Low light video on Canon 6D for a guitar concert

[Perrin]

Hi there

I'm new to the forum, and I've been wondering for years, how to get the best out of this 6D camera for videoing.

Here's some footage from a couple of concerts, you will see it's pretty lousy compared to what I could be getting out of the 6D.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJ5Q2Z7-3ks&list=UU3nDdFIbFwMnB6_wtMTIZNg&index=10

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxZcBXKDDrI&list=UU3nDdFIbFwMnB6_wtMTIZNg&index=3&t=0s

If anyone is able to stare me towards some simple settings for the camera overall that would be greatly be appreciated.

I have good quality memory cards 2 x 32GB, the show goes for about 2 and a half to three hours all up.   

I'm not very good with technical talk, please be forwarned on that front.

On the net I saw someone using these settings which may be a good starting point....... but any help greatly received.

Current setting: Exp 1/30, ISO 8000, WB 3200, f-stop 2.8

God Bless,

Perrin

[Waddizzle]

What lens are you using?

[Perrin]

Hi there Waddizzle

We use a Canon Zoom EF Lens 24-105mm 1:4 L Is USM

Thank you

[Waddizzle]

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@Perrin wrote:

Hi there Waddizzle

We use a Canon Zoom EF Lens 24-105mm 1:4 L Is USM

Thank you

 

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Okay, I was finally able to take a look at the videos in the original post.

You should be able to have much better focus than that.  Set focus on the lens manually, if you need to.  Look at a Depth of Field chart to get a feel of what range of apertures might work best for your shooting scenario.

Some of the highlights look a little overexposed, maybe by 1/2 a stop.  From that camera angle and framing, the large dark area in the bottom of the frame will factor in to determine the final exposure.  Evaluative metering mode may be overexposing the stage because so much of the frame is dark.  Try "Center Weighted" metering mode.  I think "Spot" may be too narrow.

Your contrast looks a little blown out, too.  Pay attention to your picture style setting because this can affect your dynamic range and color grading.  I recommend using a neutral color style.  It is often easier to add than subtract in post.  Once highlights are blown, you cannot unsaturate them.  In these videos, it does not seem to matter if foreground shadows are under exposed.  The subjects on stage should be the priority.

[Perrin]

Thank you for this Waddizzle, that's a ton of good information there.  I'll do my best to apply next concert :).

[Waddizzle]

I just noticed you want 2-3 hours of video. Most every DSLR had a 30 minute time limit. I suggest using a video camera or a camcorder.

[RobertTheFat]

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@Waddizzle wrote:
I just noticed you want 2-3 hours of video. Most every DSLR had a 30 minute time limit. I suggest using a video camera or a camcorder.

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No item on the program is apt to last a half hour. So the 30-minute limit shouldn't be a factor, as long as the OP remembers to stop and re-start the process from time to time. I think I'd be more concerned about the camera overheating than about the 30-minute limit.

[Perrin]

Hi again

We have breaks of up to 3 or 4 minutes between items and we pause the camera, during this time.  We've done it successfully for about 4 years like this.  We also have a 20 minute half time and don't video prize giving at the end.

Thank you though, as I was unaware of this being an issue, so much appreciated, and something we can now be concious of.

[BurnUnit]

For the conditions you're shooting under I think the video came out pretty well. Any change to your exposure settings to add detail to the darker background is probably going to wipe out your highlights. For the equipment you're using I think you're fighting the stage lighting more than anything else.

Some, if not all of the stage lighting is probably LEDs. Digital camera sensors can see some of this LED lighting differently than our eyes do and produce exaggerated color shifts and other problems. But the biggest help would likely be having a bit more stage lighting for the background.

[Perrin]

Aha that makes sense. Thank you 🙂