BEST SONY CINEMATIC VIDEO SETTINGS FOR YOUR A6400

Summary

In this informative video from Creative Tech Lab, host Leo provides an in-depth guide on setting up the Sony a6400 camera for optimal video recording. He covers exposure modes, frame rates, autofocus settings, audio levels, and custom key configurations to enhance the camera's usability for run-and-gun videography. The tutorial is tailored for creators who shoot interviews, travel videos, and cinematic b-roll, aiming to empower them with the knowledge to maximize their camera's potential.

Takeaways

• 📷 The video is about setting up video settings on the Sony a6400, a popular APS-C camera.
• 👋 The host, Leo from Creative Tech Lab, welcomes viewers and thanks them for watching.
• 📹 The camera setup focuses on video settings for various types of videography including Talking Heads, interviews, travel videos, small commercial work, and cinematic b-roll.
• 🛠️ First step: Set the camera to manual mode to control exposure settings like aperture, ISO, and shutter speed.
• 📽️ Set the file format to XAVCS 4K and choose 24 frames per second with a bit rate of 100 megabits per second for high-quality video.
• 🎯 Adjust autofocus settings: drive speed to fast and tracking sensitivity to responsive for quick focusing during fast camera movements.
• 🔊 Audio setup: Set audio record level to 7 for use with external microphones and enable audio level display to monitor sound levels.
• 🔧 Enable 'movie with shutter' to use the shutter button for starting video recording and set 'clear image zoom' for lossless zooming.
• 📏 Activate zebra display at 95-100% to monitor exposure levels and set grid lines for better composition.
• 🔑 Customize key buttons for quick access to frequently used functions, including autofocus toggle, focus magnifier, white balance, picture profile, and audio record level adjustments.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video from Creative Tech Lab?

The main topic of the video is to discuss and provide a setup guide for the Sony a6400 camera, focusing on video settings.

Who is the presenter of the video?

The presenter of the video is Leo from Creative Tech Lab.

What type of videography does Leo primarily focus on in the video?

Leo primarily focuses on run-and-gun videography, including interviews, travel videos, small commercial work, and cinematic b-roll shots.

What is the first setting Leo recommends changing on the Sony a6400 for video?

The first setting Leo recommends changing is the exposure mode to manual for full control over aperture, ISO, and shutter speed.

Why does Leo suggest setting the file format to XAVC S4K 100Mbps?

Leo suggests setting the file format to XAVC S4K 100Mbps for the highest quality file, which is beneficial for post-production.

What frame rates does Leo primarily use for shooting video?

Leo primarily uses 24 frames per second for videos that involve talking or live-action, and utilizes other frame rates like 120p or 60p for b-roll.

How does Leo set up the autofocus for his Sony a6400?

Leo sets the drive speed to fast and the tracking sensor to responsive for quick autofocus in scenarios like vlogging or when the camera is moving around.

What is the recommended audio recording level when using an external microphone according to Leo?

Leo recommends setting the audio recording level to 7 when using an external microphone.

Why does Leo turn off noise reduction when recording audio?

Leo turns off noise reduction to record everything as it is, allowing for post-production editing if needed, which is a good creative discipline.

What is the purpose of enabling the 'Movie with Shutter' setting on the Sony a6400?

The 'Movie with Shutter' setting allows for easier recording start/stop using the top button in movie mode, instead of the small button on the side.

How does Leo customize the buttons on the Sony a6400 for quick access to settings?

Leo maps the custom keys to frequently used settings such as AF/MF toggle, focus magnifier, picture profile, and audio record level for quick access during shooting.

What feature does Leo use for zooming in on subjects without quality loss on the Sony a6400?

Leo uses the Clear Image Zoom feature, which crops into the sensor to provide a zoom with minimal quality loss.

What does Leo set the zebra level to when monitoring exposure?

Leo sets the zebra level to 100, which helps in identifying overexposed areas in the footage.

How does Leo utilize the function button on the Sony a6400 for quick access to settings?

Leo customizes the function button to quickly access settings like gamma display assist, among others, for efficient shooting.

