Interchangeable lens camera is the way to go! Let’s take your videos to the next level!
Take a look at the advantages, recommended shooting scenes and interchangeable lenses!

To shoot videos, many people use their smartphones or a dedicated video cameras. The advantage of using interchangeable lens camera over smartphones and dedicated video cameras is users can enjoy assembling various interchangeable lenses and accessories. If you want to take your video to the next level, there is no reason not to take advantage of SLR cameras. In this article, we will describe some advantages of shooting videos using an interchangeable lens camera, and also introduce you to some recommended shooting scenes and the best lenses.

Interchangeable lens cameras may give a stronger impression of being designed for only taking still images, but they can also be used for shooing videos. Interchangeable lens cameras have a video mode. Switching to this mode allows you to easily record video with high image quality. If you configure detailed settings on the interchangeable lens camera body and make use of interchangeable lenses, filters, microphones and other accessories, you can even record high-quality video at a professional level. You could say that an interchangeable lens camera is the ideal piece of equipment for shooting videos with a focus on image quality.

However, some older models of cameras may be limited to maximum video recording time for around 30 minutes. We would say to check the maximum recording time of your camera before you start to shoot videos because these cameras may not be suited to shooting videos for an extended period of time.

The biggest advantage of interchangeable lens cameras is that users can enjoy the extensive range of lenses, accessories and other equipment available and these enable users to build a more serious shooting system. Here we introduce five advantages of shooting videos with an interchangeable lens camera.

One advantage of shooting videos with an interchangeable lens camera is to enable to build a serious shooting system. Interchangeable lens cameras have a wide range of high-performance accessories available such as filters, to gimbal stabilizers and microphones in addition to lenses. You will be able to achieve diverse and authentic video expressions by utilizing interchangeable lenses and filters according to your shooting scenes.

You can enjoy shooting smooth videos by attaching a gimbal or stabilizing equipment to your interchangeable lens camera. And with an external microphone, you will be able to record sound with high audio quality. This gives your videos more realistic feeling.

A wide range of lenses from primes to zooms are available for interchangeable lens cameras. With a zoom lens, you can shoot while flexibly shifting the angle of view from wide angle to telephoto. One of the benefits of an interchangeable lens camera is to enable to achieve a wide range of expressions by switching lenses depending on the scene you are shooting.

One of the greatest features of an interchangeable lens camera is to enable to express beautiful bokeh using fast aperture lenses. Blurring the background can make the subject stand out more. One advantage of shooting by interchangeable lenses is to enable to achieve cinematic expressions which is difficult to achieve by shooting with a smartphone or a video camera.

You can configure settings such as aperture, frame rate and ISO to your preference when using interchangeable lens cameras. Detailed expressions can be arranged by selecting a small F-number value (fast aperture) for increased bokeh, or by adjusting the white balance based on the shooting environment. Additionally, using data formats such as RAW and Log can also unleash a range of video expressions.

The ease of shooting in dark locations is another advantage to using an interchangeable lens camera. As interchangeable lens cameras are equipped with larger image sensors than those in smartphones or video cameras, you can record brighter video even in darker locations. As interchangeable lens cameras also have a wide dynamic range, the contrast between light and dark is smoothed out. Interchangeable lens cameras also enable to shoot videos that look closer to how they look.

Using an interchangeable lens camera, you will be able to take your video shooting to the next level, that is not possible to achieve expressions with smartphones or video cameras. Here we will introduce some recommended video scenes to shoot using an interchangeable lens camera.

An interchangeable lens camera is the ideal recording equipment for recording videos like cinematic video works. As you can record with high image quality using an interchangeable lens camera equipped with a large image sensor, you will be able to improve the quality of your video. If you use frame rate settings to produce motion blur effects or use Log settings to shoot based on color expressions to be produced through color grading when editing your videos, you can attain even more cinematic feeling. You can also achieve cinematic video works with a large amount of bokeh by combining your interchangeable lens camera with fast aperture lenses.

An interchangeable lens camera is also great for vlogs and videos of everyday scenes. By utilizing background bokeh, you can create stylish and eye-catching vlogs. In addition, if you use an interchangeable lens camera for shooting everyday life scenes such as videos with a pet dog or cat, videos documenting the growth of a child or cooking, you can give an extra special feeling to your vlog images.

We also recommend using an interchangeable lens camera to shoot video of events such as weddings and anniversaries. When you are in a low-light indoor environment such as a wedding chapel, usually there might not be enough light to shoot video. Depending on the venue, there might also be restrictions on the use of flash photography or video lighting.

Even under these conditions, if you use an interchangeable lens camera, it will be easier to ensure proper exposure. In addition, as an interchangeable lens camera enable to shoot in night scenes and various situations from wide-angle to telephoto. And you will be able to capture important scenes that will become once-in-a-lifetime memories with beautiful details.

If you take an interchangeable lens camera with you on vacation, you will also be able to capture travel videos with high image quality. For example, if you use a wide-angle lens when shooting landscape videos, you will be able to capture dynamic landscapes. And videos featuring friends or loved ones as the main subjects, you can combine bokeh effects to create travel videos that have something special.

You can also utilize an interchangeable lens camera to shoot videos of sports activities. For example, when shooting children's sporting events, an all-in-one zoom lens will allow you to zoom in from a distance or zoom out to capture the whole scene. And since an all-in-one zoom lens allows you to shoot with a wide range of view angles from wide to telephoto ranges, you can create videos with lively and rhythmic feeling by adjusting the angle of views.

Additionally, by combining zoomed-in video and zoomed-out video in creative ways when editing your videos, you should be able to create more impactful videos. If you pick up these video editing skills, you will be able to get the most out of the benefits provided by an interchangeable lens camera.

