shooting in a cemetary with T2i, got questions..

[Imthedirector]

I come from an hpx170 background and I just testing out a shot tomorrow at a cemetary and had a few questions about things I'm not too sure about.

should I be shooting in "M" Manual Mode or Movie mode?
That doesnt seem clarified to me because I hear people say use manual for everything (which I always did with my Hpx170) but then I hear people go into movie mode and shoot? Do you use 1 for 1 situation and 1 for the other or do most of you guys shoot in M and thats it.

I will be shooting in daytime with no ND filter (hasnt come in yet) , I'll probably be using the 'cloudy' setting as it has been raining and will be raining all week (just not when we're planning to shoot , it will just be overcast). The shot will be with a slider, from left to right and I wanna know if this is right: Do I focus on my subject (man kneeling at grave) then position my cam behind headstone (which is hopefully blurry= dof) and then when the slider goes to the right the man should stay in focus (since when I focused on him he will be in the same position) does it work like that or is the process different? Hope that makes sense.

any tips would be appreciated. This is not a paid gig so reshoots are ok and tests will be done but I figure why not ask people who have been using this camera to see if any generous tips could come my way.

By the way, the shot will be using an Efx technique in after effects where I will use the leave color technique and have the whole scene black and white except the roses he would be holding which will be red. Just telling you guys that in case I should shoot a certain way with that in mind.

thanks

 

[Randall_Oelerich]

I am just learning my T2i also. But I think you will want the top dial set to Movie mode if you are going to be recording video. But go into your MENU settings and set the movie mode to manual everything except maybe white balance and ISO; if you can do manual white balance fine, me I am starting with AWB for now. Set frame rate in the MENU to 24p (typical for "film" look) and resolution to e.g. 1920x1080p (full HD). Turn off your lens autofocus switch. Manual everything, except maybe ISO and White Balance. Then adjust your shutter speed to maybe 1/48 or so (twice the frame rate, 24p x 2=1/48th second), using f stop and ND filters if needed to help get all that.

What you focus on with your slider in action is up to you. You might focus on the tombstone right in front of your camera, slide out to reveal a blurred man kneeling, then manually bring him into focus. Or focus on the man, hide camera behind tombstone, slide out to reveal man already in focus. What you choose for the storytelling effect you want to accomplish.

Others can chime in, I know enough to get into trouble.
randall

 

[J Davis]

Everyone refers to 'M' manual mode because the 7D was out for 5 months before the t2i. Functionality with the t2i is a little different.
You must switch to 'movie' mode and you will have full manual control.

Everything Randall said above is right. Maybe try iso 100 to help reduce the light as you don't have ND's.
However the t2i does not have a setting for 1/48 shutter. 1/50 is closest but be careful using 1/50 near any source of flickering
light like a street lamp of stip lighting as you will get flicker on your image. 1/60 is fine too and no chance of flicker.

 

[Imthedirector]

appreciate the input fellas..These DSLR's take some getting used to. I was so used to the dvx 1st and then the Hpx170 , that when I am using this I get in 'stuck' mode. yes, even after reading the manual. Its just different.

and randall as far as the storytelling technique I was describing, I was just asking if that was how it would work. Like if I focused on a stationary subject, then started the slider and moved towards the person I focused, would it still be in focus. If that makes sense. But yeah, thanks.

thanks again!

 

[jambredz]

Like if I focused on a stationary subject, then started the slider and moved towards the person I focused, would it still be in focus. If that makes sense. But yeah, thanks.

thanks again!

all depends how shallow your DOF is. more than likely you will have to pull focus to keep them in focus. if u stop the lens down though ur DOF is larger giving u more room to work with and possibly less or no focus pulling at all depending on how long the slide action is. stopping down as u know will require more light though.

 

[Randall_Oelerich]

...and randall as far as the storytelling technique I was describing, I was just asking if that was how it would work. Like if I focused on a stationary subject, then started the slider and moved towards the person I focused, would it still be in focus. If that makes sense. But yeah, thanks.

thanks again!

I picture sliding horizontal (left/right) from behind a tombstone to reveal the man kneeling, same distance from camera during the slide, so you would manually focus to bring him into focus if first focused on the nearer tombstone. But maybe you mean sliding in the z plane towards the man? Not exactly sure what you have planned.