I'm using a 50mm prime lens in bright sunlight. It's difficult to maintain shallow depth of field with low aperture for video without overexposing the video.
I've lowered the ISO to as low as it will go (100), and I know I can lower the shutter speed. But apparently lowering the shutter too much can make the video seem choppy.
Is there any other techniques I can use whilst keeping the aperture low? Will the lens hood below have a significant affect?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/ES-62-Lens-Hood-CANON-450D/dp/B003VI5NVY/ref=pd_bxgy_ph_img_y
Lenshood will help against flare and veiling caused by powerful light sources like the sun.
Neutral density filters are in use to run fast lenses in bright sunlight without stopping down. They come in fixed variety and as variable ones (aka Vari-ND).
Maybe you mixed up "matte box" and "lens hood". A matte box will work as a lens hood *and* provide filter support.
Thanks walter, I'll investigate further your suggestions....
FYI, f/1.4 is bigger than f/22, not smaller ;)
(look through your lens if you don't believe me)
of course a1ex sorry :-[
Quote from: Walter Schulz on June 02, 2014, 11:52:22 AM
Neutral density filters are in use to run fast lenses in bright sunlight without stopping down. They come in fixed variety and as variable ones (aka Vari-ND).
I can second that. Using a variable ND-Filter really improved my footage when filming in bright outdoor situations.
Two links on Vari-ND-Filters that helped me:
http://dslrvideoshooter.com/episode-002-using-a-fader-nd-to-control-exposure/ (http://dslrvideoshooter.com/episode-002-using-a-fader-nd-to-control-exposure/)
http://www.learningdslrvideo.com/variable-nd-filter-shootout/ (http://www.learningdslrvideo.com/variable-nd-filter-shootout/)
variable ND is one solution, tough I'm personally not that found of it - variable ND filter in essence is stack of two polarizing filters. Especially with some lenses that front turns when focusing. I have set of regular ND filters I use, and if I want to have polarizer filter effect I would add it, not to have it and rather unpredictably always on. The same story is with timelapses, you don't want that short exposures for nice smooth lapse.
As a general rule I try to keep shutter speed twice the frame rate, meaning 25fps is 1/50 shutter. That gives the motion blur we are familiar with film cinematography's 180deg shutter. the same for timelapses - they in general look better if exposed so - and in a bright sunny day - that means strong ND filters.
You can simulate the effect of a decent vari-ND if you have two circular polarizers. Mount one in front, just normal procedure. Now take the second one and place it just in front but reverse. Now play. ;-)
I heard about at least one vari-ND product using a linear polarizer as first element. This may cause unpredictable results when used with a rotating lens front element.
A decent built Vari-ND will avoid this kind of trouble.
Buy variable ND filter
Works great on 50mm f1.4