Hello folks.

I see it’s been a while since I devoted any time to video. This is because the data shows that despite massive improvements in ease of use, most interchangeable lens camera owners NEVER try video. “I have no interest” is a legit response, but then why spend so much money on new cameras whose updates are so video focused. As Spock would say, that is illogical. So let’s spend time on video with interchangeable lens cameras at the complete novice/I see no need level to get started.

What is Video

Video is a sequence of still frames that playback via a time code. In this way, it is identical to the movies of old.

Each frame of video is effectively a JPEG file (yes I am generalizing but at this level that is fine). Extracting still frames from a video makes a still photograph.

If your camera can shoot in 4K video, as most modern cameras do, each still frame is an 8 megapixel image. When we consider how people actually use the output from their still cameras, this very high resolution as only a 4K display can show all of what is in the image. Prints made at photo shops or Walmart start with JPEG images. So there is no significant loss of quality in a still from a video when actual usage is considered.

Some people will spend a lot of money on cameras with high burst rates, like 12 frames per second as an example. While potentially handy this is still less than half the default video frame rate of 30 frames per second. Now consider what is done with the final image and no one at reasonable viewing distance will be able to tell a difference. I challenge you to try this for yourself.

But what about 1080 video. Surely that could not be a good image right? That’s wrong. A 1080 still whether 1080i or 1080p is still 1920x1080 pixels which is the capability of a standard display. When people export JPEG files from a still, this is much higher pixel resolution than most use, and much higher than social media supports without having significant reduction and compression applied.

Video Benefits

If you stuck this far, you are hopefully thinking about use cases now. If you photograph a bird in flight in burst mode, you get a sequence of images in which you need to find one that tells the story you are trying to tell. I say this with the expectation that you want to make a photograph and not just take a picture. However, if you shot a video sequence of the same subject over say a button press of three or four seconds, you would instead have, in the case of 4 seconds, 120 high resolution frames from which to choose your favourite.

Videographers do not think this way, but photographers do. Photographers think in terms of stills, videographers think in terms of clips.

For the casual viewer, video requires less engagement and so people will spend more time looking at a video over a still. If you want to make an impression, try shooting video in addition to stills. Why? Because we know that photographers get really antsy when they do not see a still on the camera’s LCD, so remove that concern and get on with things.

Clips and Duration

The vast majority of video clips are between 6 and 10 seconds long. A “short” as you find on Youtube for example may last a minute but is often comprised of multiple short clips. You can view the clips on your camera, and you can put them together into a video using the software that comes with your computer or your camera.

What About Gear?

Don’t spend a cent at this point. Just like movies started with silent film, you can do that for video, and if you are making a video for TikTok or some other short form deliverable, the microphone in your camera will do the job fine. Few videographers are doing multi camera shoots and only some are even doing proper audio. Keep it as simple as possible but no simpler. There is zero need to add on to what you can do with what you own for most people.

What About Lighting?

Professional video brings lighting, but most still photographers don’t even bring a flash. Your camera that you own does a great job in low light and in video a higher ISO is much less noticeable than in a still. You might balk at never going above ISO 800 on a still for whatever reason. In the same situation, you can use ISO 6400 and the clip is still going to look good, because the viewer only sees a single frame for 1/30th of a second.

Where to Start?

Read your manual and learn to set it to Program mode video. Then go shoot. Don’t worry about other modes to get started. Lots of folks make videos with their smartphones that have ONLY program mode video and are incredibly happy. You will get at least as good results, but most often better because you are not using a sensor that is tiny. Remember, you already bought it.

Summary

As the philosopher Carlin said, “you got to wanna” If you do nothing, you do not move. Challenge yourself with some video. Who knows, you might discover that you like it.

Thanks as always for reading. If you shop at B&H Photo Video, please do so through the link on the main page. It costs you nothing and pays me a small commission for the work that I do here. Until next time, peace.