Outlines

00:00

📸 Introduction to Sony a6400 Setup for Video

Leo from Creative Tech Lab introduces a tutorial on setting up the Sony a6400 camera for video shooting. He mentions that the video will be longer than usual and promises to provide timestamps for quick navigation. The focus is on video settings, especially for run-and-gun videography, interviews, travel videos, commercials, and cinematic b-roll shots. Leo emphasizes the importance of manual exposure control and discusses initial setup steps such as changing to manual mode and setting the file format to XAVC S4K at 24 frames per second with 100 Mbps for high-quality video recording.

05:01

🔧 Customizing Autofocus and Audio Settings

The script proceeds with customizing autofocus settings for responsive tracking during dynamic shooting scenarios like travel vlogging. It also covers audio setup, recommending lowering the audio recording level to 7 when using an external microphone and turning on the audio level display for live monitoring. Noise reduction is suggested to be turned off to capture all audio for post-production editing. Additionally, the tutorial explains how to use the movie shutter button for ease of recording and how to navigate through the camera's menu system for optimal setup.

10:01

🛠 Advanced Custom Key Mapping for Efficient Shooting

Leo dives into the customization of the Sony a6400's custom keys to streamline the shooting process. He details the mapping of specific functions to physical buttons on the camera for quick access. This includes setting the top button for AF/MF toggle, using a button for focus magnifier, and assigning the trash button to adjust white balance. Dial buttons are programmed for picture profile selection and ISO control, while a custom button is set for quick audio level adjustment. The tutorial also highlights the use of the function button for quick access to frequently used settings like gamma display and interval shooting.

🎥 Final Touches and Community Engagement

In the concluding part of the script, Leo wraps up the camera setup tutorial by mapping the custom button for the Clear Image Zoom feature, which is particularly useful for getting closer to subjects without quality loss. He also suggests potential mappings for a cross stop button if available. Leo encourages viewers to like, share, and subscribe to the channel for more Sony alpha camera content and other creative disciplines. The video ends with a thank you note and a sign-off, promising more content in the future.

Keywords

💡Sony a 6400

The Sony a 6400 is an APS-C camera that is the focus of the video. It is highlighted as the speaker's favorite for various video projects. The camera is set up for video recording with a focus on high-quality settings, making it central to the video's theme of videography setup.

💡run-and-gun videography

Run-and-gun videography refers to a style of filming that is fast-paced and flexible, often used in documentary or journalistic contexts. In the video, the speaker mentions this style as something frequently discussed on their channel, indicating the practical, on-the-go nature of the video content.

💡Talking Heads

Talking Heads is a term used in film and video to describe shots of people speaking directly to the camera. The speaker mentions using the Sony a 6400 for this type of video, which involves capturing interviews and other direct address footage.

💡frame rate

Frame rate is the frequency at which consecutive images called frames appear on a display, and it is a critical aspect of video quality. The script discusses setting the camera to 24 frames per second for a cinematic look, and other frame rates like 120p for slow-motion effects.

💡XAVC S4K

XAVC S4K is a file format used for high-quality video recording. The speaker opts for this format at 100 megabits per second to ensure the highest quality video file for post-production, emphasizing the importance of quality in videography.

💡auto focus

Auto focus is a camera feature that automatically sets the focus for a clear image. The video discusses setting the drive speed to 'fast' and 'tracking sensor' to 'responsive' for dynamic shooting scenarios, showcasing the camera's capability to keep moving subjects in focus.

💡external microphone

An external microphone is a device used to capture audio separately from the camera's built-in mic for better sound quality. The script mentions setting the audio recording level to 7 when using an external mic, indicating the importance of balancing audio levels for high-quality sound in video production.

💡zebra display

Zebra display is a feature on cameras that shows stripes on overexposed parts of an image, helping to achieve proper exposure. The speaker sets the zebra level to 100, which helps in identifying and avoiding overexposure during filming.

💡custom keys

Custom keys on a camera allow users to assign specific functions to buttons for quick access. The video emphasizes the importance of setting up custom keys for efficient control over camera settings, particularly for video recording.

