Aperture, Shutter Speed and ISO: What Does It All Mean?

When it comes to creating videos, camera exposure is just as important as it is in still photography. The right exposure can make the difference between a visually stunning video and one that is difficult to watch. 

The three main elements that control exposure are aperture, shutter speed and ISO.

Aperture controls the amount of light that enters the camera and affects the depth of field in your video. A larger aperture (smaller f-stop number) will result in a shallower depth of field, while a smaller aperture (larger f-stop number) will result in a deeper depth of field. 

In general, a shallow depth of field is more desirable for video as it helps to draw attention to the subject and create a more cinematic look. 

For example, an f-stop of 1.8 will result in a blurrier background and an f-stop of 4 or 5 will result in the background being less blurred out.

Shutter speed controls the amount of time that the camera's shutter is open and affects motion blur in your video. A faster shutter speed will freeze motion, while a slower shutter speed will create blur. 

When filming video, it is generally recommended to use a shutter speed that is double your frame rate. For example, if you're filming at 30 frames per second, your shutter speed should be at 1/60th of a second. This will help to create a more natural-looking motion in your video.

ISO controls the sensitivity of the camera's sensor to light. A lower ISO will result in a less sensitive sensor and a darker image, while a higher ISO will result in a more sensitive sensor and a brighter image. However, a high ISO also increases image noise, which can make the video look grainy. When filming video, it's best to keep your ISO as low as possible to avoid noise.

For videos, it is better to stay below the ISO 800 mark to reduce the grain in your videos.

In addition to aperture, shutter speed, and ISO, there are other factors to consider when filming video such as white balance and focus. White balance controls the color temperature of your video and ensures that the colors appear natural. Focus is also crucial in video, as keeping your subject in focus will ensure that the audience can see the details of the subject.

Having a camera that allows you to shoot both automatic and manual will help you get to grips learning exposure for your environment when you are first starting out.

As you become more comfortable with the basics of exposure, you can start experimenting with manual mode, where you can control these settings yourself.

In conclusion, camera exposure is a crucial element in video production and understanding the basics can help you take better videos. Remember that aperture, shutter speed and ISO are the three main elements that control exposure, and by balancing them, you can achieve the correct exposure for your videos. 

Keep in mind other factors like white balance and focus, to ensure that your videos are visually stunning.