Setting Video Exposure On Nikon D5100 (Low Light/Low Noise)

I've found this is the best way to set the exposure for video recording on the D5100; especially in low light situations. Obviously this is no substitute for having full control of manual exposure settings, such as on the Canon T2i/T3i, but it's sufficient enough for most amateurs.
The noise in the video would be even less with a suitable video editing program such as Sony Vegas, or Adobe, where you can adjust the rendering settings, contrast, et cetera. All of my videos are edited in WMM V6.0, which is very sub-standard, and creates mediocre quality on my published videos.

[@BuckRolly1]

Dude, you've saved my ass with these tutorials. As someone who hasn't got the time to read through an airplane manual of an instruction book to learn all this stuff due to family commitments/noisy kids, your videos are exemplary and invaluable. I'm going to be shooting a low budget feature with this actual camera in a few months and as such am expected to know my sh*t/have it together. Your instructions/tips have gotten me to the point where I'm finally comfortable with its operation. Thank you!

[@sniperrizzet]

great video. clear explanations. I really found this helpful especially since I've been struggling with the automated ISO adjustments in the past. Keep up the good work!

[@Limewan]

THANKS! I've looked around and seen many videos regarding this and yours is the only one that seems to actually show HOW to do it.

[@alphalegion1]

I was having a huge problem where my exposure was changing during my interviews but this tutorial fixed that problem. Many thanks!

[@olgathehandmaid]

Man I know you're not active on youtube anymore but these videos helped me so damn much with my Nikon; thank you so much. I got this old camera as a gift and I'm starting up a youtube channel and it should be more than perfect for everything we need but I didn't know the first thing about digital cameras and you gave me like a seminar on here. Thank so much

[@AzahanSafetyman]

I never thought of how important the AE lock is especially for self recording Thank you for sharing this

[@xpurplexify]

Awesome, thank you! my Nikon D5100 is arriving this week. So excited!!

[@CrossBeyond]

This is exactly what I was looking for, man! Thanks! I was shooting at a club a few nights ago and it was killing me how noisy the footage was. Now that I know my camera can do this I'm super stoked!

[@rohit.iyengar]

HOLY SHIT You're a genius!!! Why didn't I look for you before -.- I hated how the ISO kept changing during the video and tried almost everything in the settings to no avail. Thank you!!!

[@Prouisorsapientiae]

I'm glad my video was able to help you out!

[@vpvaiphei]

You are an eye opener. My shooting improved dramatically. Thank you many times.

[@batousan_]

Awesome video, huge, huge help. Well done!

[@RatownictwoPowiatuMieleckiego]

Thank you for directions ;) I bought D5100 and i didn't know what should I do to record great videos. You safe my life ;)

[@Prouisorsapientiae]

You're welcome! I'm glad the video was useful for you.

[@higherwrldsprodction2955]

thanks for the upload man. been messing around with the settings on my nikon D3100 and never thought of this.

[@robthebiff]

Thank you! This has been very useful information. Now it's a lot easier to get control of the video quality straight from the camera. Good channel, nice tutorial, keep up the good work!

[@PoppaD2987]

I don't really comment on videos but... I just got a D5100 for christmas today and seeing as my use for this camera will be primarily for footage, this video was a HUGE help! Thank you so much!! If you could post other videos like this (that give advide by providing your techniques) I would really appreciate it. Keep up the good work! Thanks again!

[@rogelechuga]

Great video man!!! Exactly what I looking for!!!

[@davidhermosilla6942]

Thanks! I am paying lots of attention to your instructions. By the way congrats on your other videos, They are inspiring! Cheers, Dave

[@cesaraugustop]

Excelent video, very useful. Precise with a wonderful explanation, thanks a lot.

[@tjbooify]

I can't wait to try this out! Thanks so much for making this video! I subscribed and will watch your other videos now. My d5100 is coming in the mail this week! :)

[@charliesquish]

Yes there is interest. Please consider making a lot more tutorials. As I have said before you have a great teaching style. I find all your videos very compelling. I look forward to learning about different aspects of the D5100 and it's settings settings. Thanks again so very much!

[@saberTip77]

Thank you so much for this tutorial! This was really helpful for a D5100 beginner like me!

[@ChristopherJManess]

I was having a problem with the ISO changing every time I moved, practically. I took your advice and found that I can isolate the ISO in Effects Mode as well, using this method. I set it to Silhouette, which gives a nice grainy look, then hit the AE-L/AF-L button and presto, fixed ISO. Thanks so much for the tip!