💡picture profile

A picture profile is a set of predefined parameters that affect the look of the video, such as contrast and color. The script discusses changing the picture profile based on the shooting conditions, such as switching to HLG for high luminance scenes or S-Log for greater dynamic range.

💡clear image zoom

Clear image zoom is a feature that allows for digital zoom without significant loss of image quality. The speaker maps this feature to a custom button for quick zooming capabilities, demonstrating a practical use of the camera's functionality in various shooting situations.

Highlights

Introduction of Creative Tech Lab and the host, Leo, discussing the Sony A6400 as his favorite APS-C camera.

Leo mentions that the video will cover video settings for the Sony A6400, emphasizing the importance of run-and-gun videography.

Resetting the camera to factory settings to start the setup process from scratch.

Setting the camera to manual mode for full control over exposure settings like aperture, ISO, and shutter speed.

Changing file format to XAVCS 4K and setting the frame rate to 24 frames per second for most talking and live-action shots.

Configuring autofocus settings, including drive speed to fast and tracking sensitivity to responsive for dynamic shooting scenarios.

Adjusting audio recording settings, including setting audio record level to 7 and enabling audio level display for monitoring.

Turning off noise reduction to capture everything in detail and performing noise reduction in post-processing if needed.

Enabling 'movie with shutter' to start recording using the shutter button, making it easier to begin filming.

Setting zoom to 'clear image zoom' for a high-quality digital zoom with minimal quality loss.

Turning on zebra display with zebra level set to 100 to monitor exposure and avoid overexposure.

Using grid lines (diagonal and square) for better shot composition beyond the basic rule of thirds.

Customizing camera keys to optimize for video settings, including setting buttons for AF/MF toggle, focus magnifier, and white balance.

Mapping the dial buttons to frequently used functions like picture profile and ISO for quick adjustments.

Using the function (FN) button for quick access to interval shooting, gamma display assist, and other essential functions.

Leo emphasizes the importance of custom keys to avoid navigating the complex Sony menu system during shoots.

Encouragement to like, share, and subscribe if the video was helpful, with a promise of more content on Sony cameras and creative disciplines.

