So you’ve just bought a brand new DSLR, but are wondering how you use it. In our beginners guide to setting up a DSLR we talk you through the essential steps. The creative possibilities for DSLR cameras are endless, both for photography and video production. As clichéd as it sounds, the best way to improve your photography is practice and experimentation. Hopefully, these tips will give you the motivation to get started. Following the below will ensure you get the most out of your new DSLR camera.

Out of the box. . .
You’ll find a lot of the newer DSLRs simply have a switch from stills to video on the body of the camera, but with the 5D Mark II, which is probably the favorite DSLR amongst video production companies, you have to go into settings, select the “Live View Movie Function”, then select “Live View Settings” and select “Stills+Movie”

Shoot in Manual!
Always, ALWAYS shoot in manual, and do not be tempted to use another function like Aperture Priority or other priorities because it will look awful when the Aperture or shutter changes during filming.

Picture Style.
DSLRs typically have about 5 pre set picture styles and 3 User defined profiles for customisation. Whilst extra saturation, contrast and sharpness can all make an image look prettier it’s not recommended for professional video production, as they are all digital enhancements that are better controlled in the post production stages. I recommend setting both sharpness and contrast to the lowest possible and dropping saturation down 2 or 3 notches because the natural look of a DSLR is slightly richer than normal.

Video System
For those shooting in the UK and Europe the Video System must be set to PAL, which is the European standard to TV, from the box most DSLRs are set to NSTC which is the standard used in Asia and the USA, the only real difference is the frame rate of which video is broadcast. This is most apparent when in NSTC your frame rates will be either 30 or 60, and in PAL they are 25 and 50, we like 25 and 50! Note in both systems there is a 24p frame rate option, which is commonly used to the “filmic” effect.

Online resources and support forums for photography can also be a great way of improving and learning from others. It’s essential you set up your own blog so you can get feedback from others on your photography and also provides a way to document your progress. Happy snapping!

Article written by Dragonfly Digital Video Services – a leading production company in London.