Basic Video settings for casual use

[BJBBJB]

I have shot 4K video with a standalone video camera for years and just starting to use my XT-30 for 4K video.  Have gotten pretty familiar with the image settings for a converted Nikon shooter!

I do not need to get real complicated with my video settings as I just want to shoot some casual video, hand-held, scenic shots, some people, etc.  Outdoor, no lighting needed.

Just a few questions.

If I use auto on my lens slider and auto for shutter speed and ISO, does that default to a decent exposure and settings?  I don't need F-log or anything, just a normal simulation mode, I guess Provia?

I use 100Mbps on my video camera, is that reasonable for the XT-30?

And what focus mode does auto use or should I use....  I typically just use the joystick and use center focus or if I hand my camera to someone, I press and expand it so it does tracking. I assume for video a larger square of focus points that tracks makes sense?

Do I need to use a Q preset and will that store all my video settings when I switch from image to video?  My image settings are usually RAW+JPEG, manual exposure, etc. etc...  Far different from what I will want to use for video.  I just want to shoot....

Again, if auto just works that is fine with me.  However I know on all my image cameras, if you use auto, there are always a few settings that you for sure want to change to get good images.

Thanks for any help,

BJBBJB
 

 

[jerryy]

Ehh, dive in the water is fine.

You can go up to 200mb if you want to, just make sure the sd card you use is rated for 4k video, otherwise you will run into little glitches and gotchas that are irritating until you finally change to a better card and then they all go away.

Pretty much all of your questions can be answered by doing a five to ten minute test and see what you like and then what works best for you. However, the Q Menu has been aggravating for some, in that it does not store as many options as they wanted it to do, and that was after the firmware update that reduced how touchy the button felt.

I personally avoid using any auto settings except auto focus, but other folks like or hate them and may speak up if you run into troubles.

[BJBBJB]

On 7/30/2021 at 4:11 PM, jerryy said:

Ehh, dive in the water is fine.

You can go up to 200mb if you want to, just make sure the sd card you use is rated for 4k video, otherwise you will run into little glitches and gotchas that are irritating until you finally change to a better card and then they all go away.

Pretty much all of your questions can be answered by doing a five to ten minute test and see what you like and then what works best for you. However, the Q Menu has been aggravating for some, in that it does not store as many options as they wanted it to do, and that was after the firmware update that reduced how touchy the button felt.

I personally avoid using any auto settings except auto focus, but other folks like or hate them and may speak up if you run into troubles.

I also avoid all auto settings like the plague on my serious image cameras (Nikon and Fuji) and my serious video camera when shooting critically.

I will stick with 100Mbps, thanks for that info.

I don't think I want to do manual pull focus for casual video so will have to play around with auto focus.

And if auto exposure doesn't work for video on the T-30 I might just shoot 4k on my Samsung Note 20 Ultra+.  I know that works.😀

Thanks,

BJBBJB 

 

[jerryy]

2 hours ago, BJBBJB said:

...

And if auto exposure doesn't work for video on the T-30 I might just shoot 4k on my Samsung Note 20 Ultra+.  I know that works.😀

Thanks,

BJBBJB 

 

😉 That is an option, but sooner or later you will want to pop a different lens on it. 🤣

Auto exposure should be okay for quite a few scenes, and it sounds like you will be able to handle the other ones.

[BJBBJB]

On 7/30/2021 at 4:11 PM, jerryy said:

Quote

Quote

14 minutes ago, jerryy said:

😉 That is an option, but sooner or later you will want to pop a different lens on it. 🤣

 

 

 

 

LOL, thanks, you are probably right. As I play with this what is the difference for video of the "lever" Auto setting and just setting shutter and F stop lens ring to auto? I never use the lever auto for images...

 

Thanks,

BJB

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 1, 2021 by BJBBJB

[jerryy]

As I recall, it is a quick way to get all of the auto settings you have in place.  If you have some manual setting on, say the lens, it will apply auto to the other settings.

[BJBBJB]

Thanks @jerryy

Can you share what the difference is between setting the lever to auto, and just leaving the F-stop lens switch and shutter speed on auto and  NOT having the level on auto?

For example I want 100 Mbps...does "lever auto" over-ride that?  Does lever auto choose a film simulation?  

I am happy to read the manual (I know that is weird)  but did not see any detailed explanation.

I feel like I did when I switched from Nikon (after many years) to Fuji for images a year and a half ago.....almost went back. But this forum and others helped me out.

Frustrating.  I may just take my Sony 4k camera. Just not comfortable and shouldn't have to take a bunch of test videos, edit in premiere pro, just to shoot casuals video. H

That's what I was trying to avoid....

BJBBJB

 

[jerryy]

I do not think this lever does too many things in the movie mode, if any at all.

It is more for stills, as in quickly setting all of the stills options to auto, as well as being able to put the camera into one of the scene settings.

For movie mode, leaving the f-stop and shutter speed on auto is a better approach. I do not believe the auto lever picks a film simulation, per se, beyond as I mentioned the stills version of pre-programed scenes, which 'you' preset for it to jump to.

I can understand the changing to a new system is a bit much at first. You can take casual videos and do as you wish using a casual editor. 

[BJBBJB]

@Jerryy,

Thanks!

BJBBJB

 

 

[jerryy]

After having some time to look into this, the lever does affect the movie setting:

It will put the settings from the Advanced SR Auto mode into optimizing the movie based upon the scene. This is in Chapter Four, on page 48 in the user manual. The scenes are found on page 63.

[BJBBJB]

Thank you very much!  I am reviewing that and exactly what I was trying to understand.

 

Thanks,

BJBBJB