Interchangeable lens cameras are also well suited to recording video for portraits and interviews. Bokeh expressions can also be produced using a smartphone or video camera. But clear, beautiful and natural bokeh is a unique advantage of fast aperture lenses. As you can shoot videos with bokeh by an interchangeable lens camera, you will be able to display the subject in a more impactful and direct way.

Lenses for interchangeable lens cameras come in many types. Let's take a look at some important points when choosing a lens for shooting video.

A lens with a large maximum aperture (small F-number value) is ideal when you want to shoot bright and beautiful video with bokeh. Lenses with small F-number values make it easier to take bright videos even in situations where it is difficult to gather a large amount of light under situations such as indoors, in the evening, or during cloudy weather.

The overall mood and impression that your video outcome is called “look.” Even lenses with similar performance can produce a different look across models due to differences in color expression, balance, contrast and how they render bokeh. For that reason, if you want to enjoy consistent look in terms of color reproduction, bokeh, tone and so on, whenever possible you should try to use lenses from the same manufacturer as it is more likely to have similar image reproduction ability.

When using a photographic lens, a phenomenon known as “focus breathing” can occur where the angle of view changes when the focus is adjusted. When using photographic lenses, Therefore, you should carry out tests in advance to thoroughly check how much the angle of view changes. As it is common to move the point of focus when shooting videos, we recommend choosing a lens with as little focus breathing as possible.

The phenomenon which the optical axis (the straight line connecting the center of the lens to the focus point) is out of alignment between the wide end and telephoto end of a zoom lens is referred to as “axis shift,” and the phenomenon which the focus point shifts out of alignment depending on the focal length (angle of view) is referred to as “focus shift.” When using a photographic zoom lens, zoom shift or focus shift may occur when you adjust the zoom position. That is why when choosing a lens,
you should check to what extent the image goes off the axis or out of focus when the zoom is adjusted.

AF is a handy feature that focuses on objects automatically, but the smoothness of how the focus is achieved and the performance in tracking moving objects can vary depending on which cameras and lenses are used. Therefore, you should check if your lens is able to smoothly focus on objects without hassle. In addition, an AF mechanism might make operating noises while it is working, so we recommend choosing a lens that provides less noise.

If you choose a lens equipped with a VC mechanism, it will be easier to capture smooth videos with minimal shaking. As camera shake tends to happen especially when shooting handheld or using a telephoto lens, having a lens with a built-in VC mechanism will allow you to shoot with stability.

As we often shoot videos outdoors, it is a good idea to choose a lens with a good Moisture-Resistant Construction. This will make it easier to deal with unexpected poor weather, and a wide range of conditions such as shooting near water or shooting pets.

Considering ease of use is another important factor when choosing a lens. Check factors such as AF/MF toggle, how smooth the focus ring will start to move under manual focus, and the smoothness when adjusting the focus ring and the zoom ring in full range.

When shooting videos, you may be moving around while carrying an interchangeable lens camera with a lens attached. If you have a lightweight and compact lens, you will be able to shoot videos with ease using a variety of angles and rich variations.

If you want to record high-quality videos, it is more useful to have features to support video recording not just in your camera body but also on the lens as well. TAMRON Lens Utility is a tool that provides support for serious video recording with interchangeable lens cameras. For example, the features of the TAMRON Lens Utility are utilized to the fullest extent in the short film Findley. This is short film using various image expression technics with the TAMRON Lens Utility.

For the last part of this article, we would like to introduce the features and functions available with “TAMRON Lens Utility”.

TAMRON Lens Utility is software provided by TAMRON. By connecting a lens equipped with a connector port to a computer or smartphone, you can customize the lens, run firmware updates and more. TAMRON Lens Utility is also packed with functions to conduct serious video shoots efficiently.

The A-B Focus is a function that can shift the focus (guide the point of interest) from A to B. at a desired speed. This allows you to shift back and forth between two preset focus points. Using this function, you can capture the type of footage that is often used in the moviemaking field, such as shifting the focus between a subject in the background to one in the foreground to guide the viewers where to look.

The Focus Preset function lets you save a preset focus point and shift the focus to it with one simple operation... As with the A-B Focus, this lets you shift focus from the foreground to the background smoothly. Or intentionally defocusing on the subject, lets you produce an expression similar to a scene transition in a drama.

One example of using this function is that the Focus Limiter function prevents the lens from focusing on an obstruction if there are objects in front of the desired subject. Limiting the focus range to within a certain distant range ensures that you can quickly bring into focus on the desired subject even if you lose focus while tracking.

The MF Method is a function that lets you adjust how the focus moves when shooting in MF (Manual Focus). You can choose from “Non-Linear,” where the amount of focal point movement changes based on how fast you rotate the Focus Ring, and “Linear,” where the focal point moves based on how much you rotate the Focus Ring. Use “Linear” when you need to focus as intended while shooting videos. When shooting in a cinematic style that requires more detailed focusing adjustments, you can use 270°, or set something like 180° rotation angle for video-like shooting.

“Select AF/MF” is a function that lets you use the focus set button to switch between AF and MF even though you have a lens that doesn’t have a dedicated AF/MF toggle switch on it.

As there are various lens and accessories available for interchangeable lens cameras, you can shoot videos with a wide range of expressions. You can easily shoot cinematic videos, vlogs and scenes of daily life utilizing bokeh effects. One of advantages of using an interchangeable lens camera enables to build a serious shooting system that cannot be achieved with a smartphone or video camera. Try shooting videos utilizing the unique qualities of interchangeable lens cameras with a combination of the best lenses and accessories.