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Nikon Movies on a DSLR - Effects of Settings Chosen

This article is based largely based on an answer from Nikon Technical Support published on their website in June 2009, this was before the D300s was announced, that also has D Movie capability. I have made some changes to the answers given where I thought it needed better clarification. Covering a number of cameras there will be some variations particularly in the ability to set more information, or having more or less control, and you may need to look at individual instruction manuals to see the precise differences, but I think we can add general light on the subjects and explain, using tables, the usual effect of the major camera actions, giving you the chance to see how D-movies are recorded and an idea of what is likely to be happening.

So what settings within a Nikon camera are effective when recording  movies (D-Movies) on a DSLR ?

In part this depends on the shooting mode selected. In the following table we look at what is happening when the camera is set up in different ways, later tables expand on this.

In this first table we are looking at how the camera behaves when taking videos when the camera settings are set to P (Programme), S (Speed Priority)  or A (Aperture Priority).

Settings applied to movies in P, S, A and M modes

Camera action

Still images effect

Movies (D-Movies) effect

Exposure programme

Set automatically according to the mode (P, S, or A)

 Aperture set when movie recording is initiated, is reflected (up to f/8).

 ISO sensitivity

Can be selected on my menu or using the ISO button can be set automatically according to the mode (P, S, or A) when auto ISO is set to on

Auto only 

White balance

Settings applied with shooting menu or WB button + Command dial are in effect

Settings applied with shooting menu or WB button + Command dial are in effect. It can be changed during recording with WB button + Command dial. 

 Active D-Lighting

Settings applied with camera menus are active

Not available

 Type of Picture Control

Settings applied with camera menus are active

Settings applied with camera menus when recording is initiated are active.

Picture Control - Sharpening,  Contrast, Brightness, Saturation, Hue

Settings applied with camera menus are active  

Settings applied with camera menus when recording is initiated are active.

 Colour Space

Settings applied with camera menus is reflected  

Settings applied with camera menus when recording is initiated is reflected.

 High ISO Noise Reduction

Settings applied with camera menus are active  

Not available

The following table looks at the same range of camera actions when other modes are selected, this is not applicable to all cameras.  This covers modes:- Auto, and Scene Modes plus looks at the effect of flash-off being selected. Picture control is split into a number of lines, while shown in one above.

Settings applied to movies (D-movies) with Auto, auto flash-off or advanced scene modes selected

Camera action

Still images  

Movies (D-Movies)  

 Exposure programme

Set according to scene mode 

 Aperture set when movie recording is initiated is reflected (up to f/8) 

 ISO sensitivity

 Auto at default, can be changed

Auto only 

 White balance

Auto 

 Auto

 Active D-Lighting

Auto 

Not available 

 Type of Picture Control

Set automatically according to the scene mode 

 Set automatically according to the scene mode

Picture Control - Sharpening / Saturation

Set automatically according to the scene mode 
(auto or default value)

Fixed at default values 

Picture Control - Contrast, Brightness

 (ADL-Auto)

Fixed at default values (=0) 

 Picture Control - Hue

 0

 0

 Colour Space

Settings applied with camera menus are reflected

Settings applied with camera menus when recording is initiated are reflected

 High ISO Noise Reduction

 Settings applied with camera menus are reflected

 Not available

But what is the effect of changing camera settings once you have stated to film a movie clip, the following table throws some more light on this.

Settings that can be changed during movie recording
Camera Action

 Changing settings during movie recording

 Control

 Notes

 Exposure compensation

 Yes

These options can be set in the same way as for still images.

The amount of exposure compensation applied in movie mode is different to the amount applied to still images

 AE lock

 Yes

These options can be set in the same way as for still images.

Brightness should not go up and down as background or subject lighting changes when used.

 White balance

 Yes, but not available in Scene Modes

These options can be set in the same way as for still images.

 -

 Focus

 Yes, focus can be adjusted manually

 Possible to control manually

 -

 Aperture

 No

 The aperture is set before Liveview mode starts is applied. If the aperture is smaller than f/8, then it is set to f/8.

Operation for changing settings or values is possible but changes made will not be applied to movie recording (They will be applied when still images are captured next.)

 Shutter speed

 No

 Controlled by rolling shutter

Operation for changing settings or values is possible but changes made will not be applied to movie recording. (They will be applied when still images are captured next.)

 ISO sensitivity

 No

 Auto

Operation for changing settings or values is possible but changes made will not be applied to movie recording. (They will be applied when still images are captured next.)

 Advanced Scene Modes

In the advanced scene modes; Portrait, Sports, close-up etc)
only Picture Control
can be changed

Aperture (no smaller than f/8) if Advanced Scene Mode selected before Liveview mode starts is applied. Active D-Lighting is disabled.

 -

Picture Control
(P, A, S, M)

 No

Need to be set before Liveview mode starts. It is also applied to movie recording. Possible to adjust individual settings such as sharpening and contrast.

 -

 Active D-Lighting

 No

Unavailable

 -

With movies you don't have Exif tags, so next to no shooting information is available alongside a movie clip, with AVI files, very limited information is available, usually just model name, firmware version, etc.

 


By:  Keith Park   Section: Photography - Video Key:
Page Ref: NikonDSLR_DMovie_settings Topic: Last Updated: 10/2009
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