[@snsproaudio]

btw....this is a GREAT video for all D5100 users......Great Job. Very needed. This subject is NOT fully explained in the manual.

[@brunoradiotv]

Amazing videos about N5100. Thank you very much guy!

[@Prouisorsapientiae]

I'm glad you find them helpful! Thanks for the comment.

[@RyanAlexanderBloom]

I am glad I am not the only person who noticed this problem!! Thanks for figuring that out. I really HATED the exposure changing on me every time something moved in the frame. Now, I should be able to shoot semi-professionally with this p.o.s. video mode.

[@prftrlVARMi]

Well its been 10 year but you saved me bro. Thank you.

[@Allraj1]

Thanks for posting! This was exactly what I needed.

[@Prouisorsapientiae]

Allraj1 I'm glad you found it useful!

[@MrHookee]

Thanks bigtime! This is exactly what I was looking for as it pertains to filming with my d5100

[@Prouisorsapientiae]

Stephen Hooke You're welcome!

[@katiross]

Thank You for your awesome helpful videos!!!

[@Prouisorsapientiae]

Kat Conway-Paul You're welcome, Kat. I'm glad you find them helpful!

[@Stormwatch153]

Thank you very much for the video that actually show how much control over the aperture and shutter speed you really have, it's a shame this video has so few views. Anyway Nikon D5100 can be controlled fully manually for desired video settings and in my forthcoming videos I will demonstrate different ISO and shutter speed settings, just to mention than when you get use to the manual control way for the D5100 it becames much more convinient than any other camera manual controls. GREAT JOB! Thanx!

[@videovarim]

Maybe you won't believe me, but YOUR video really helped me and all. I appreciate it. Thank you very much. Video Tutorial is awesome.

[@jcamiloo]

This video has been really helpfull. Thanks.

[@AbirChowdhury91]

Thanks for making this video mate, it's helped me out a LOT! ;)

[@Niners_red_N_gold]

Thanks for a great tutorial, exactly what I needed. I am new to slr's and recently got the d5100 after much debate between that and the t3i. From everything I have read Canon seems to be better for video and NIKON for photo detail, but glad there is a loophole to get better video from the NIKON especially in low light video settings. Thanks again!

[@ArtByFrank]

This was so useful and saved me on buying all sorts of lights. Thanks!

[@Prouisorsapientiae]

+Art By Frank You're welcome.

[@salwation711]

Great man! Ur viedeos helped me so much, i had a problem with noisy dark shots

[@ksoflyineer]

This is perfect!! Crazy without all these adjustments at default, my smartphone with its image stabilization has better video quality than my DSLR.

[@lazaroenrique11]

This is awesome! Thanks a lot for your help!

[@MestizoNegro]

Awww, someone allready comented what I was thinking. You are a genius! Thanks!

[@Prouisorsapientiae]

+Mestizo No problem!

[@mortalbloke]

thanks so much for this video. you clearly explained what i needed to know!! cheers!

[@Prouisorsapientiae]

Thanks, David! I'm glad you find my videos useful. I use Sony Vegas Movie Studio 11 to edit and render my videos (I now also use Sony Vegas Pro 12). I render to a .mp4 container using MainConcept codec, 25mbps MINIMUM, dual-pass variable bit rate, 4 reference frames, CABAC, and high profile. I hope this helps!

[@ToToTrashProd]

You made my day dude ! THANK YOU !

[@itsame32]

this is a really helpful video, thank you!!

[@Prouisorsapientiae]

Excellent! I'm glad the video helped you.

[@nurseeroc]

Dude,.....very nice. Thanks man.

[@DanSmedley1]

This helped massively, thanks!

[@DiegoDneo]

THank you for this video, i was really needin to understand this..

[@JumboBumper]

Thank you so much, you've really helped me with the Nikon D5100 Thank you!

[@Prouisorsapientiae]

***** You're welcome! I'm glad my video was useful for you.

[@tripitwild4853]

What I was looking for, thank you !!

[@Prouisorsapientiae]

Glad I could help!

[@pwnagespree]

Great tip. Thanks for posting.

[@inkeyes17]

This was driving me crazy. Thanks so much!

[@Prouisorsapientiae]

+Stevie No problem!

[@DJTECNINE]

Good tips. Works like you said.

[@bigImranAbbasfanMD]

Thnx that really helped n it was nice n clear explanation

[@TerryMcGearyScotland]

You are great at explaining things. I hope you are employed somewhere where that skill is required. Thanks again!

