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July, 2025

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How to obtain the greatest quality on a HDSLR

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50in07
Posts: 3070 - Karma: 1,471
So I got my T2i about a week ago and I'm filming an edit for the first time with it. The last week I was at my cabin and had lots of time to learn my way around the camera and I feel like I know quite a bit but I would like some tips that I may not know that would help me get the best quality out of my camera. Another sidenote is that it's not my fisrt time filming with an HDSLR.
15 years ago
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Blandct
Posts: 1858 - Karma: 37
set your white balance
keep iso low as possible
i tend to use a flat picture style on my 7d. Then fuck with color in post.
Keep your camera stable to avoid rolling shutter.

Thats all I got.
15 years ago
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Blandct
Posts: 1858 - Karma: 37
http://vimeo.com/7256322
15 years ago
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horner
Posts: 2439 - Karma: 1,578
Stick with the Neutral canon picture profile, sharpness all the way down, contrast at -1, saturation at -1. All those flat custom profiles tend to destroy detail and really don't work all that well. Also, the skin tone representation gets chalky, as well as all the other mid tones. Canons profiles have been engineered specifically for the camera, so naturally, they will have the smoothest curves and nicest color rendition. You don't have to use a flat picture profile to color correct. In fact, you should aim to not have to do any correction at all, especially with the 7d since the h.264 codec isn't very robust.
15 years ago
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Downtofilm
Posts: 6896 - Karma: 20,395
threads for when i get my t2i
15 years ago
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Blandct
Posts: 1858 - Karma: 37
word. Thanks for the advice.
15 years ago
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kyleoutside
Posts: 103 - Karma: 95
my threads
14 years ago
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kootenayklaus
Posts: 3914 - Karma: 2,179
HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAH, a year and a half in the making.
14 years ago
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WillStart
Posts: 3955 - Karma: 3,192
haha!
14 years ago
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S.C
Posts: 3072 - Karma: 2,535
sharpness all the way off, bring contrast and saturation down. if you use ML, THE WORST THING YOU CAN POSSIBLY DO FOR THE QUALITY IS FUCK AROUND WITH THE BIT RATES. Just DONT. keep aperture 8 or wider (to avoid diffraction), and avoid shooting wide open. Use 180 degree rule (shutter=2xframe rate), but for sports/skiing keep your frame rate 1/200-1/500 and shoot in 60p. keep ISO as low as possible, I never shoot above 1600, but 1600 still doesnt look bad. Use good stabilization/glass, and get at least acceptable audio. then your set!

this edit was shot entirely at ISO 1600, minus the few shot that were outdoors

14 years ago
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kyleoutside
Posts: 103 - Karma: 95
watch steps 1-8! other people ave great tutorials and lessons on vimeo too...
14 years ago
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s.erickson
Posts: 504 - Karma: 992
Those are not the same thing
14 years ago
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TijmenDal
Posts: 4849 - Karma: 1,296
Exactly what I was thinking...

180 degree rule means you can't switch perspectives when filming two people talking.
14 years ago
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S.C
Posts: 3072 - Karma: 2,535
there are two 180 degree rules
14 years ago
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blakroc
Posts: 2323 - Karma: 28
does sticking to doubling the FPS look better than if it was higher? I shoot surfing so I always just crank it  when im out side..
14 years ago
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123+ski
Posts: 2832 - Karma: 581
it is better to crank when shooting 60p, but for the cinematic film look, it looks a lot choppier shooting at 24p with a shutter of 250+ than with 48 (or 50 on most dslrs). If you want shallow dog and shooting at 24p in bright sunlight, the answer is a fader nd filter, not cranking the shutter. If you want slow motion, crank it, because it will look much crisper when slowed down
14 years ago
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Anti_Steeze
Posts: 1465 - Karma: 80
threads
14 years ago
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Downtofilm
Posts: 6896 - Karma: 20,395
lol, I dont even remember this post, I guess I learned how to get the greatest quality out of it pretty quick.
14 years ago
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messplay
Posts: 4483 - Karma: 1,067
let's talk frames...i typically just shoot 50p on the 7D, but notice that it is kind of grainy in colors like dark blues and blacks at full screen when shooting low light...

what are your guys' settings regarding natural shooting styles during the day - and those of you that shoot on the hill *cough* zac
14 years ago
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Downtofilm
Posts: 6896 - Karma: 20,395
I currently use a flat picture style, not sure witch one, it depends.

