Interview filming - 60i or 24p....shutter speed...and preset options? at DVinfo.net

Clare Springs · July 15th, 2009, 01:05 PM

Hi everyone - I am filming on Friday some interviews with my Canon XH A1... can I ask what would be the best setting for this? I am certainly doing it at 1080i - but would you film it at 60i or 24p?

Also - obviously manual focus... but what about shutter speed? Nothing less than 1/48 to avoid flicker from the overhead fluorescent lights in an office?

Lastly - what preset is good for interviews in general.... I do use VIVIDRGB but unsure if that is a bit too powerful...

Thanks all!

Jonathan Shaw · July 15th, 2009, 07:20 PM

Coming from PAL land I shoot interviews in both 50i and 25p with great results. Shutter speed at 1/50. 25p works well for a softer look and great for web delivery.

Bill Pryor · July 15th, 2009, 09:14 PM

I shoot everything at 24f, keep it 24 fps all the way through the edit and exporting the final master H.264 as 24p. If I have to go back to tape with something, then it'll get converted to 60i and SD.

Standard shutter speed for 24 fps is 1/48. The only reason to set it any different would be if you're looking for an effect. You go slower and you can get a blur that's annoying, also strobing. For most everything keep it 1/48. You won't get any flicker from the office fluorescents.

Clare Springs · July 16th, 2009, 05:06 AM

Thanks Jonathan and Bill!

I will keep it at 1/48!

What preset do you normally use? Flat out of the camera? or using something like PANALOOK, VIVIDRGB etc?

Allan Black · July 16th, 2009, 06:20 AM

Clare, day? night? male? female? lighting? Take some softboxes and shut the fluros off if they cause trouble.

I'd say VIVIDRGB would be too much. I'd use PANALOOK2 for the flesh. Don't forget to white balance each set up.

Cheers.

Bill Pryor · July 16th, 2009, 08:17 AM

I just went through a frantic phone call from a friend with an XH A1. He is rather technologically challenged and couldn't figure out why his shutter speed suddenly said 1/2000. He had inadvertently moved the wheel when doing a lot of handheld work. With that in mind, it's probably a good idea to go into the menu and lock the shutter at the standard speed. You can always unlock it if you need to shoot at 60i for some reason.

Clare Springs · July 16th, 2009, 11:01 AM

Never thought about locking the shutter! Yes, good idea. Thanks Bill.

It's Male and Female, day in an office with window light.. will turn off the fluorescents as suggested if they are causing a problem. Lighting wise I have daylight balanced fluorescents....Will hunt out PANALOOK2 - thanks Allan!

Annie Haycock · July 16th, 2009, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Pryor

I just went through a frantic phone call from a friend with an XH A1. He is rather technologically challenged and couldn't figure out why his shutter speed suddenly said 1/2000. He had inadvertently moved the wheel when doing a lot of handheld work. With that in mind, it's probably a good idea to go into the menu and lock the shutter at the standard speed. You can always unlock it if you need to shoot at 60i for some reason.

Having "adjusted" that wheel accidentally on a number of occasions, I like the idea of locking the shutter speed - hadn't realised it was possible. Now, where's that manual (actually it's in the camera bag so I can refer to it)

Jonathan Shaw · July 16th, 2009, 05:05 PM

That's great Bill, I in fact was on a fishing boat last week shooting and it was pretty hectic and it was soooo easy to turn the shutter wheel. I had to keep double checking every few secs, even still A couple of mins of footage were shot at 1/500!! Locking the shutter will solve the problem in future.

That's so funny you say that Annie, mine is in my camera bag too for quick ref.... maybe I should go back and actually read the 'de-structions' again!

Cheers

Jon

Bill Pryor · July 16th, 2009, 06:22 PM

You have to look for it. It's not in the camera settings menu...it's one or two lines down from that...overall setup, something like that. My camera's at the office now so I can't look. When you find where it is, it's easy to spot. Says something like shutter lock, on/off. Toggle it on after setting the shutter to 1/48 and you're safe. If you try to change the setting you get a little flashing red lock icon.

Jonathan Shaw · July 16th, 2009, 06:57 PM

Yeah it's in the System set up, forth of fifth down. Great little feature

Bill Pryor · July 16th, 2009, 08:15 PM

That's it! System setup. I was close, heheh.

Clare Springs · July 16th, 2009, 11:53 PM

I found the file for the PANALOOK but not PANALOOK2 - is there a file link anywhere?

Bo Sundvall · July 17th, 2009, 12:08 AM

Hi

One of the Custom configuration buttons can be configured to toggle lock/unlock on the shutter wheel. When the wheel is used for fine tuning White Balance, the lock/unlock will work the same way and will be controlled by the same Custom button.

Regards,

/Bo

Jonathan Shaw · July 17th, 2009, 02:19 AM

Thanks Bo.... another great idea.

