How To Set Shutter Speed for DSLR Video

Today we're talking about exposure.

And specifically, we're going to talk
about how to use your shutter

speed on your camera
to get the right exposure for your videos.

All the things
we'll talk about in this video

apply to any camera you're using,
whether it's DSLR or any other camera

that gives you manual control
over your functioning of your camera.

This video is going to show you
how to control

three basic elements in your camera
to get the right exposure

or brightness or darkness,
if that's what you want, for your scene.

So in this video specifically,
we're talking about shutter speed.

And when it comes to exposure, there's
something known as the exposure triangle.

And that's three basic elements
that your camera has

shutter speed, aperture and ISO.

And I'm going to do three videos,
one video on each of those.

And this one is about shutter speed.

So when you set your shutter
speed in your camera,

there's a general rule
called the 180 degree rule.

And that just says whatever
your frame rate is, you double that.

And so in this case, we're doing 24
frames a second.

So we're using 1/50 of a
second on our shutter speed.

And while 1/50 of a second
is not exactly double, it's close enough.

And that's as close as
we can get on this DSLR, which is the 60D,

so whatever your frame rate is, double
that and put your shutter speed

as close as you can
to being double of your frame rate.

So on an average shoot,
that's where we would stop.

The shutter speed really is
sort of a set it and forget it setting

and it can be a little limiting
in DSLR video, but I'm going to show you

how to break that rule
as long as you know what you're doing.

And by the end of this video, you will.

So what that setting is going to do, it's
going to dictate the motion

blur in our scene.

And the 180 degree

rule gives us the motion blur
that you're used to seeing in film.

And that's
why it's used here in DSLR video

or most pros set up their camera that way.

So if you're doing 30 frames a second,
it would be 1/60 of a second.

So as you watch these cars
go by in this shot here, notice

how in this shot we've cranked
the shutter speed up really high

and you can see the cars are going by.

It's much more jagged because the shutters
opening and closing much faster.

Now, this is a digital camera,
it doesn't actually open and close,

but that's what it's simulating.

Because it's opening
and closing much faster,

you're going to see a lot less motion
blur in the image.

So that's what you're seeing in this one
when you crank it up really high.

So if you're in a really bright setting
and you're trying to get your exposure

by cranking up your shutter speed,
this is what you have to be careful for

because it will create this
really jumpy, jagged look.

So unless you're going for that, beware.

And that's one of the reasons why we leave
shutter speed at a constant.

So it always looks the same.

My suggestion is that you set it
at the 180 degree rule that's double

your frame rate and you leave it there
for your entire shoot.

And then you go to your other ways
of adjusting exposure, which again

are your aperture and your ISO, which
you'll see in the aperture and ISO video.

So check those out.

Only after you've gone
through those other settings,

if you don't want to change your aperture
and you don't want to change your ISO

or you've changed them both to be

the maximum that you can get them,
your aperture is as wide as it can be

and your ISO is as high as it can go
then you can think about coming back

to shutter speed.

So if you're shooting something
where there's not a lot of motion,

you can get away

with decreasing your shutter speed
to get in a little bit more light.

So we're at 1/50 of a second here.

When I go down to 1/40
or even 1/30 on each of those steps,

we get more light into the camera
and that's more real light.

It's not enhanced by
the sensor like ISO will be.

So if you are in a scene
like we're recording

right here where I'm just sitting here
talking to the camera,

this is okay,
I can crank down my shutter speed.

But you're not

seeing much difference in the motion blur
because I'm not doing a lot of moving.

However, you're going to want
to probably shoot at that shutter speed

for the entire video
so that you have a consistent look.

But let's start off

by setting our shutter speed per
the 180 degree rule and leaving it.

All right,
if you like this video, hit subscribe

and ask your questions in the comment
and we'll see you next time.