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Overhead Flat Lay

Filming scenario for a top-down, overhead flat lay shot.

CHEAT SHEET

Image QualitY

Mode Dial

Movie Mode

File Format

XAVC S 4K

Record Setting

24p | 25p

Picture Profile

PP Off

Creative Style

Standard

DRO / Auto HDR

Lv5

Autofocus

Focus Mode

AF-C

Focus Area

Flexible Spot

Face Priority

Off

AF Speed

Normal

AF Tracking

Responsive

Touch Operation

Touch Focus

Exposure

Exposure Mode

Manual Exposure

Aperture

F5.6

ISO

100

Shutter Speed

1/50

White Balance

C.Temp. (5500K)

BRIGHTNESS

Darken (A)

Variable ND Filter

Darken  (B)

Raise Shutter Speed

Brighten (A)

Increase ISO

Brighten (B)

Key Light Intensity

Check Highlights

Zebras (55+ to 65+)
Step 1:

Image Quality

💎 These image quality settings will produce fantastic detail, color, and dynamic range without needing to color grade.
Mode Dial: Movie Mode

Rotate the Mode Dial to Movie Mode

File Format: XAVC S 4K

Set the File Format to XAVC S 4K

Record Setting: 24p | 25p

Set the Record Setting to:

  • 24p 100M in North America
  • 25p 100M outside of North America
Picture Profile: PPOFF

Set the Picture Profile to PPOFF

Creative Style: Standard

Set the Creative Style to Standard

Natural Look
🧙 If you prefer a more natural look or a better starting point for color grading, I recommend increasing saturation slightly while lowering contrast and sharpness.
  1. Set Contrast to -2
  2. Set Saturation to +1
  3. Set Sharpness to -1
DRO: Lv5
🧙 DRO/Auto HDR brightens the shadows and produces an image with more dynamic range.

Set DRO/Auto HDR to Lv5

Step 2:

Autofocus

🃏 These settings allow you to pinpoint focus by tapping on the LCD screen.
Focus Mode: AF-C

Set the Focus Mode to AF-C

Focus Area: Flexible Spot

Set the Focus Area to Flexible Spot

Face/Eye Priority: Off

Set Face/Eye Priority to Off

AF Drive Speed: Normal

Set the AF Drive Speed to Normal

AF Tracking: Responsive

Set the AF Tracking to Responsive

Touch Operation: Touch Focus
🧙 Touch Focus moves the focus box to wherever you tap the screen.
  1. Set the Touch Operation to Touch Focus
  2. Tap the screen to move the focus box
Step 3:

Exposure

🗺️ These settings produce enough sharpness (depth-of-field) for objects on a flat surface while maintaining a well-balanced exposure.
Exposure Mode: Manual

Set the Exposure Mode to Manual

Aperture: F5.6

Set the Aperture to the F5.6

ISO: 100

Set the ISO to 100

Shutter Speed: 1/50

Set the Shutter Speed to 1/50

White Balance: C.Temp. (5500K)
🧙 Most daylight-balanced LED video lights have a Kelvin temperature around 5500K.
  1. Set the White Balance to C.Temp.
  2. Adjust the temperature to 5500K or to the Kelvin of the key light
Better Color & Skin Tones
🧙 A custom white balance corrects any color shifts and produces an image with accurate colors and better-looking skin tones.
  1. Set the White Balance to Custom 1
  2. Highlight and select SET
  3. Aim the indicator at a white balance card (or something white) in the same spot where you (the subject) will be sitting or standing
  4. Capture and save the custom white balance
Step 4:

Brightness

🌓 Steps to make the image brighter or darker.
Too Bright: Darken the Image
Option A: Use a Variable ND Filter
🧙 Using a Variable ND Filter is best since it keeps the shutter speed fixed at 1/50 for natural motion blur.

Attach a Variable ND Filter and dial up the filter strength

Option B: Raise the Shutter Speed
🧙 Raising the shutter speed too much may introduce flickering with certain lights and make your movements look unnatural.

Raise the Shutter Speed to a higher value ( 1/60, 1/80, 1/100, etc.)

Too Dark: Brighten the Image
A: Raise the ISO
🧙 Raising the ISO will introduce noise (grain). However, it's the best option to evenly increase brightness in most cases.

Raise the ISO to a higher value ( 125, 160, 200, etc.)

B: Raise the Key Light Intensity
🧙 If you raise the key light intensity too much, the background may get darker due to the imbalance in light levels.

Increase the Intensity of the Key Light

Check Exposure: Zebras
🧙 Zebras can help you determine whether or not the highlights in the image are too bright (overexposed).
Zebra Display Button

Assign a Custom Key to Zebra Display

Zebra Level

Set the Zebra Level to:

  • Lower Limit: 65+ for light skin tones
  • Lower Limit: 60+ for medium skin tones
  • Lower Limit: 55+ for dark skin tones
Using Zebra Display
  1. Press the Zebra Display button to turn Zebras On
  2. Brighten or darken the exposure until you see faint zebra stripes in the brightest parts of the face (cheekbones, nose, forehead)