And I also use the "daylight" for WB
14 years ago
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S.C
Posts: 3072 - Karma: 2,535
daylight for WB is a very solid choice, especially if you have a t2i. however, if you have a 7d/60d instead of a t2i I'd recommend a kelvin white balance in between sunny and cloudy. try and keep your wb consistant through your whole edit too. if you want a warm edit, shoot around like 6000
14 years ago
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blatt
Posts: 5584 - Karma: 3,097
Shoot at 1080p when you don't need/want slo mo, Keep aperture somewhere between f/5.6-11, Use appropriate color profiles, and most importantly...

MAKE SURE YOU'RE IN FOCUS. DSLR's shallow DoF isnt always a good thing

It also helps to buy nice lenses
14 years ago
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messplay
Posts: 4483 - Karma: 1,067
really? why so high?

as far as lowlight, say i have a lens with a low ap of 2.8 or 1.4, what do you suggest as a shutter speed?
14 years ago
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blatt
Posts: 5584 - Karma: 3,097
After f/11, the sharpness tends to degrade. And that's about where I have aperture on bluebird days while skiing, not really that high of an aperture.

Shutter speed only affects motion of the image, not really it's quality. A good place to start is at double the frame rate.
14 years ago
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messplay
Posts: 4483 - Karma: 1,067
when you say double the frame rate...can you go into more detail? what would the shutter speed be for 2.4? 6? 8?
14 years ago
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[J_Gasper]
Posts: 2983 - Karma: 1,594
if your shooting 720 60p, then your shutter speed should be 120. thats what he is saying
14 years ago
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cwillygood
Posts: 6831 - Karma: 1,829
I think he means like if your shooting in lets say 1080p 30p you would have the shutter speeed at 60fps
14 years ago
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messplay
Posts: 4483 - Karma: 1,067
well i shoot on a 7D, which is 1080p...and i typically shoot at 1280x720 @ 50, sometimes 1920x1080 24p...so my shutter speed should be double the fps always? i mean, it always is, unless im at a shutter speed of 30
14 years ago
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messplay
Posts: 4483 - Karma: 1,067
well i shoot on a 7D, which is 1080p...and i typically shoot at 1280x720 @ 50, sometimes 1920x1080 24p...so my shutter speed should be double the fps always? i mean, it always is, unless im at a shutter speed of 30
14 years ago
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cwillygood
Posts: 6831 - Karma: 1,829
I think so... Im still trying to figure it out myself but thats how I understood it...i may be wrong
14 years ago
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messplay
Posts: 4483 - Karma: 1,067
does the 7D shoot 60p? the highest on the video tab is 50...i dont get that...and if i am shooting at 50 then my shutter speed should always be at 100 minimum and then adjusted accordingly to my aperture? sorry
14 years ago
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cwillygood
Posts: 6831 - Karma: 1,829
Well I have the t2i ....i thought they had the same video...the t2i shoots 19
14 years ago
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cwillygood
Posts: 6831 - Karma: 1,829
My bad im on my phone....it shoots at 1280x720 at 60p so I wpuld guess the 7d does the same
14 years ago
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messplay
Posts: 4483 - Karma: 1,067
it only says 50...
14 years ago
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cwillygood
Posts: 6831 - Karma: 1,829
Not sure then haha
14 years ago
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[J_Gasper]
Posts: 2983 - Karma: 1,594
no. your shutter speed HAS to be at least the frame rate. so if your shooting 720 60p, your shutter speed needs to be at least 60. doubling your frame rate for your shutter speed is a good rule to follow until you really know the meaning of high vs low shutter speeds and how to use them properly.
14 years ago
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messplay
Posts: 4483 - Karma: 1,067
how the fuck do i shoot 60p on the 7D?
14 years ago
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Downtofilm
Posts: 6896 - Karma: 20,395
You need to switch it to NTCS you must be on PAL or something, I am not really sure how to change it, sorry.
14 years ago
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messplay
Posts: 4483 - Karma: 1,067
derp, i have no idea how that got to PAL...oops
14 years ago
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eheath
Posts: 61971 - Karma: 126,914
Thats really odd... did you buy your camera used? i think thats why you were having problems shooting in low light (from a thread before).


