Article
Nikon Movies on a DSLR -
Effects of Settings Chosen
This article is based largely based on an answer
from Nikon Technical Support published on their website in June 2009, this
was before the D300s was announced, that also has D Movie capability. I have
made some changes to the answers given where I thought it needed better
clarification. Covering a number of cameras there will be some variations
particularly in the ability to set more information, or having more or less
control, and you may need to look at individual instruction manuals to see
the precise differences, but I think we can add general light on the
subjects and explain, using tables, the usual effect of the major camera
actions, giving you the chance to see how D-movies are recorded and an idea
of what is likely to be happening.
So what settings within a Nikon camera are
effective when recording movies (D-Movies) on a DSLR ?
In part this depends on the shooting mode
selected. In the following table we look at what is happening when the
camera is set up in different ways, later tables expand on this.
In this first table we are looking at how the
camera behaves when taking videos when the camera settings are set to P
(Programme), S (Speed Priority) or A (Aperture Priority).
|
Settings applied to movies in P, S, A and M modes
|
|
Camera action |
Still images effect |
Movies (D-Movies) effect |
|
Exposure programme |
Set automatically according to the mode (P, S, or A) |
Aperture set when movie recording is initiated, is reflected (up to
f/8). |
|
ISO sensitivity |
Can be selected on my menu or using the ISO
button can be
set automatically according to the mode (P, S, or A) when auto ISO is
set to on |
Auto only |
|
White balance |
Settings applied with shooting menu or WB
button + Command dial are in effect |
Settings applied with shooting menu or WB button + Command dial are
in effect. It can be changed during recording with WB button + Command
dial. |
|
Active D-Lighting |
Settings applied with camera menus are
active |
Not available |
|
Type of Picture Control |
Settings applied with camera menus are
active |
Settings applied with camera menus when recording is initiated are
active. |
|
Picture Control - Sharpening,
Contrast, Brightness, Saturation, Hue |
Settings applied with camera menus are
active |
Settings applied with camera menus when recording is initiated are
active. |
|
Colour Space |
Settings applied with camera menus is reflected |
Settings applied with camera menus when recording is initiated
is
reflected. |
|
High ISO Noise Reduction |
Settings applied with camera menus are
active |
Not available |
The following table looks at the same range of camera actions when other
modes are selected, this is not applicable to all cameras. This covers
modes:- Auto, and Scene Modes plus looks at the effect of flash-off
being selected. Picture control is split into a number of lines, while shown
in one above.
|
Settings applied to movies
(D-movies) with Auto, auto flash-off or advanced scene modes selected |
|
Camera action |
Still images |
Movies (D-Movies) |
|
Exposure programme |
Set according to scene mode |
Aperture set when
movie recording is initiated is reflected (up to f/8) |
|
ISO sensitivity |
Auto at default, can be changed |
Auto only |
|
White balance |
Auto |
Auto |
|
Active D-Lighting |
Auto |
Not available |
|
Type of Picture Control |
Set automatically according to the scene mode |
Set automatically according to the scene mode |
|
Picture Control - Sharpening / Saturation |
Set automatically according to the scene
mode
(auto or default value) |
Fixed at default values |
|
Picture Control - Contrast, Brightness |
(ADL-Auto) |
Fixed at default values (=0) |
|
Picture Control - Hue |
0 |
0 |
|
Colour Space |
Settings applied with camera menus are reflected |
Settings applied with camera menus when recording is initiated are
reflected |
|
High ISO Noise Reduction |
Settings applied with camera menus are reflected |
Not
available |
But what is the effect of changing camera
settings once you have stated to film a movie clip, the following table
throws some more light on this.
| Settings
that can be changed during movie recording |
| Camera Action |
Changing
settings during movie recording |
Control |
Notes |
| Exposure compensation |
Yes |
These
options can be set in the same way as for still images. |
The
amount of exposure compensation applied in movie mode is different to
the amount applied to still images |
| AE
lock |
Yes |
These
options can be set in the same way as for still images. |
Brightness should not go
up and down as background or subject lighting changes when used. |
| White balance |
Yes,
but not available in Scene Modes |
These
options can be set in the same way as for still images. |
- |
| Focus |
Yes,
focus can be adjusted manually |
Possible
to control manually |
- |
| Aperture |
No |
The
aperture is set before Liveview mode starts is applied. If the aperture
is smaller than f/8, then it is set to f/8. |
Operation for changing settings or values is possible but changes made
will not be applied to movie recording (They will be applied when still
images are captured next.) |
| Shutter speed |
No |
Controlled
by rolling shutter |
Operation for changing settings or values is possible but changes made
will not be applied to movie recording. (They will be applied when still
images are captured next.) |
| ISO sensitivity |
No |
Auto |
Operation for changing settings or values is possible but changes made
will not be applied to movie recording. (They will be applied when still
images are captured next.) |
|
Advanced Scene Modes |
In the
advanced scene modes; Portrait, Sports, close-up etc)
only Picture Control
can be changed |
Aperture (no smaller than f/8) if Advanced Scene Mode selected before
Liveview mode starts is applied. Active D-Lighting is disabled. |
- |
|
Picture Control
(P, A, S, M) |
No |
Need
to be set before Liveview mode starts. It is also applied to movie
recording. Possible to adjust individual settings such as sharpening and
contrast. |
- |
|
Active D-Lighting |
No |
Unavailable |
- |
With movies you don't have Exif tags, so next to no shooting information
is available alongside a movie clip, with AVI files, very limited
information is available, usually just model name,
firmware version, etc.
|
