Which Video Frame Rate

Hi guys

Im fairly new to HD video and Im using a Canon 550D. Im about to do some cage diving with Great Whites this weekend and wondering what frame rate to use for 1920x1080 - 24fps or 30 fps. Also should I use manual mode on the video will it be easy to operate? Or should I just go auto for ease of use?

Im fairly new to HD video and Im using a Canon 550D. Im about to do some cage diving with Great Whites this weekend and wondering what frame rate to use for 1920x1080 - 24fps or 30 fps. Also should I use manual mode on the video will it be easy to operate? Or should I just go auto for ease of use?

No auto here please!!

Are you in PAL land? If so shoot 25p. Shutter 1/50 (don't change from this), Aperture ideally somewhere in the F8-11 range and ISO set at either 160, 320 or 640. (you can also use these settings if you want to use 24p).

If you are in NTSC land shoot 30p. Shutter 1/60 (don't change from this), all other settings the same as above.

Make sure you come back and post the footage of the big boys!

Cheers, Simon

As I just started tackling this myself a year or so ago. Everyone here has helped me a considerable amount. There are many past posts that cover this. But in general, here are my recommendations:

- Depending how good you want the video to look, will determine, how you shoot. Auto for the most part will not look great. I do manual, as was recommended to me by many others on Wetpixel. manual really isn't that difficult.

- Because I am in the USA, I use 30 fps. In most cases you want your shutter speed to be double your frame rate. So for me it is 1/60th. if you you use 24 fps, the 1/50th.

- Aperature - you want to keep this in the f11 to f8 range

-Iso - as low as you can get the better. I use a 5d so iso is better than the 550d. But I try to keep mine below 640.

Have fun.

Dustin