Transcripts

what is going on people they're here

from creative tech lab today we're here

to talk about this amazing thing right

here the Sony a 64 hundred my favorite

aps-c camera we're gonna talk home to

set up video settings so let's get into

it first and foremost welcome this is

creative tech lab my name is Leo nice to

see your face well not really see your

face cuz I can't really see you but I

imagine that you are a beautiful person

on that side for clicking on this video

I appreciate it talk a lot about

run-and-gun videography here on the

channel so if you enter that kind of

thing stick around anyway it's only 8

6400 you took it out of the box you're

ready to set it up but you're not

exactly sure how to set it up that's

what we're gonna talk about here

primarily I'm gonna talk about my video

settings I primarily use my cameras to

shoot video and a little bit of stills

but I shoot a lot of Talking Heads stuff

like this interviews travel videos some

small commercial work as well as those

cinematic b-roll shots where you're

moving the camera all over the place and

that's what I have my camera mainly

setup for if you're into any of those

kind of things and I think you'll like

this video so let's get into it

but one thing Before we jump straight

into the settings and everything that we

have here I do want to say in the

interest of time this video will be a

little bit longer so I'm gonna try and

go as fast as possible if you feel like

I went through something too fast I'll

drop timestamps with a little bit more

details down at the bottom so you can

skip ahead or skip back if you need to

as we go along ok cool so I reset the

camera so I'm setting it up like I'm

setting it up for the first time so

let's jump into things here so the first

thing that we want to do is we want to

set the camera to move him over because

the things that we're doing are based on

video so we want to have the camera set

up in the mode for the doubts that we're

doing first thing we want to go here

you're gonna hit menu and we're going to

go to the second folder and we're going

to go to exposure mode and we are going

to change that to manual because we want

full control over our exposure settings

in terms of our aperture ISO on our lot

we want to control that so set to manual

next we're gonna come down here and I'm

going to set up my frame rates so the

first thing to do there is go into file

format and I'm going to go to X a VCS 4k

because the main thing that I do there

is 4k and then 24 frames per second but

I'm gonna change that so 100 megabits

per second because I want the highest

quality file so that we could

collaborate it when it is that we're

getting into things 24 frames per second

is my main frame rate anything that I'm

shooting that has talking or that's

supposed to show live-action issued at

24 frames per second for me I do utilize

other frame rates for b-roll like 120 P

60 p whatever we're getting to how to

switch in between frame rates after it

is that we set up all the video custom

buttons there so next page has a lot of

our auto focus stuff that I want to

change here I have my drive speed set to

fast and I have the tracking sensor set

the responsive now that's just how I

have mine set up there on auto focus

typically when I'm gonna auto focus

scenario I might be moving the camera

around travel videos when you're

vlogging or when you're saying stuff and

you're out and about and you're whipping

the camera around you want it to move

fast one note I want to make though

there if you are using auto focus I say

to pull focus like you would with the

touch sensitivity or whatever you

wouldn't want to change those settings

to either be standard or you might want

the speed to move a little bit slower

than having it being fast and responsive

so that's something to play around with

their audio recording on audio record

level we're gonna bump that down to

seven seven is a good spot to have when

you're using an external microphone I

utilize the smaller microphones either

from Road or mobile link up here to a

video that I did comparing those two

microphones if you want to see that but

that's where I have it set there and

then on the next page we have audio

level display we set that to on there so

that we could see the meters when the

camera is recording so you could see if

you need to turn it up or turn it on if

you're peaking or if your audio level is

too low when noise reduction we have set

to off I want the camera to record

everything that

and then if I need to cut something our

aim post I go ahead and do that that's

just true of anything when you recording

you want to record everything and then

if you need to cut something out you

could do it that's just good creative

discipline there then let's see here

movie with shutter we're gonna set that

to on that allows you to use this top

button here to start recording when

you're in movie mode rather than having

to fight to press this small button here

on the side which you always miss if

you've never set up that camera before

you miss it more times than off and so

movie with shutter they are super

helpful not couple pages over so we get

to page five there the next thing we're

going to change is zoom settings so we

are going to change that to clear image

zoom this is one of the most useful Sony

features on the sony alpha line of

cameras what it does is it crops into

the sensor and pretty much gives you a

zoom with little to no quality loss I

did a full video on it up here if you

want to check it out but basically it

gives you way more than whatever your

actual focal length is my next page over

we're gonna talk about our zebra

settings I have my zebra display on so I

can see when I'm peaking and I have my

zebra level set to 100 you can kind of

play around this in between 95 and 100

is a good place to be to see if it is

that you were hoping it kind of depends

on what picture profile you're using in

terms of dynamic range in the situation

that you're in but 100 is a good spot

for me but like I said between 95 and

100 is a good spot to be there on the

zebra levels gridlines we're going to

set that to on I have mine set to a

diagonal and square grid and what that

enables is just instead of just a basic

rule of thirds with the diagonal lines

and the square grid it kind of give you

a couple of different more points in

terms of composing a shot composition is

still something that I am working on

every single day to get better if it is

that you just like rule of thirds that's

completely fine as well too but I do

like the grid lines being on there so

you could see the different lines of