As for shutter, everyone loves the 180 degree rule aka shooting at a shutter speed double of your frame rate so 30p 1/60 or 60p 1/120 but i think there is too much blur at 120 at 60 so i shoot at least 188, 250/350 sometimes to get a nice smooth motion blur free image.
14 years ago
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cwillygood
Posts: 6831 - Karma: 1,829
you bump your shutter speed up that much? what camera do you use eheath, is it a DSLR, i always assumed that sense you have the 11-16
14 years ago
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[J_Gasper]
Posts: 2983 - Karma: 1,594
if your conforming your 60p->24p, then you need a shutter rate like that is better. becuase if you using the rule of doubles with 60p conformed to 24p, then play back at full motion, you will get motion blur and it will look a little choppy. thats the main reason I shoot around 250 or 200
14 years ago
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eheath
Posts: 61971 - Karma: 126,914
I used to rock it much higher, around 1000-2000 back in the OG clownschool days...


I have a sony fs100, professional body with lens mount. I used to shoot with an hvx which for the last year i used it i shot my shutter at 250/500.
14 years ago
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[J_Gasper]
Posts: 2983 - Karma: 1,594
once again. I cant fucking type for shit. sorry guys.
14 years ago
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cwillygood
Posts: 6831 - Karma: 1,829
alright i get it, that makes sense thanks man!
14 years ago
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dispatchQ_main
Posts: 2619 - Karma: 629
Its dangerous to set your shutter over 390 when on 60p, unless you have a really solid stabilizer rolling shutter will be very noticeable.
14 years ago
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messplay
Posts: 4483 - Karma: 1,067
yeah yeah those banding shots. i swear to God i have never shot 60p on this thing yet and i got it last august brand new...go ahead laugh, i never thought to check the PAL/NTSC config I was just shooting at 24 most recently so I didnt care.

but with action moving shots on the hill I am going to want 60p to refrain from motion blur correct?
14 years ago
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eheath
Posts: 61971 - Karma: 126,914
Motion blur has nothing to do with the frame rate, it has to do with the shutter speed.
14 years ago
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[J_Gasper]
Posts: 2983 - Karma: 1,594
if you plan on doing slow motion, but not to slow, 1080 30p will be fine. if your going to be doing a lot of slow motion, shoot in 720 60p. then all of your footage. if you dont know if you want the shot to be slow motion or not, then be safe and shoot in 60p.

my favorite thing to do is shoot everything in 60p then conform it to 24p. so the shots will play back at 40% of real time (correct me if im wrong), then if you want full speed, just change your speed and multiply it by 250%


sorry if im not making much sense here
14 years ago
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messplay
Posts: 4483 - Karma: 1,067
this answered everythign I was just about to ask. Yes, realtime shots are used but for the typical slowmo I was assuming it was about at 40% speed. I only have FCPX now though and this thing (just like anyone else says) is what it is...so I dont knnow how to get that 40% shot when there is just the 50% and 25% staple speeds built into the program, does anyone know?

and I dont do much slow mo, if it is it will be the 40% stuff so 60p makes sense. Once I learn how to use motion/twixtor then that will be a diff story. +k thanks
14 years ago
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[J_Gasper]
Posts: 2983 - Karma: 1,594
You can conform your footage using a tool called Cinema Tools. there might be some tutorials out there. It should have come with the FCPX suite unless the suite is different then FCP7. When you conform your 60p footage to 24p, you will have a pretty damn slow shot like I said. Now, you cannot go any slower then that without making the shot choppy. So if you ever need under 40% (which you shouldn't) then you will need to use a program such as Twixtor. If you do happen to use Twixtor, use it the correct way. No one really likes it because it is over play'd. If your using it to ramp slow motion, then yeah it is a great program. Just make sure your not abusing it.
14 years ago
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