Shutter speed tutorial...

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Okay, so this is probably a really dumb question, but does someone know a link to a tutorial regarding the best times and situations to use the different shutter speeds and how they differ within each technical setting...

I.E. What shutter speed to use in a daytime shot with 24pA?

What shutter speed to use with 60i? Basically just, how do the shutter speeds affect the quality of the pictures in regard to the different lighting situations?
 
Re: Shutter speed tutorial...

Shutter speed affects blur, pure and simple.  Aperture affects DOF, shutter speed affects blur.  Both can be used to control exposure, but not without side effects (i.e., changing motion blur or changing DOF).

In almost all normal circumstances, you'd want to use the default shutter speeds (1/60 for 60i, 1/50 for progressive or 50i) for normal-looking video.

Small variations in shutter speed won't affect the look of your video much (i.e., 1/60 will pretty much look the same as 1/50 or 1/48 ).  Film cameras use anywhere from 1/43 to 1/60 as a standard, and it all pretty much looks like film motion, so small variations won't matter much.

Shutter speed affects exposure.  If you cut the shutter duration in half (i.e., use 1/120 instead of 1/60) you will need twice as much light.  If you double the shutter duration (i.e., 1/24 instead of 1/48 ) you'll need half as much light for the same exposure.

There are certain circumstances where you'd want to use alternate shutter speeds:

1) the "Saving Private Ryan"/"Gladiator" stutter effect: try 1/500.
2) Slow motion in 60i: try 1/120.  A film camera running at 60 frames per second would have a shutter speed of about 1/120, so if you're shooting 60i to slow down in post, you probably want to match the shutter speed for film-style motion blur.
3) Sync'ing with monitors: use the Synchro-scan, or 1/60, to match the DVX's refresh rate with computer monitors in the shot and stop the "rolling dark band" syndrome.
4) Special blur effects: the opposite of the "Saving Private Ryan" effect.  Use a slower shutter speed (like 1/24 or slower) to add smear and blur to the motion in your shot.
5) Minimize strobing: If you think there's a bit too much strobing in your progressive footage, you can try a slower shutter speed to introduce a little blur into your footage.  1/43 or 1/36 are popular choices.
6) Extreme low light situations: using 1/36 instead of 1/50 will buy you half a stop of low-light performance, and still look reasonably like film.  Using 1/24 will buy you a whole stop of light performance back, at the expense of the footage looking quite smeary on motion.
7) To simulate additional frame rates.  Use 1/24 when filming at 24P, and play back the footage at 200% speed, and you'll have an identical simulation of film shot 12 frames per second.  Similarly, use 1/30 and shoot at 30P, play it back twice as fast, and it'll look exactly like film would had you shot it at 15 frames per second.  New frame rates, 12P and 15P!
8 ) When shooting under older magnetic-ballast fluorescents or HMI's, you may have to select certain shutter speeds to avoid pulsing or cycling of the lights.  Similarly, when shooting NTSC under 50hz lights, or PAL under 60hz lights, you may have to adjust the shutter speed to avoid flicker or pulsing.
9) Freezing water droplets or rain: for specific instances like shooting a food commercial where someone squirts a lemon, etc., and you want to show the individual droplets clearly, you might try using a very short shutter speed. Typically these shots are done using strobe lights, but you may be able to get a satisfactory facsimile of the effect by using a super-fast shutter speed.
 
Re: Shutter speed tutorial...

I run my 24pA at 1/60 shutter almost all the time, and I have no complaints. The only times I change it is, like he said, you have a lower light situation, and you reduce the shutter to compensate for the lower light, or if I'm shooting something where I know there will be a lot of motion & action, I will raise the shutter. But be aware that in order to do this, you will most likely need to increase your light, as well.
 
Re: Shutter speed tutorial...

1/48th or 1/50th(off setting) would be a typical 180 degree shutter angle equivilent. 1/24 is going to give you alot of motion blur, and create a somewhat dreamy look on playback.
 
Re: Shutter speed tutorial...

ok. what would 1/48 give me that is different than Shutter off (1/50)?

edit
probably more light into the iris?
 
Re: Shutter speed tutorial...

..sure theres more light. :) but not enough to make a resonable difference which would allow one to discern between the two. they are essentially the same thing as far as the human eye and brain are concerned. only that 1/48 would be the technichal true 180 degree shutter speed for the dvx in 24p modes. 1/24th is slow enough to easily see a difference..its 2x as much light
 
Re: Shutter speed tutorial...

