Zooms or Prime Lenses?
One of the questions that may come up for you when you move up to a dedicated video shooting camera like a DSLR or an MILC is that of lenses.
There used to be an assumption not too long ago that a Prime Lens (fixed focal length) was always going to be better than a Zoom Lens (variable focal length).
At that time it was true because making zoom lenses that were technically accurate was incredibly difficult both in design and manufacturing.
These days with modern technology it is a different story but like most things, it’s not all black and white!
For example I have a Sony ZV-E10 which came with a kit lens that ranges from 16mm to 50mm focal lengths and across that range it can produce very good results… BUT!
Because it is a kit lens and has to be produced cheaper, the maximum aperture (f3.5) can only be achieved at the 16mm focal length setting.
As soon as I zoom into say 23mm the aperture automatically adjusts to f4.5 or f5.0 and I cannot increase it meaning I have to add more light or increase the ISO.
Additionally if I shoot at certain focal lengths I get very slight aberration which is noticeable if floor and wall joins are visible at the edge of the frame.
As I say, it is not a bad lens but it is not a great one either!
So long story short, that pretty much sums up the whole zoom lens/fixed lens debate… it still comes down to what you are will to pay for!
Here’s a more considered take on the whole thing.
How Lens Focal Length Affects Your Storytelling
One of the first “tears before bedtime” moments I ran into once I armed myself with a fancy schmancy MILC camera for shooting was the subject of lenses.
When you are shooting with a smartphone that’s a subject never comes up!
Suddenly I had to wade my way through focal lengths, fields of view, crop factors, sensor sizes and all manner of technical wizzbangery!
It took a while but at least now I think I have at least some level of knowledge on the whole thing but would dare trying to explain it to another human!
So for the safety of everyone else, here’s a reasonably straightforward explanation of the whole lens shebang.
What’s New in Filmora 15.3.10 – Hue vs Saturation, AI Templates & More
So of course there is a recent update to Filmora because there is always a new update to Filmora!
Two things really stand out in this one which is covered in detail in the video below.
Those two things are the new color controls and the improved Portrait Cutout tool.
The color tools they have added are another step towards Filmora moving closer and closer towards giving fully pro color tools a run for their money.
Adding Hue vs. Saturation curves is a real game changer but the icing on the cake is the inclusion of a selection tool in the package.
That means you can select an exact color or color range and adjust only that in the tool, very cool!
The other one is the refinement of the Portrait Cutout tool which in itself is all well and good but!
It also shows that Filmora are still developing and working on their existing A.I toolset rather then just throwing them out their for marketing purposes then moving on to the next.
PowerDirector Single & Multi Trim Tutorial – Video Editing Basics
This is the latest in a series of revamped into tutorials CyberLink have been creating for PowerDirector over the past year.
Whilst these are all excellent videos the one hurdle you may (or may not) have to get over is the A.I. generated narration!
To me it’s kind cheesy but despite that the tutorials are solid!
This one covers the single and multi trim modules for cutting clips to your requirements.
I personally use these tools for rough cuts before I add clips to the timeline then use the regular methods for making final fine adjustments.
How to Copy and Paste Keyframe Attributes in PowerDirector
PowerDirector like most advanced video editing software, allows for you to copy and paste certain attributes from one clip or asset to another on the timeline.
This can be a great time saver under most circumstances but you really need to have a decent understanding of how it works and what some of the pitfalls may be.
As I said, it can be a great time saver but it is not strictly speaking a one size fits all action.
Here’s a look at it is action.
Your Video Files Are a Mess — Here’s the Fix
One of the key lessons I learned very early in my video editing journey was from a good friend of mine who was a pro video editor.
That lesson was that before you touched anything with your editing or added anything to the timeline you must always get your assets organized.
In fact at a pro Hollywood level the organization of assets including footage, audio, images and everything else being added is an exercise taking weeks not hours!
So even if your projects are quite simple, getting organized is a great investment in your own sanity!
The problem is no-one really tells you HOW to get organized, just that you “should” get organized.
So here’s a video from the guys at Movavi giving some pretty solid suggestions as to how you can do that.
Buying a Microphone for Filmmaking in 2026 – Buyers Guide
When I first started out shooting videos back in the day when dinosaurs roamed the earth, things in the audio department were pretty dire!
None of the known video editing software had any real ability to deal with audio in any meaningful way other than to increase or decrease the volume and even then there was no keyframing.
On top of that the selection of microphones ranged from affordable garbage to incredibly expensive pro level stuff.
There were absolutely no in between or mid range selections to be made!
These days it is a different story especially when it comes to microphones where you can choose from a vast range of capabilities and applications.
In fact right now the only real problem is working out which one is right for you.
I wrote a full article on the subject that you can read right HERE but in the meantime the video below covers the current state of things pretty well.
And just in case you were wondering, the microphone I am mainly using and have been for over a year now is the Hollyland Lark M2.
Film Lighting for Beginners
This is a continuation of the series from Bluelight Media that I have been posting in the Friday Roundup for the past few weeks.
The video this week covers lighting for beginners and this one more than the others tends to focus a little further towards the fully pro end of the spectrum.
In that sense a lot of the information is not necessarily directly applicable to our end of the market but the basics of lighting remain constant nonetheless.
My take on tutorials like this is that I may not necessarily use the techniques in my videos but I will certainly use the information to improve my own understanding and results.
A Beginner’s Guide to Mastering Keyframing in DaVinci Resolve – YouTube
When it comes to modern video editing software probably one of the most useful and powerful features that was introduced was that of keyframing.
This feature alone not only added a whole range of post production capabilities to any editors bag of tricks but also reduced the workload in doing so immeasurably.
Of course when it comes to keyframing and DaVinci Resolve, keyframing takes on a whole new level!
I use keyframing often in Resolve and I know I haven’t even scratched the surface in what I actually could do so here’s a video from Daniel Batal on the subject.
This is a deep, deep dive into keyframing and in particular how it now operates given recent updates to the user interface.
Key Takeaways
- The article explores the pros and cons of Zoom vs. Prime lenses for video shooting, noting modern technology has changed previous assumptions.
- It discusses the impact of lens focal length on storytelling and technical knowledge needed for video production.
- Filmora 15.3.10 introduces new color controls and an improved Portrait Cutout tool, enhancing its AI capabilities.
- PowerDirector offers tutorials on keyframe attributes and trimming clips, emphasizing their practical applications in editing.
- The article covers tips for organizing video files, selecting microphones, and basic lighting techniques for beginners.
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