Nikon D7000 f-stop Problems shooting HD Video ???

G

George D.

Well-known member
I hope you all are having a good start to the New Year.

I shot some test video with my new Nikon D7000 in the field, and I have to say there are several problems with it I do NOT like. Hopefully, I'm doing something wrong or it needs an adjustment in the menu. At least I hope so.

I set the camera to "M" (manual), and the lens on manual focus. I set the shutter speed to 1/60sec., but changing the f-stop is a pain in the butt. With Live View it will NOT change. I have to take it out of LV, set the f-stop, put it back into LV, and even then if I aim the camera at a different spot or zoom the lens, the aperture will automatically change, so I have to do the whole thing over again to reset the f-stop. This is ridiculous, and not very professional.

I should be able to set the f-stop in LV while in M, and do anything I want with the camera or lens and have that same f-stop STAY where I set it, along with the shutter speed. Manual is supposed to mean Manual, and any adjustments made should stay that way, and be easy to make instantly.

To anyone who is familiar with this camera, and has done some video with it already, I would be most grateful for your help. Am I doing something wrong? Is it an adjustment in the menu I need to set? Is the camera malfunctioning already? Or, is in an inherent quirk in the firmware, or hardware of the camera?

I've been a professional DP & Cinematographer for over 36 years, and have never had a problem like this with ANY camera, film or digital.

Any help would be gratefully appreciated.

Thanks.
 
Hi George D.,

I've been playing with my D7000 and yes, it is a pain.

For the Video Mode, to enable full manual control you have to go into the camera setting menu and in the Movie Mode options, turn manual mode to "ON". If you don't, the D7000 is stuck in auto mode for movies even though you are in "M" mode.

As for changing the f-stop in LV, that currently cannot be done on the camera body in Manual (M) Mode. What you've done is basically it; get out of LV to change the f-stop and turn LV back on. The only way to change the f-stop while in LV is to use the Aperture Priority mode (A), then you can change the f-stop in LV but the shutter will adjusted automatically by the camera. Why Nikon chose to do this here and not in Manual Mode, I have no idea; it's pretty silly. For me, I use Manual Focus lenses, so to change the f-stop I just turn the iris ring on the lens.

Hope this helps.
 
Same problem

Same problem

Sent an email to Nikon and the said to set all back to default and start over.If that didn't work to remove battery overnight ,reinsert in the morning .Sounds like take two aspirin and go to bed and you'ii be great in the morning.
What nimrods have they turned loose at Nikon.
I like the Aperture priority explanation better. Thanks.
 
bwaysteve said:
Sent an email to Nikon and the said to set all back to default and start over.If that didn't work to remove battery overnight ,reinsert in the morning .Sounds like take two aspirin and go to bed and you'ii be great in the morning.
What nimrods have they turned loose at Nikon.
I like the Aperture priority explanation better. Thanks.
Click to expand...

The thing is this, the only way to control the stops 100%, is to use a mechanical lens, this is the only way as far as i know.
 
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