Tips to getting video Quality/Sharpness at it's best?

[TaySwift]

Looking through some of the video's i shot today, just got my 11-16 tokina so i wanted to try it out. Most clips were in great quality/sharpness, but a solid amount of them were not. What are some things i can do to get THEE best quality/sharpness, either in pre or post work. I know being in perfect focus is the best way to get things looking sharp, but other than that what can i do?

and also, referring to picture styles, what is the most dynamic looking style, i have shutterdown and marvel cinestyles, but i was just wondering if there are any better ones i might be interested in.

 

[eheath]

The best way to have the sharpest image is to focus correctly (check every run) and having your f-stop at least f4 and no higher then f11. I usually have my tokina set at about f5.6-f8 and then my focus is always a tad bit before "infinity" on the focus marks.

 

[TaySwift]

in bright light, what is a good way of getting good focus? i was thinking of getting one of these http://www.amazon.com/LVF32-Swi-View-CARRY-SPEED-FINDER/dp/B004KCAQ9O , will it help?

 

[[J_Gasper]]

^ i just got mine in the mail yesterday. For 35 bucks or so, you cant go wrong. Defiantly a good purchase for me

 

[TaySwift]

1. how do they work with glidecam's and tripod heads? 2. will they work with the swivel screen on the 60D?

 

[blatt]

If you're shooting on a tripod with a more telephoto lens, they're great. For follows, I wouldn't recommend it. You will probably be shooting at f/10-ish so everything will be in focus as long as you put the focus slightly before infinity.

 

[s.erickson]

Use sunny 16 a general rule of thumb, on a bright sunny day shoot at f/16 and have your shutter speed 2x your ISO. So I'd normally do 1/250 at 125 ISO and f/16.

This works really well as a general basis for sunny exposure just make sure to adjust so you dont have any clipping.

And people will argue that its not good to stop down that much because you lose sharpness due to diffraction (which does happen a little) just not enough to matter

 

[TaySwift]

so say it's a blue bird day, i shoot f/16 at 1/125 & 250ISO? or 1/160 & 320ISO?

 

[eheath]

You should never shoot over f/11.... diffraction starts past f11.

 

[TaySwift]

okay what is just a general rule of thumb when shooting sunlight and cloud, that everyone can agree on?

 

[WillStart]

never gonna happen. and such is the nature of filming/art in general.

 

[eheath]

It's just a rule of thumb for any lens, photo or video, sunny or cloudy. A lenses IQ drops after you go past f11 and when you go below 1 stop from wide open (ie f2 on a 1.4 lens or f4 on a 2.8 lens).