XA30 – Intense Bokeh for Interviews – Specific Menu Settings?

[afdskl32]

I know the basics of having a narrow depth of focus:

-significant distance between subject and background

-large aperture

-zoom

I understrand the underlying principles behind it.

However, I'm new to the XA30, and I'd love to hear a few tips on achieving that narrow DOF 'look' that DSLR shooters can get, specifically with the XA30. I'm talking about specific menu settings, etc.. I shoot for news outlets that are used to DSLR video, and they expect a realatively extreme bokeh look. I love my XA30, and I'm motivated to achieve what they can with DSLRs. I'm definitely a run-and-gun type (hence, my choice of the XA30), but I want to be able to achieve that popular extreme bokeh aesthetic that you typically see in DSLRs. I know the XA30 doesn't have a super large sensor, but still, I need to know how to get as close as I can to what a DSLR can do, with respect to a narrow depth of focus.

By the way, I'm somewhat disappointed by the 'YOU MUST SHOOT VIDEO WITH A DSLR' attitude. It's as if video cameras are looked at as quaint and un-cool.  But that's for another thread...

Thanks

[BurnUnit · Accepted solution]

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@afdskl32 wrote:

I'm not using any particular settings – I'm asking how to get the effect, so that means I don't know what I should be doing

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LOL! Well between the two of us, this should be interesting.

If you don't already have a copy of it, you should download the manual from Canon here...

https://www.usa.canon.com/internet/portal/us/home/support/details/camcorders/professional/xa30/xa30/...

Once you familiarize yourself with the camera's basic controls, jump ahead to page 75. Be sure to switch to MANUAL mode and then open the Scene Recording Program menu and select the "Portrait"  option. This will set the camera to shoot with a minimum depth of field.

You could accomplish the same thing by using the AV auto exposure setting and using the largest available aperture setting. The camera will then set the correct shutter speed depending on your lighting conditions. Under extremely bright lighting it may require a higher than ideal shutter speed and this is where the built in ND filter might come in handy.

[afdskl32 · Accepted solution]

Thanks for the suggestion... I'll test it out! The portrait mode seems like the key setting. I'll test out Av tough, too

[BurnUnit]

Read the suggestions above and read up some on controlling depth of field for still photography. Essentially, the same rules apply to shooting video. Though your exposure settings (aperture, shutter speed and ISO) may have to juggled around a bit differently between still and video shooting.