A Beginner's Guide to Aperture in Video

There are certainly a lot of similarities between photo and video, but there are also some fundamental differences you should be aware of to ensure you get the best results. If you are new to video and working on the fundamentals, check out this excellent tutorial that will show you how aperture works in video and how to properly adjust it to get your best results. 

Coming to you from Nick Brigadier with B&H Photo and Video, this awesome video tutorial will show you the ins and out of aperture in video. Just like in photo land, aperture is a fundamental parameter in video, but you generally have to treat it a bit differently. In video, you have a bit less freedom regarding your shutter speed, as you will normally want that to follow the 180-degree rule to ensure natural motion, which means it should be set to the reciprocal of twice the frame rate (for example, if shooting at 30 fps, set the shutter speed to 1/60 s). This is why filmmakers often use ND filters when working. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Brigadier. 

If you are new to video work and would like to continue your education, be sure to check out "Introduction to Video: A Photographer's Guide to Filmmaking With Lee Morris and Patrick Hall!"

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Alex Cooke is a Cleveland-based portrait, events, and landscape photographer. He holds an M.S. in Applied Mathematics and a doctorate in Music Composition. He is also an avid equestrian.

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