky video far more easy than poor sound quality.. Investing in a dead cat mic is worthwhile.

ScottT said:

On behalf of everyone thats had to sit through work videos anything you can do to make them a bit more interesting will be very well recieved

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+1 for this

Another option is to add a few seconds of relevant stock footage to illustrate the points being made. I have an Envato Elements subscription for that, but there are lots of other options.