Video recording tips

    This page has information about best practices and tips for recording video in the field.

    Recording video seems to be straightforward: put some writable media in a video camera, point the camera at the subject and press the record button. However, if you pay some attention to how to use the equipment, recording video will become much easier while the quality of your recordings will improve. 

    • Read the manual that comes with the equipment and make sure you know the do's and don'ts of your equipment.
    • Completely set up your equipment and carry out a test run, including the sound.
    • Always personally check that your equipment is complete and properly packed.
    • Take enough time to set up the camera and sound before the actual recording starts. This will avoid stress and you forgetting things.
    • When recording outdoors try to find a quiet and shielded place out of the wind.
    • Use a tripod whenever possible, even if it is only a small lightweight one. If absolutely necessary you can also use a table, a chair or something similar. However, if this is not possible, hold the camera with both hands and as straight and still as you can, moving it slowly and calmly unless there is reason to have some movement in the picture.
    • Generally switch on the steadyshot or similar feature (optical image stabilizer, camera menu)
    • Do not hold the camera too far away from the object or person, but at the same time not too close, particularly when filming a shy person or a person that is not used to modern technology (one person circa two meters distance, switch off the red “recording” light and LCD display if possible).
    • The height of the camera in relation to the subject, should be at eye-level of the person you are filming.
    • Determine the best picture size, i.e. determine what should be in the picture and what can be left out. For instance, if you wish to capture facial expression, use a close up of the face. If you would like to capture gesticulation, use a wider shot. Take into account that your subject can move its head and body, so use a small buffer towards the sides of the picture. For instance, don't let the top of the head fall outside the picture.
    • The picture size can be changed by placing the camera forward or backward. Alternatively, use the zoom function to select the picture size.
    • If you are interviewing someone and that person is looking to the left or right, leave some extra space between your subject and respectively the left side or right side of the picture.
    • Where possible, keep the sun behind you, i.e. don’t film directly into the sun.
    • Video cameras have a limited exposure range meaning that they can not cope with very bright and very dark spots in the same image. For example when filming inside a room while the sunlight is coming through the window is a difficult situation.
    • When recording in darkness, you must accept a grainy picture.
    • If you work in a small room maybe a wide angle lens can help - then you can record with the window light behind the camera.
    • Before recording perform a white balance calibration (at least every time you change from recording outdoors to recording indoors and vice versa).
    • When connecting the microphone(s) to the video camera, make sure that the cable plugs are completely inserted into the correct sockets (put the protection plugs in the plastic clip bag). Note that the sockets are very sensitive to forces, so handle with care.
    • Place the microphone as close as possible.
    • Be aware of the characteristics of the microphone. Make sure that the microphone is adjusted correctly.
    • Most external microphones need batteries and have to be switched on before use. When the microphone is switched on and the battery has enough power a little red light on the microphone flashes several times.
    • Put a headphone in the video camera.
    • Check if the sound is good with your headphone. (HUM, NOISE, caused by bad plug connections).
    • Do not put sound cable on or over power cables.
    • Use batteries instead of main power adapter.
    • Avoid body contact.
    • Do not speak directly into the microphone (breathing noises), but speak `over` it.
    • If necessary use windshields for the microphone(s).
    • Always record using 48 kHz, 16-bit sound (camera menu).
    • Make a short recording (15 sec.) in which the important data (label ID, date, location, name, etc) is displayed while (part of) the data is said into the microphone. This recording helps you to find out where and when the recording was made. Immediately after recording the test, play it back to determine whether your recording settings are satisfactory.
    • The first 5 seconds of the recording should never contain important data.
    • Sometimes it's better to switch the autofocus off. The camera can auto focus on a playing children, animals, leaves etc. that enter the picture. The result is that your subject is no longer in focus.
    • Due to the extreme loss of picture quality never use the digital zoom (camera menu).
    • Always record a scene a few seconds longer than you really need.
    • Immediately lock the SD-card after recording, by positioning the tab on the card appropriately. This prevents accidental erasure.
    • Video equipment is to be handled very carefully, especially the camera itself. The camera and the plugs are very sensitive because they are not very big and have a low weight.
    • In case you work under extreme climatic conditions, leave the camera to acclimatize for at least half an hour.
    • Store the camera in the proper camera-bag.
    • Never touch the lenses with your fingers, clean them before every recording with a cleaning tissue.
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