Filming indoor basketball a6600

[Ahole4Sure]

Learning my a6600 has been potentially the most complicated thing I've ever done lol.

Any advice for filming indoor basketball video re settings?

I bought a Sigma 30mm 1.4 lens (since audio wasn't too important , ie AF noise)

Today I shot my first game. Used entirely Program Auto as far as exposure -- can't be too complicated since things are happening fast. But I noticed that as I panned from one end of the floor to the other the exposure was really fluctuating almost giving a flickering on the recorded video.

Getting ready for games tomorrow. Is the best fix as simple as changing the Metering mode to average the full screen?? Or do I need to go to full manual? ... Kinda worried I'll screw up the full manual since I don't have much time lol

 

[DigGary]

I'm a photo guy not a video guy but what I think about is:

1. Is the light consistent over the court? I would think so and if so a fixed exposure should work.

2. What is the exposure time aka how much time for each frame capture? There can be issues with florescent lights as they are fluctuating in brightness that we don't see but can mess with cameras.

If you can see your issue in the camera when watching Back the video then before next game starts, I would see what exposure is picked when it is happening and if the exposure is changing while it is happening. If exposure is changing set manual to those same values and see if it still occurs.

If don't see issue in manual I would shoot it that way as what you are seeing probably caused by exposure changing. If you do still see in manual mode I would try changing the exposure time and see if you can reduce or illuminate the issue that way as it may be due to florescent lights frequency vs exposure time. When you adjust exposure time you will also need to adjust aperture or ISO as well to keep exposure looking right.

Good luck and maybe a video person has better input.

--
...Gary
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wandering.camera.guy/
Website: https://wanderingcameraguy.wixsite.com/photo

 

[paul wassermann]

Learning my a6600 has been potentially the most complicated thing I've ever done lol.

Any advice for filming indoor basketball video re settings?

I bought a Sigma 30mm 1.4 lens (since audio wasn't too important , ie AF noise)

Today I shot my first game. Used entirely Program Auto as far as exposure -- can't be too complicated since things are happening fast. But I noticed that as I panned from one end of the floor to the other the exposure was really fluctuating almost giving a flickering on the recorded video.

Getting ready for games tomorrow. Is the best fix as simple as changing the Metering mode to average the full screen?? Or do I need to go to full manual? ... Kinda worried I'll screw up the full manual since I don't have much time lol

I have no significant experience with video, but I would try average metering (certainly not spot!) and also might try a manual exposure where you choose appropriate shutter speed (1/60th sec perhaps) and appropriate wide F stop depending upon depth of field (should be fairly deep for 30mm lens) and set ISO to auto. Get a couple of programs in your mind and then shoot them before the actual game begins and see what works best for you.

Again above is just my suggestion not based on any actual experience so someone else may have better advice. Nice thing about digital is you can really experiment without using media!

Good luck

Paul

 

[Clyde Thomas]

You can program any custom function button for AEL Toggle... but for sake of ease, let's do the AEL button to get you started.

Menu, Camera 2, page 8, first item Stills Custom Key...

(or use second item for Video Custom Key... if you only want this for video while in video mode) otherwise your video custom key should follow your stills setting. Verify that for yourself.

Once inside the custom key setting...

Item 2 sets for AEL Custom Function.

Page 8, either choose AEL toggle or Spot Meter AEL toggle. I'd pick the regular one until you get used to it.

Ok, you have to be in video mode for this to work as intended. Shooting video while in stills mode will clear the reading when you start recording. But you can lock the reading after recording starts. Best to just be in video mode because you can lock the reading beforehand.

Basically, just let the camera find exposure through automation, and toggle the button on when you like the exposure. It will hold that exposure locked until you press it again to unlock it. You can keep it locked throughout the entire game if you choose. Exposure won't change while the button is locked.

You could also try the "hold" option instead of "toggle". But it only locks as long as you hold the button.

Yes I shoot a lot of professional video. And I was a professional sports photographer for many years before doing my commercial work.

Good luck... have fun!

 

[Ahole4Sure]

You can program any custom function button for AEL Toggle... but for sake of ease, let's do the AEL button to get you started.

Menu, Camera 2, page 8, first item Stills Custom Key...