intersection on the screen where you

want to compose a shot there

alright so scroll over to page 8 here we

get to custom keys this is where the

camera comes to life this is the me

and potatoes of this video see when

you're doing your research before you

bought your camera you've probably heard

a lot about how bad the Sony menu system

was it's not a hundred percent wrong

it's a little bit overblown however once

it is that you set up your custom keys

and you map a button for everything that

you use frequently you won't have to

spend time fumbling and bumbling around

in the menu system because you have a

button for everything so buttons that we

do have here on the camera we have a

custom button up here see one we have

the trash button with this C - these

three buttons on the dial are

programmable we can also do this one

right here two times you depending on

whether you toggle it up or down and as

well as this middle button here so let's

set that up here and then we'll show you

how we have mine set up for video one

thing I do want to make clear though I'm

mainly setting this up for video so my

custom keys follow for both photo and

video however if you're a true hybrid

shooter and you're doing things

completely different on the photo side

and you're on the video then you would

want to set this up in just the video

settings and then set a different custom

keys map for your photo settings but

this is how I have mine set up here so

the first thing we're going to go into

here we're gonna scroll over to page 4

and we're gonna change the top button

here to af/mf toggle that enables me to

toggle on and off my autofocus there

sometimes you really need to nail focus

and you can't depend on the autofocus

just a quick way to just toggle it off

there the next thing we're gonna have

here is the second button I'm going to

come in here and scroll over to page 13

and change up to the focus magnifier

when it is that I am really trying to

nail focus instead of using focus

speaking assists or something like that

I just use the magnifier to dial in on

what it is that I'm looking at set my

focus dial back out and then we have a

good look at what I'm doing there so

those two things because I use them a

lot map to key buttons there and then C

2 which is the trash button is set to

right balance that's how it comes we

don't need to change that their white

balance is really important I use auto

white balance a lot when it is that I'm

vlogging

but when it is that I really need to

dine into something and I'm looking at

something where the scene isn't changing

too much

make sure you nail your white balance it

will completely change your footage to

get the right balance nailed in just

perfectly next there is the buttons on

the dial that we said there so the doll

itself is already set to change the

Sutter shutter when he gives that you

turn it however we're gonna go to the

left one first gonna skip the first one

and go to the left one first I have that

scroll over to page 9 I have that set to

picture profile because dependent on my

seat when I'm out running and gunning if

it changes and it's too contrasty I

might want to change my picture profile

hlg is my favorite picture proton is a

lot that's what I'm shooting right now

however if it's a scene that calls for a

lot of dynamic range I will switch to SL

on su or I also have couple different

custom profiles run from Joshi o for a

low light and another one from AOS HD or

at least somebody that was mimicking

that online to give you can on colors so

I do play around a lot with different

picture profiles depending on what

situation I'm in so that's map to this

middle button there and then the right

side of the dial that button is set to

is all stock we just leave that there

because we do need a button to control

our iso there so i'll leave that where

it is the bottom button there which is

bottom 4 we're gonna change that one

here we're gonna come over to page 12

and set that to audio record level like

we mentioned before we do have the meter

up on the screen there that display is

on so if you do see that you're peaking

or if the audio is coming in too low you

have a button here you could quickly

just change the audio settings there

depending on what you're recording

scroll one more page over in the last

button we have to set here is the main

button to see one button as a custom

button there we're gonna come here and

scroll over to page 17 and I'm gonna set

that to zoom declare image zoom feature

that we set up before is set to that

button there so as I mentioned sig Sigma

16 millimeter awesome lens fix lens is

the lens I have on the camera most of

the time if I do need to punch in on

something or zoom in on something I

could just hit this button right here

and zoom up to 1.5 times in 4k or two

times in HD super super helpful there so

that's mapped to this button and then if

you come out here and you look

the fourth page you will see that there

is one more thing to map onto a cross

stop button if you did have one of those

custom buttons on the lens I don't have

any aps-c lenses that actually have a

custom button there so right now except

the for cross hold but if I did have if

I do eventually get a lens that fits

onto this camera maybe I'll change it to

something else all right one more thing

we do want to change the few things in

the function button so when you press

the FN button right here it pulls up

this little screen and it's another

quick way to get to some things some of

the things are a little bit redundant

however I'm gonna change my interval

shooting here where the ISO was cuz I

always have ISO right here I don't need

it right balance I don't need what I'm

gonna change that to gamma display

assist already have there and everything

else there is what you need it to be and

whoa so that was a lot but that is it

hopefully this was not too long

hopefully you gained something from this

video at least it should have given you

some insight on how to set up your

camera for video if this video helps you

in any way shape or form please go ahead

drop it a like share which is other sony

alpha friends as that helps us out a lot

here on the channel and enable us to

make more content hit the subscribe

button hit the notification button if

you're into Sony cameras is already a

bunch of videos on the a 6400 with a lot

more to come as well as other Sony

cameras as well and other disciplines so

if you're into creativity just as a

whole it is the place you want to be I

want to thank you for rockin with me for

this long and I will see you in the next

video peace

[Music]