View Full Version : Recording HD on 6D... advise


David Stembridge
May 13th, 2014, 10:38 AM
I have read that shutter speed should be double the frame rate (Dave Dugdale). 24fps would use a shutter speed of 50.

I am looking for some additional suggestions or advise for filming.

Jon Fairhurst
May 13th, 2014, 12:22 PM
Under fluorescent lights, use 1/60 in 60 Hz countries (e.g. North America).

You can also use 1/100 in 50 Hz countries and 1/120 in 60 Hz countries under fluorescent lights. Use this when you want more crispness and are content with some judder. This is good for a frenetic scene.

In sunlight, go for 1/250 or faster when you want extreme crispness and judder.

Slower shutter speeds can be used when you want a slurred look. You can blend frames for even more slurring.

In short, 1/50 or 1/60 is normal. Fast shutter speeds are like amphetamines. (As is undercrank - shooting slower than 24 fps). Slow shutter speeds and frame blending are like barbiturates. (Overcrank to slow things further.)

An interesting combination is to shoot sports at 30 fps for 24 fps playback (overcrank for slight slow motion) along with a fast shutter speed. This can give a bigger than life feel.

John Summerfield
May 19th, 2014, 04:40 PM
While this is the ideal in theory and if you have the ability on a shoot to match those settings up in that way, then go for it. However, I can tell you that run & gun shooting (like weddings, which we do) necessitate that you do whatever you have to do to get good exposure in a short period of time, maybe just a few moments. We set ISO, shutter speed and aperture to provide good exposure and the depth of field we're looking for in each situation. I wouldn't get to hung up on correlation between shutter speed and frame rate... we always shoot 24fps on our 6D and 5D MkIII, often leaving our apertures parked wide open for DOF at 1.4, 2.0, 2.8, etc., and use the shutter speed as an iris control. It's the practice of many videographers. Your mileage may vary depending on the content being shot. Water fountains and fast action subjects may require a different approach. Hope this helps.

Jon Fairhurst
May 19th, 2014, 11:39 PM
Rather than using shutter speed as the exposure control, a variable ND filter can do the trick. It's stepless, so it can be adjusted live. Also, it maintains s shallow DOF look without adding the judder that comes with a fast shutter speed.

Steve Bleasdale
May 20th, 2014, 02:12 AM
As John says go with the flow, yes in reality double the frame rate but running gunning is hard and without a variable ND filter you will have to have a high shutter speed if you want to work at 2.8 That is why you are using dslr right ?