Hi,

I am trying to get some footage of big bats in flight in day time. What is the best way to do it? My standard setting is 1080 25p 1/50th shutter speed.
Is 720 25p at 60fps the way to go? What should be the shutter speed?

Thanks,

Ofer Levy Nature Photographer (http://www.oferlevyphotography.com)

Hi,

I am trying to get some footage of big bats in flight in day time. What is the best way to do it? My standard setting is 1080 25p 1/50th shutter speed.
Is 720 25p at 60fps the way to go? What should be the shutter speed?

Thanks,

Ofer Levy Nature Photographer (http://www.oferlevyphotography.com)

If you shoot 25p and use a 1/50th second shutter, then set the shutter mode to Angle and set a 180 degrees shutter. This means that exposure time will be 1/2 the frame rate, no matter the frame rate you set, and you will get a visually consistent footage.

The choice of the frame rate depends on the subject and the effect you want to achieve. 60 fps footage "projected" at 25 fps means we are seeing things at 41.6% the real speed. Maybe that's too much, in which case you should set a lower frame rate, or not enough, and you need... well, another kind of camera.

The only way to know is shooting some footage trying different frame rates.

Thanks David !
I am shooting big birds in flight - crans for example.

Is there any reason you wouldn't use overcrank? This would provide the best quality - greater Mbps. Do you need the audio? I would should 720 24p overcranked to 60p. Then, in post, I'd have the most flexibility to adjust the speed, including ramping it up and down for dramatic scenes.

My $.02.

Agree with Ted, Ofer, always overcrank for birds or bats flying, it just looks right. Something to do with viewing an image on a screen rather than in actuality makes bird flight at normal speed so quick and flappy that it just looks wrong! Shoot at half speed (50fps) and it looks like you think it does in reality! That's why I'd never recommend a camera that only does 25P for someone shooting wildlife, the slomo is so vital.
Steve

Thanks guys! So I should shoot at 720 25p with 60 fps - how about shutter speed?
Thanks again,
Ofer

Always 180 degrees

Always 180 degrees

Thank you sir ! (-: