2

Can I adjust the aperture of a Canon T2i while shooting a movie? I really want a greater depth of field when I'm shooting a movie.

Improve this question
1
4

I don't think you would want to do that, as the video you record will then get lighter and darker as you adjust the aperture which looks unnatural and is distracting. But you can manually adjust almost everything in movie mode on the t2i. Consult the manual (pg. 127) for in depth (no pun intended!) instructions.

If you want greater depth of field, then I would increase the available light and set the aperture number higher (smaller aperture). It sounds like you would also benefit from googling "Depth of Field" so you can make these decisions quickly while setting up shots in different circumstances. Your shutter speed should also be set to twice the frame rate. So, for the t2i, at 30fps, you need the shutter at 1/60, and for 24fps, you need the shutter at 1/50 (I know, it should be 1/48, but Canon does not give us that option). Good luck!

Improve this answer
2
  • Thanks so much! I did have one question. What do you mean by the shutter speed? Isn't that determined by the frame rate I set? – daviesgeek Oct 29 '11 at 21:36
  • The frame rate you set determines how often the shutter 'opens' per second, but not how long the shutter is 'open' for each time. To summarise, the longer the shutter is open the more smooth and 'film-like' the video will look, and the shorter the shutter speed the more 'home video-lile' it will seem. – Dreamager Oct 30 '11 at 8:52

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.