I've been asked to film a band's music video and I have a Nikon D7100, when filming is it auto focus or manual focus I should use?

Question

I've been asked to film a band's music video and I have a Nikon D7100, when filming is it auto focus or manual focus I should use?

Answer 1

The Nikon D7100 is a digital still image capture device. It can also capture video - and audio - as these are convenience features.



We don't know what the lighting conditions are that you will be capturing. We also don't know if you need to use the camera's captured audio or is the audio will be recorded separately. I use a Zoom H5.



If is was MY shoot, I would be using both manual and auto focus - depending on what's going on.



You should start with manual and move to auto later if needed. Assuming this is a "rehearsal" being shot, I would set the camera on a tripod in front of the band, and press record. This is the "establishing shot". Set the camera to manual, get the focus correct. Record the whole song.



Move the camera and point it at instrument/artist 1. Record the whole song.

Move the camera and point it at instrument/artist 2. Record the whole song.

Keep doing this until ALL the instruments/artists are recorded.

Put the camera behind the band. Record the whole song.

Put the camera on one side of the band. Record the whole song.

Put the camera on the other side of the band. Record the whole song.



Each time the camera is moved, be sure the focus is right. (This is one reason why I use more than one camera for performance type shoots.)



Import all the video to a video editor that can deal with multiple, simultaneous video and audio tracks. Use the audio to sync each with the "master" establishing shot. Start cutting.



Do not capture video using the camera handheld.



You should be able to use the master shot's audio. Do not do a board feed. Learn to use - and use - the manual audio gain control. Page 169 and 165 in the manual (link below) - see "Manual sensitivity". The audio meters should be about 3/4 up. occasional peaks are OK. Pegged constantly is not - and the recorded audio will be muddy and full of static.



Read the manual:

http://cdn-10.nikon-cdn.com/pdf/manuals/dslr/D7100_EN.pdf

Shooting movies starts on page 161.

Don't be surprised when the camera shuts down from overheating (page 168).

Don't be surprised when the camera automatically shuts down because the file duration limit was exceeded (pages 163, 169).



PRACTICE doing all this BEFORE you have to do it or expect failure.



To eliminate the auto shutdown due to overheating, use an external monitor

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/858209-REG/elvid_cm7_sml_7_on_camera_field.html



DO NOT capture handheld until you have more experience. Do not expect to get good video from a single clip capture.



Understand the environment of where the video capture will happen. Be prepared to ADD LIGHT.



Your dSLR is not a camcorder. It can capture decent video. Jumping into a "music video" and using equipment you don't understand, will be like handing the keys of a manual transmission car to someone who has never driven a car - let alone never used a clutch or shift - and telling them to safely drive to the other side of town.

Answer 2

Shooting video with a DSLR has it's own unique issues. Since autofocus is not very fast on a DSLR, you'll find it "hunting" during your shoot if subjects or camera are moving around. The way to avoid the problem is to use Manual focus, but that means the camera operator must be especially attentive to his job.



Second, audio qualify is not going to be good enough from a DSLR. Furthermore, if you use autofocus, the microphone will probably pick up the sound of the focus motor. Not good. Therefore, you need to use an independent audio recorder such as the Zoom H1 or H2 and merge your video and audio during editing.



Third, use a good quality video tripod with a fluid head. You do not want to hand-hold your camera, especially while trying to maintain manual focus.

Answer 3

I would get into a rehearsal session of the band to watch them and practice. one thing you will probably need to deal with is the motion of the people in the band. if you are shooting a video, you need a tripod that has a real smooth pan and a digital cam mount, the jerkies make the video look cheaply done (try it sometime), a cam tripod is probably



you will also want to setup in the aisle away from people, unless you can negotiate space (but people will want to get around you to get a seat, so this can be an issue...) depends on the placement of YOU, so YOU need to find a place(s) you can be. and, it you could catch some stills if they are OK with not having a full-concert video and are only wanting to give people a video clip/sample. OR, you can plan a time segment to do the stills during rehearsal and do a full video during the concert, that way, they get both.



power cables for lighting(whatever), etc need to be duct-taped to the floor so people don't trip or mess up what you are doing. for cables, avoid stressing connectors by letting too much weight hang on them (relieve the stress). video consumes a LOT of battery power and the cam probably won;t last the full time, so get an AC/DC adapter and use that to power the cam so power doesn't get lost during a shoot.

if you DO intend to use batteries,

- you have to change them out

- you need the 2-battery grip and some sets of 2each high-power batteries

-

with batteries, you will probably be able to change them during breaks. but charging them takes hours, so have plenty on hand, it's usually a long night. do a test run at home to see how long the cam lasts using the video format you have chosen. use the biggest and fastest memory card you can find. I would suggest something like lexar professional 1000x SDXC lexar.com, you don't want memory card lag doing video.







I have done time lapse

Answer 4

Well if you know how to use focus and depth of field and what not, you should go with that. its good for making some really creative shots. maybe if its an action shot with crazy movement you should use auto but I feel like you can take more professional footage on manual.

Answer 5

Manual.

Answer 6

Use what you need to use. If the lighting isn't great, you might need to use manual focus.

Answer 7

auto if you want to stay on top of thee action