Video Resolution

Video resolution refers to the number of pixels contained in each video frame, measured as width ×
height (e.g., 1920x1080).

Video Resolution Explained

Video resolution determines the amount of detail and clarity in a video. The higher the number
of pixels, the sharper the image will appear

Common Video Resolutions:

Common Name Resolution (Pixels) Aspect Ratio Definition Type

480p 640 x 480 4:3 Standard Definition (SD)

720p 1280 x 720 16:9 High Definition (HD)

1080p 1920 x 1080 16:9 Full High Definition (FHD)

1440p (QHD) 2560 x 1440 16:9 Quad HD (2K equivalent)

4K (UHD) 3840 x 2160 16:9 Ultra High Definition

Frame rate
Frame rate is the number of individual images, or frames, that appear per second in a video, measured
in frames per second (fps). A higher frame rate results in smoother motion, while lower frame rates
can appear more cinematic or be used for slow-motion effects. For example, 24fps is standard
for films, while 60fps or higher is used for recording footage that will be slowed down.

Common Frame Rates and Their Uses

Different frame rates are used for different purposes based on the desired look and the
type of content:

 24 fps (Cinematic Standard): This is the standard for movies, TV shows, and
streaming content, giving footage a classic, artistic, "film-like" look with natural motion
blur.
 30 fps (Video Standard): Common for live TV broadcasts (news, sports), soap operas,
and online content (YouTube, social media), it provides a slightly smoother, more lifelike
motion than 24 fps.

 60 fps and higher (Slow Motion/Action): Used for fast-action content like video
games, sports broadcasting, and for creating smooth slow-motion effects in post-
production. Higher rates like 120 fps or 240 fps offer even smoother motion and greater
slow-motion potential.

To set the resolution and frame rate on your Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Step-by-Step Guide
1. Switch to Movie Mode: Set the Live View shooting/Movie shooting switch (located on
the back of the camera, to the right of the viewfinder) to the movie camera symbol, then
press the START/STOP button to enable Live View.

2. Access the Menu: Press the MENU button.

3. Navigate to the Shooting Menu: Use the multi-controller or the rear control dial to navigate to
the red camera icon menu (usually the first tab)

4. Select "Movie rec. size": Scroll down to the [Movie rec. size] option and press
the Set button.

5. Choose Resolution and Frame Rate: A list of options will appear, showing the
resolution, frame rate, and compression method.

Compression methods are:

1. IPB: Standard compression, smaller file sizes for longer recording times.

2. ALL-I: Intracoding compression, larger file sizes but better for editing in
post-production.

6. Confirm Selection: Highlight your desired setting (e.g., [1920x1080 24fps ALL-I])
and press Set.

exposure
exposure refers to the amount of light that reaches the camera's image sensor or film, which
determines the overall brightness or darkness of the resulting photograph.
 A "correct" exposure is a balancing act.

 Overexposure occurs when too much light hits the sensor, resulting in a washed-out,
excessively bright image with lost detail in the highlights.

 Underexposure occurs when too little light reaches the sensor, making the photo too
dark and causing a loss of detail in the shadows.

 What is a camera light meter?

 A light meter measures the amount of light reflecting off a scene, then indicates
the proper combination of settings (shutter speed, aperture, and ISO) for a well-
exposed image.

the Exposure Triangle

Exposure is controlled by the balance of three fundamental camera settings, collectively
known as the exposure triangle:

Aperture
Aperture is the opening in a camera lens through which light passes to reach the
sensor. It functions like the pupil of a human eye, expanding or shrinking to control the
 amount of light entering the camera and significantly affecting two key aspects of a
photograph: exposure and depth of field.

Aperture is measured in f-numbers, also known as f-stops, such as f/1.4, f/2, f/2.8, f/4,
f/5.6, f/8, f/11, f/16, etc..

The confusing part for beginners is the inverse relationship between the number and the
opening size:

 A smaller f-number (like f/1.8) means a wider aperture opening.

 A larger f-number (like f/16) means a narrower aperture opening.

Wide aperture (low f-number): Creates a shallow depth of field, where only a small
part of the image (e.g., the subject's face) is in sharp focus, and the background is softly
blurred (an effect known as bokeh). This is commonly used for portraits to isolate the
subject.
o Narrow aperture (high f-number): Creates a deep depth of field, where most of the
scene, from the foreground to the background, appears sharp. This is ideal for
landscape and architectural photography where detail throughout the image is desired.

How to Achieve a Shallow Depth of Field

You can control the depth of field by adjusting several camera and compositional
factors:

 Aperture: This is the most significant factor. A wider aperture (smaller f-stop number,
e.g., f/1.8, f/2.8, f/4) produces a shallower DoF.

 Distance to Subject: The closer your camera is to your subject, the shallower the
depth of field becomes. Macro photography heavily utilizes this principle.

 Focal Length: Longer focal lengths (telephoto lenses, e.g., 85mm, 100mm, 200mm)
naturally create a shallower depth of field compared to wide-angle lenses.
 Subject-Background Distance: Increasing the distance between your subject and the
background exaggerates the blur effect of the background, enhancing the perceived
shallow DoF.

 Sensor Size: Cameras with larger sensors (like full-frame) inherently produce a
shallower depth of field than those with smaller (crop or smartphone) sensors, given the
same settings and composition.