D3100: Best Quality Video?

PancakeShake

PancakeShake

Active member
Hey guys,

Just got my D3100 in the mail and I have been playing around with both picture and video stuff.

I got the picture stuff down pretty good now, but I cant seem to get much with the video.

I was wondering if anyone had any tips for getting really clear, smooth shots? What are some settings? Do you have to use post programs to get nice quality?

Thanks.

*If i missed it in the search bar, my bad. Everything I have been finding is for Canons.
 
A lot of the stuff is universal. with the d3100, i don't think you have full manual exposure, and it would also help if you told us lenses and set up as well as editing program. I'm assuming kit lens.

Anyways, 1st priority is stabilization (after learning how to focus/expose properly, i'll assume you have that under control)

Next, play around with you picture styles, find one that you like and that looks well with correction and grading

If the d3100 doesn't have manual exposure, it may be helpful to get a fader nd and force it to go manual. keep the shutter at 50 for 24p, and i don't think the d3100 goes to 60p, so keep the shutter at 60 for 30p. I have heard about people turning it up for 60p when they slow it down, but not as much for 30p. Aperture controls DOF. High iso=more grain in image

Lastly, remember that each of these can be broken if you know why you are doing it. Its not that these are all unbreakable rules, you should just understand how shutter speed and picture profiles etc will affect your image
 
you should be able to get some pretty good video out of ur 3100 what exactlys the problem? post some sample shots
 
^this... lets see some samples so we can see whats going on. I have a d3100 and havent had trouble with video. Make sure your fstop and iso is in the right spot. If you said you've mastered the photo side this wwouldnt be the deal.
 
If it's anything like the D5000 I used to have... you need to keep it really stable to avoid wobbling... and you need to focus manually and take lots of care of focus in order to keep things sharp and clear.

If you choose a smaller aperture (f/8 or f/11 or larger) and a wide angle (18mm) it is easier to keep things in focus (i.e. moving subject or moving camera).

Also, if you are seeing strange dark bands moving up and down the image when shooting indoors, you need to change your frame rate so it doesn't coincide with the electrical frequency of the lights.

Just with my D5000 it was terribly complicated to set the aperture and shutter speed. The D3100 might be crippled in the same way, I believe the D5100 is.
 
I mean the video is still pretty good, i was just looking for some tips that people use to get nice shots. I have a kit lens and a quantaray 100-300mm lens right now and both seem to work well.

I have vegas 11 for editing, any good pointers for using vegas?

I have set my AE button to lock so i can lock the exposure with a press of the button (without holding it) people say that this is a good techique to getting nice shots, only, i have no idea why / how to do this correctly / what its doing haha.

Thanks for the help guys!
 
Read your whole instruction manual. Then with other questions, search google and read about it online. Come back here when you run into a specific problem that you can't solve or a specific question that you can't find addressed already elsewhere.
 
I have it.

The D3100 doesn't technically have "full" manual exposure, but it does have manuel iso and aperture. The thing is, not in live view, so basically, on the regular photo menu, set your settings, then switch to live view and youll be good. Also, go into the color settings, leave the sharpness alone, lower the contrast 2, boost saturation 1.
 
Basically the camera tries to automatically adjust exposure while in live view, what it does is locks the exposure and keeps the image from flickering (what happens when it adjusts exposure).
 
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