There is probably nobody on earth who could tell the difference between 1/48 and 1/50th. 1/50th is "shutter off". 1/48 doesn't even exist as a speed, you'd have to go into synchro-scan and dial it in. So the easy way is just to go with "shutter off".
 
Re: Shutter speed tutorial...

Barry - Your response should be posted in a general FAQ/QA section of the board. It's well written and answers a lot of common questions.

In fact, there should be a FAQ/QA sticky topic at the beginning of each section. Your response would be a perfect candidate for entry into it.
 
Re: Shutter speed tutorial...

I agree, I found Barry's response very helpful. Please add it as a sticky or some type of permanent thread on top of this forum.
 
Re: Shutter speed tutorial...

I have heard you discuss shutter speed before, but I agree too, this was the best it's ever been put together! Thanks Barry!
 
Re: Shutter speed tutorial...

Barry,

You should make a pdf of this and post it on the site for others... nicely done.
 
Re: Shutter speed tutorial...

Excellent indeed, Barry ! Just throw in a couple of hints for us PAL users and it will be absolutely complete ! Thanks a lot in advance ! ;)
 
Re: Shutter speed tutorial...

This couldnt have been a better moment to share this information! coincidentally i was going to search for this topic and here it is!

i'm shooting a project in 24p, and mostly use 1/24 shutter speed. It just seems to feel right overall for the effects i'm going after. However, when i pan, i notice on playback there is the appearance of a stutter however smoothe the camera is moved. would this disappear in a faster shutter speed? but when i zoom, this does not occur... i'm not seeing any blurring as was mentioned by barry in his inciteful breakdown on this topic. how would i achieve the blur??

please explain further what is this effect i am seeing while i pan? and how to effectively blur the images...ie. someone on a bike moving past camera.

thanks, betsy
 
Re: Shutter speed tutorial...

Hi Betsy! I don't mean to preach , BUT ! - for a tripod pan/tilt , the OIS should be turned off. A zoom is an 'on-axis' manoeuvre , in which the camera doesn't move - and the OIS system doesn't feel. A pan will activate the OIS compensating motion due to the slight acceleration/jerk exerted on it's sensors. Image Stabilising always has an element of compromise in deciding what is 'wobble' and what is intended pan/tilt/etc camera motion. As you begin or change the rate of a pan, the OIS will compensate and momentarilly 'hold' the recorded image steady, producing a stutter as you continue to pan and the OIS has to 'give-in' ! This could be one explanation of the effect. Paul.
 
Re: Shutter speed tutorial...

Thank you Paul...I'll do a test to try out your suggestion. Far from preaching, much more informative and appreciated. :)

++betsy
 
Re: Shutter speed tutorial...

Test seems to prove no difference with or without the OIS on or off.

I made some tests with the OIS  OFF and then on again it did not make a big difference in the stuttering shot in 24p mode pan , either 1/24 or 1/60.

My test, conducted in a room with windows and also a rocking chair-as i pan across the room windows and pass the chair, the the most noticeable are the vertical lines of the chair stutter.  

Is there any other setting that could reduce or eliminate jittering?

has anyone else experienced this?

thanks, betsy
 
Re: Shutter speed tutorial...

I just shot an outdoor video and needed a fast shutter (1/500) speed to compensate. ND was not enough. The 24P advanced look was good but it seem to pick up all the birds darting about.

jmf
 
Re: Shutter speed tutorial...

The stuttering you're talking about is normal 24P "stutter" or "strobing". It is what makes the DVX look like film. It is an artifact of shooting at such a low capture rate. If you want to minimize it, shoot at 30P. If you want to eliminate it, shoot at 60i. But 24P stutters, just like film does. There have been volumes written about this on this site, look for "strobing" or "stuttering" and you can read hours and hours of info on the subject.
 
Re: Shutter speed tutorial...

[quote author=HansK link=board=Events;num=1087835287;start=0#8 date=07/03/04 at 00:45:04]Barry - Your response should be posted in a general FAQ/QA section of the board.  It's well written and answers a lot of common questions.

In fact, there should be a FAQ/QA sticky topic at the beginning of each section.  Your response would be a perfect candidate for entry into it.
[/quote]

I second this. Sticky FAQs are the way to go. Barry, I print out all your tips -- you're the man.
 
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