How do I shoot video with the 7d?

[KobraCarry]

I've been playing with this mode a bit, but it's just not right. Do I have to be in Av mode and set a DOF and then go to movie mode and record? How do I keep things in focus? Please help and break it down Barney Style! :)

[ngoduyviet]

Manual everything, easier that way :)

[KobraCarry]

How do you manually set DoF? How do you keep things in focus? I'm use to using a P/S for video where it keeps everything in focus. I need to learn from start to finish. I checked out Canon's videos but they don't explain it well enough.

[ngoduyviet]

Set your camera to manual mode, set your aperture & shutter speed & iso to match what you like on the screen. You can either leave the lens on auto or manual focus but you'll need to manual focus. Just play with it a little bit and you'll get a hang of it.

I believe the 7D has the face tracking feature that can help auto focus, but it's slow and I prefer to be in control of everything.

[MT Stringer]

In the menu, select PAL or NTSC.
When you change the switch to video mode, the menu choices change somewhat. One allows you to select the frames per second.

In my daughters hospital room (new baby), I chose ISO 1600, f/2.8 in AV mode. Then I pressed the shutter halfway to focus. Then pressed the start button to begin the recording. I have done several short clips that way and they turned out pretty good.

Hope this helps.
Mike

[KobraCarry]

Can you change your Av/DoF in the midst of recording? Say I'm recording a person reasonably close but want to widen the focus to a deeper view to include a far away mountain or something. What is the best way to accomplish this? Also, what if the person is moving around? Do I need to keep them on the same plane of focus or will an aperture of say 13 keep them in focus all the time? Thanks for all the help!

[ngoduyviet]

Originally Posted by KobraCarry

Can you change your Av/DoF in the midst of recording? Say I'm recording a person reasonably close but want to widen the focus to a deeper view to include a far away mountain or something. What is the best way to accomplish this? Also, what if the person is moving around? Do I need to keep them on the same plane of focus or will an aperture of say 13 keep them in focus all the time? Thanks for all the help!

Av is a Canonite term, if you want to change your DoF, like I suggested before, use manual settings and you can change anything while using the video feature from ISO, Aperture, to SS.

Different focal length yields different DoF at the same aperture, you can use the Dof Calc online to caculate your DoF if you need them to be exact. I just eye-ball it with the screen.

[wondershots]

The focusing was a little of a mystery to me until I view Canon's videos on the subject. Lesson 11 starts the ones on movie mode.

[txphotog]

Originally Posted by MT Stringer

In the menu, select PAL or NTSC.
When you change the switch to video mode, the menu choices change somewhat. One allows you to select the frames per second.

NTSC or PAL really has nothing to do with the settings for focus... NTSC is the North American tv standard which is 30fps for video where PAL is the tv standard in the rest of the world which is 25fps for video. It shouldnt have any effect on the focus system of the camera. To be able to view the footage on tv here in the states youll have to select NTSC.

[tukaniray]

Well these days ... if you do 1080p or 720p it doesn't matter whether or not it is in NTSC or PAL. Unless you shoot in interlaced (1080i / 60i / 50i).

But I agree, that doesn't matter in terms of focus.

Focusing from a close subject to a far away subject is called Rack Focus.

Best done in Manual mode. On any Video Camera. Lowering your shutter under 60 you begin to get aliasing when you pan or tilt or dolly ... etc. So, I usually go 60 shutter. And leave my ISO (Gain in video world) as low as possible.) Less Grain.

Now I am talking in terms of Video Cameras. I haven't used the 7D yet. So take my info as much as the 7D can handle.

I use the Sony XDCAM and HDV Cameras and Canon HDV Cameras. So, each camera has its limits from its own CCD (Camera Control Device) or CCU (Camera Control Unit)

I assume you got it to work because it's been a few months since the OP first posted.

-Ray-

[Dale1]

Well as far as i know about 7d you should have to operate it manually then you get batter results from it.

[jeffreypkane]

Couple of thoughts - I've played with a 7D and it can produce great videos.

For exposure - you might try Manual exposure mode - with your shutter speed set to 1/60th of a second. Use your aperture to manage Depth of Field (like a still shot) to get to a correct exposure for the scene. If you are at ISO 100 and your aperture is too big you may need to try some neutral density filters to reduce the amount of light coming into the sensor allowing you to open up and decrease your DoF.

For focusing - you may have some luck with Canon's focusing system - but most folks use manual focus - and it's a challenge. For video you might pre-focus on set marks (trees, posts, etc.) so you can focus easier, but following a moving subject is a challenge - and why movie cameras have dedicated focus pullers, etc.

All the best. I know that Wiley is planning a video DVD lesson series specifically about the 7D and 5D Mark II. Here's a link to some good tips Video | The Digital Photo Experience

[Composure Photo & Video]

Originally Posted by wondershots

The focusing was a little of a mystery to me until I view Canon's videos on the subject. Lesson 11 starts the ones on movie mode.

Making the jump to video with this camera is beautiful and infuriating all at the same time. I still find the xha1 use for my wedding videography, right up to the point the dancing starts. Then the 7d with it's wide angle lens and f8 or even auto work great and the slight in/out of focus gives it that "cinematic" look.

[jeffreypkane]

I've not seen the product, but ran across this via twitter - Creating HD video with the Canon 5D mark II and 7D - Rick Sammon and Juan Pons

[tshea]

I use the autofocus and it works great. I have been a professional photographer for 15 years, and the first thing I do when I buy a new camera is read the manual. Then I read it again.