{"id":96107,"date":"2017-10-31T06:00:49","date_gmt":"2017-10-31T11:00:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/?p=96107"},"modified":"2017-10-24T11:54:21","modified_gmt":"2017-10-24T16:54:21","slug":"tips-long-form-dslr-recording","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/tips-long-form-dslr-recording\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Tips for Recording Long-Form DSLR Productions"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/b>It\u2019s doable, but it’s certainly not easy to record cinematic, long-form productions with DSLR cameras.<\/h2>\n

Cover image via Shutterstock<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

If we could go back in time and speak with Joe DSLR (or whoever it was who invented the digital single-lens reflex camera<\/a>) about his decision, I can pretty much guarantee he would not mention long-form video recording as one of his main goals.<\/p>\n

DSLRs (and many other mirrorless and digital cameras) are marvels of video capture technology, but they’re not really meant to record for long periods on end. For most long-form needs, you\u2019ll need to look for cheaper camcorder options<\/a>\u00a0or a few higher-end options<\/a>.<\/p>\n

However, for those looking to use their trusty prosumers (like a Canon 5D or comparable) to record long-form content, here are some ways to trick ol\u2019 Joe DSLR into helping you get the job done.<\/p>\n

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1. Maximize Recording Capabilities<\/h3>\n

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\n<\/a>Image via Shutterstock<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

If you’re familiar with Canon DSLRs, you may assume that the maximum recording capabilities for your camera are 30 mins (or 25 minutes and 59 seconds) if you look at your manual. However, this is and isn’t<\/em> true in a couple of ways. Yes, that’s the max time built into the camera, but if you just turn your camera on and hit record, you’ll find that your camera does a couple of things differently \u2014 and probably maxes out its recording at around 12 minutes.<\/p>\n

There are a couple of reasons for this. The biggest hindrance is that most Canon DSLRs can only record 4gb files at a time.\u00a0(Newer cameras won’t stop recording at this point \u2014 they’ll simply create a new file.)\u00a0This\u00a0is assuming that your camera sensor doesn’t overheat. Other factors like card speed and battery life\u00a0come into play as well. So what does that mean for maximizing your capabilities?<\/p>\n

To truly push your camera as far as it can go, you can do a few things. One is\u00a0reduce your recording quality\u00a0as much as you can (even down into SD). This will save the most in terms of card writing speed, memory, and battery life. You can also use add-on items like battery packs<\/a>, or even directly power your camera through an AC adapter<\/a>. It should also go without saying that you should be using the fastest card possible<\/a>.<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0 Hack It with Magic\u00a0Lantern<\/h3>\n