Single Camera Video - Recording

Tips

👏 visually clap (slate) three times to assist in later synching audio and video
use a tripod (holding the camera with your hand is too shaky)
never stop recording on the camera or external audio recorder so you just have to sync the two once
use only optical zoom (don’t use digital zoom)
- a camera with 20x optical zoom or more is ideal

format the SD card (erases all data) - explained here in the Sony a6400 manual
24fps (frames per second) for the more cinematic look (motion blur)
- set the Record Setting to 24p 50M - explained here in the Sony a6400 manual
- set File Format to XAVC S HD (this will record 1080p video rather than 4k for smaller file sizes that will be easier to edit) - explained here in the Sony a6400 manual
custom white balance or use a preset (such as “tungsten”) - explained here in the Sony a6000 manual

use rule of thirds (turn on grid)
- use lead space = space in front of where subject is facing
avoid placing your frame edge on one of the body’s joints
avoid too much headroom (or person looks to be sinking)
avoid too little headroom (or focus will be on the person’s chin and neck)
use a variety of Shot types (hold a shot for at least 10 seconds)
- extreme long shot (XLS) = establishing shot - context for shots to follow
- long shot (LS) = person from head to feet
- medium shot (MS) = person from about waist up
- closeup shot (CU) = person’s neck and head
- extreme closeup shot (XCU) = one detail of a person
- cut in = closeup shot of an object (such as the face of a watch or an instrument key)

Last updated 1 year ago