My word today has turned out to be very educational..;)

Cheers

J

July 15th, 2009, 01:05 PM	#1
Clare Springs New Boot Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 15	Interview filming - 60i or 24p....shutter speed...and preset options? Hi everyone - I am filming on Friday some interviews with my Canon XH A1... can I ask what would be the best setting for this? I am certainly doing it at 1080i - but would you film it at 60i or 24p? Also - obviously manual focus... but what about shutter speed? Nothing less than 1/48 to avoid flicker from the overhead fluorescent lights in an office? Lastly - what preset is good for interviews in general.... I do use VIVIDRGB but unsure if that is a bit too powerful... Thanks all!

July 15th, 2009, 07:20 PM	#2
Jonathan Shaw Major Player Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sydney Posts: 552	Coming from PAL land I shoot interviews in both 50i and 25p with great results. Shutter speed at 1/50. 25p works well for a softer look and great for web delivery. __________________ www.ginclearfilm.com www.facebook.com/ginclearfilm

July 16th, 2009, 05:05 PM	#9
Jonathan Shaw Major Player Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sydney Posts: 552	That's great Bill, I in fact was on a fishing boat last week shooting and it was pretty hectic and it was soooo easy to turn the shutter wheel. I had to keep double checking every few secs, even still A couple of mins of footage were shot at 1/500!! Locking the shutter will solve the problem in future. That's so funny you say that Annie, mine is in my camera bag too for quick ref.... maybe I should go back and actually read the 'de-structions' again! Cheers Jon __________________ www.ginclearfilm.com www.facebook.com/ginclearfilm

July 16th, 2009, 06:57 PM	#11
Jonathan Shaw Major Player Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sydney Posts: 552	Yeah it's in the System set up, forth of fifth down. Great little feature __________________ www.ginclearfilm.com www.facebook.com/ginclearfilm

July 17th, 2009, 02:19 AM	#15
Jonathan Shaw Major Player Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sydney Posts: 552	Thanks Bo.... another great idea. My word today has turned out to be very educational..;) Cheers J __________________ www.ginclearfilm.com www.facebook.com/ginclearfilm

July 15th, 2009, 09:14 PM	#3
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	I shoot everything at 24f, keep it 24 fps all the way through the edit and exporting the final master H.264 as 24p. If I have to go back to tape with something, then it'll get converted to 60i and SD. Standard shutter speed for 24 fps is 1/48. The only reason to set it any different would be if you're looking for an effect. You go slower and you can get a blur that's annoying, also strobing. For most everything keep it 1/48. You won't get any flicker from the office fluorescents.

July 16th, 2009, 05:06 AM	#4
Clare Springs New Boot Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 15	Thanks Jonathan and Bill! I will keep it at 1/48! What preset do you normally use? Flat out of the camera? or using something like PANALOOK, VIVIDRGB etc?

July 16th, 2009, 06:20 AM	#5
Allan Black Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sydney. Posts: 2,930	Clare, day? night? male? female? lighting? Take some softboxes and shut the fluros off if they cause trouble. I'd say VIVIDRGB would be too much. I'd use PANALOOK2 for the flesh. Don't forget to white balance each set up. Cheers.

July 16th, 2009, 08:17 AM	#6
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	I just went through a frantic phone call from a friend with an XH A1. He is rather technologically challenged and couldn't figure out why his shutter speed suddenly said 1/2000. He had inadvertently moved the wheel when doing a lot of handheld work. With that in mind, it's probably a good idea to go into the menu and lock the shutter at the standard speed. You can always unlock it if you need to shoot at 60i for some reason.

July 16th, 2009, 11:01 AM	#7
Clare Springs New Boot Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 15	Never thought about locking the shutter! Yes, good idea. Thanks Bill. It's Male and Female, day in an office with window light.. will turn off the fluorescents as suggested if they are causing a problem. Lighting wise I have daylight balanced fluorescents....Will hunt out PANALOOK2 - thanks Allan!

July 16th, 2009, 06:22 PM	#10
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	You have to look for it. It's not in the camera settings menu...it's one or two lines down from that...overall setup, something like that. My camera's at the office now so I can't look. When you find where it is, it's easy to spot. Says something like shutter lock, on/off. Toggle it on after setting the shutter to 1/48 and you're safe. If you try to change the setting you get a little flashing red lock icon.

July 16th, 2009, 08:15 PM	#12
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	That's it! System setup. I was close, heheh.

July 16th, 2009, 11:53 PM	#13
Clare Springs New Boot Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 15	I found the file for the PANALOOK but not PANALOOK2 - is there a file link anywhere?

July 17th, 2009, 12:08 AM	#14
Bo Sundvall Major Player Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Sweden Posts: 244	Hi One of the Custom configuration buttons can be configured to toggle lock/unlock on the shutter wheel. When the wheel is used for fine tuning White Balance, the lock/unlock will work the same way and will be controlled by the same Custom button. Regards, /Bo