These are the settings for Sony Alpha Cameras but there are equivalents in other cameras. Some are applicable regardless of the cameras used.
Camera settings:
- 4K 60fps
- Record in File Format XAVC HS 4K (H.265)
- Movie Settings -> Record Setting -> 150M 4:2:0 10bit
- Lens aperture at f/2.8 (or widest for your lens)
- Shutter speed 1/120 or higher (can increase if too bright)
- ISO 100 (can increase if exposure is too dark)
- White Balance Color temperature set to values depending on the lighting situation.
If indoor or night time and they use runway warm yellow lights then most likely 3200K
If day time outdoor, then most likely 5600K (but depends on the time of day, the sunlight color is different, then adjust accordingly)
In general, don't use auto white balance because most shows have a LED wall as the backdrop and the changing in color of the LED wall will confuse the camera.
- Focus mode set at AF-C (auto focus continuous)
- Focus area set to Wide (important)
- AF Transition Speed set to 4 (important) The range is 1-7. 4 is in the middle so the auto focus transition from model to model will be smooth, not too slow (if at 1) or fast (if at 7).
- AF Subj Shift Sensitivity set to 3 (important) The range is 1-5. 3 is middle so the auto focus won't shift to focus another face too quickly (if high at 5) or too slowly (low at 1)
- Auto focus real time face detection & eye auto focus turned on. (important)
- Image stabilization turned on as there may be small shakes on the media riser.
- Picture Profile (PP) set to OFF.
- Creative Style set to Standard
- Auto Power Off Temperature set to High (so it won't shut off prematurely) ** very important **
Please save the settings to a camera memory slot so you can reset it when necessary if anything got changed by accident. Also check the settings when setting things up daily.
Sometimes there are rehearsals and they turn on the runway lights, check white balance & exposure to see if it looks right for the model (* important *), not the environment or audience. During idle time, usually the runway lights are not turned on, only the ambient lights are turned on. So the exposure & white balance settings you set based on the ambient lights will be incorrect for the actual shoot. Make sure you set the exposure & white balance according to the runway lights, not ambient lights. There are runway lights above the riser, so just look up and see if the runway lights are on or off. Again, if unsure, just check with a house photographer/videographer or ask other photographers/videographers.
Please bring at least 2 x 128GB SD cards or equivalent. And additional card(s) for backup.
Please bring multiple batteries for the shoot fully charged.