(or use second item for Video Custom Key... if you only want this for video while in video mode) otherwise your video custom key should follow your stills setting. Verify that for yourself.

Once inside the custom key setting...

Item 2 sets for AEL Custom Function.

Page 8, either choose AEL toggle or Spot Meter AEL toggle. I'd pick the regular one until you get used to it.

Ok, you have to be in video mode for this to work as intended. Shooting video while in stills mode will clear the reading when you start recording. But you can lock the reading after recording starts. Best to just be in video mode because you can lock the reading beforehand.

Basically, just let the camera find exposure through automation, and toggle the button on when you like the exposure. It will hold that exposure locked until you press it again to unlock it. You can keep it locked throughout the entire game if you choose. Exposure won't change while the button is locked.

You could also try the "hold" option instead of "toggle". But it only locks as long as you hold the button.

Yes I shoot a lot of professional video. And I was a professional sports photographer for many years before doing my commercial work.

Good luck... have fun!

Wow - this was really good advice and an "advanced" idea that I had no idea about using.!!

Thanks. Does the AEL Toggle survive the camera going to "sleep", like if you stop recording at half time and just let the camera fall asleep?

And with pretty small screen on the camera how do you know when the exposure is "the way you want it" lol??

Last question , since you said you did professional sports video, ... I am filming for AAU basketball and need to share the video with other people. I have been recording 60p50M so the files are pretty huge. I've just been transferring them to my NAS unedited and then giving people download links. Is there a simple , not too time consuming way to edit them so they are more "streamable from my NAS -- or you think best to leave them unedited?? I just don't wan't them to be needed for a college scout and the video quality to be an issue!

 

[Ahole4Sure]

Learning my a6600 has been potentially the most complicated thing I've ever done lol.

Any advice for filming indoor basketball video re settings?

I bought a Sigma 30mm 1.4 lens (since audio wasn't too important , ie AF noise)

Today I shot my first game. Used entirely Program Auto as far as exposure -- can't be too complicated since things are happening fast. But I noticed that as I panned from one end of the floor to the other the exposure was really fluctuating almost giving a flickering on the recorded video.

Getting ready for games tomorrow. Is the best fix as simple as changing the Metering mode to average the full screen?? Or do I need to go to full manual? ... Kinda worried I'll screw up the full manual since I don't have much time lol

I have no significant experience with video, but I would try average metering (certainly not spot!) and also might try a manual exposure where you choose appropriate shutter speed (1/60th sec perhaps) and appropriate wide F stop depending upon depth of field (should be fairly deep for 30mm lens) and set ISO to auto. Get a couple of programs in your mind and then shoot them before the actual game begins and see what works best for you.

Again above is just my suggestion not based on any actual experience so someone else may have better advice. Nice thing about digital is you can really experiment without using media!

Good luck

Paul

I had time to do this bit of advice before the last game -- that average metering definitely helped!! Thanks

 

[Ahole4Sure]

Thank you -- all very sound advice. Got spend more time setting the exposure manually

 

[Clyde Thomas]

Thanks. Does the AEL Toggle survive the camera going to "sleep", like if you stop recording at half time and just let the camera fall asleep?

No.

And with pretty small screen on the camera how do you know when the exposure is "the way you want it" lol??

User preference... or set your zebras. Find a tutorial about how to use video zebras for skin tones.

Last question , since you said you did professional sports video, ...

No. I shot pro sports stills back in the film days. I didn't shoot video back then. We didn't even have the interwebs back then.

I am filming for AAU basketball and need to share the video with other people. I have been recording 60p50M so the files are pretty huge. I've just been transferring them to my NAS unedited and then giving people download links. Is there a simple , not too time consuming way to edit them so they are more "streamable from my NAS -- or you think best to leave them unedited?? I just don't wan't them to be needed for a college scout and the video quality to be an issue!

Your delivery destination should provide all the protocols for how they prefer receiving your data.

Good luck!

--
Here to help. Here to learn.
http://photoclydethomas.com/

 

[Ahole4Sure]

Thank you!

 

[wb2trf]

Try a modern cell phone. Seriously. The 30mm isn't giving you tight tele shots. Why not use a cell phone? Although there are some things they don't do well. I suspect they'd excel at this task compared to the A6600 with the 30mm. I say I suspect. I don't know and maybe not.