[@Prouisorsapientiae]

Do not manually zoom with your lens to get focus, or like you said, it will be out of focus when you zoom back out. Go into live view (viewing with the LCD screen), and zoom using the two buttons to the lower left of the directional buttons with pictures of a magnifying glass with a "+" for zooming in, and a "-" for zooming out. The little box on your LCD can be moved around to where you want to zoom. I hope this helps!

[@LivMoietco]

Thank you very much for this tutorial! Which settings would you recommend for youtube videos as podcasts or beauty videos? i just found Out that my videos were really clear (as i film in front of a window) and really unnatural. i'll try to adjust the light with the method you showed in this video hope it will work (Also sorry for my english i'm french) :)

[@josephgray3010]

thank you so much! this was extremely useful

[@leonieedel1752]

This was so helpful, thank you so much!

[@Prouisorsapientiae]

You're welcome!

[@gannongadogg]

Amazing this will help so much for my upcoming short film.

[@Prouisorsapientiae]

+gannongadogg Good luck!

[@mileswoodworth]

thanks! this was super helpful!

[@Prouisorsapientiae]

Seacoast Flash You're welcome!

[@Craigo5000]

Thanks for the tip! I can confirm this method also works in A and S priority modes on the Nikon D3100 too.

[@pickandstring]

awesome tips thank you so much!

[@GLAUCORILOFILMMAKER]

Excelente queridooooo, muchas gracias desde argentina!!!

[@ramblinrandal]

Thanks for the tip. It gives just enough control to actually shoot what I want.

[@Prouisorsapientiae]

I'm glad you found my videos useful! I would think with a couple of soft boxes and existing lighting, you should have plenty of light for the kit lens. You may even be able to get away with a lower ISO setting. If you can afford it, I would drop $200 on the Nikon 35mm f1.8G lens, as it would work perfect for what you want to do with it, and you'll get incredible images with it. Good luck!

[@Prouisorsapientiae]

That's cool to know this trick works on the other models as well!

[@sahikan]

Thank you, this was a great help to me

[@88samer88]

awesome tutorial thanks for the tips very helpful :)

[@20pearlsNcurls]

Would you happen to know what adjustments to make to be able to use the full LCD screen when in video mode? I thought that by changing from 1080p to 720p would fix it but I still have bars at the top and bottom. Thanks!

[@XpixelsTeam]

Thanks! Very useful tip!

[@radiologieseverin6429]

Great ideea! Thanks for upload.

[@Prouisorsapientiae]

Sorry, I just noticed your reply! I'm glad you find the information useful. I haven't used selective color too much, but I have used it before. Honestly, it's better to do the same effect in post, but I do plan on using it in the future to experiment. Maybe I will do a video on some of the in-camera effects for the D5100. I just used the "miniature effect" on a recent trip, and it turned out excellent, so maybe this could be a segue for a tutorial.

[@alex_koliada]

Wow, that's really useful! Thanks a lot!

[@MakeupbyIRMITA]

I really enjoy all the info since I just got this camera as a gift and I have no idea how to use it..

[@DelCampoProductions.]

Great! I want one for Christmas 2023

[@BlindBatProduction]

you are awesome thnaks soo much! helped me out big time!!!!!!!!! :)

[@javierignacio181]

man! thank you, great way of making it manual. when i have a result i will sent to you. greetings from chile

[@Prouisorsapientiae]

You're welcome! Oh man, Chile...I want to visit Patagonia some day. I've been to Peru, and it was incredible. I love South America!

[@20pearlsNcurls]

Thanks a bunch! You are MUCH appreciated!

[@saharvarona]

Ooooohhh thanks man!!!!!!! :D super helpful!

[@holyonfire]

Thanks! This was useful.

[@LuisNieves]

omg man!! GREAT VIDEO!!!!! THANK YOU!!!!

[@PhotohackLovers]

what do you recommend for bioluminescent water recording, im going kayaking in the glow in the dark water so what setting would work on my iphone xr and my nikon d5100

[@mymou]

@Prouisorsapientiae Thank You so much for checking the videos! I definitely think to buy a new light. And later another lens since I am a begginer I was thinking about the 18-135 and maybe alose the AFS 50 1.8mm. But since then I will definetly put an extra light in that kitchen of me. And lower my Iso while filming In the dark. Thank you again

[@Prouisorsapientiae]

The shutter speed and ISO are absolutely important to video!! Either the representative misunderstood what you were asking, or they were just blowing you off. Those two functions are what the camera uses to auto-adjust exposure.

[@tournews1]

Hi, I've started doing a lot of video work for my local musician friends. Its a real issue when the stage lighting is set up to focus on the singer and the rest of the group is in less light. Any recommendations on the best way to address that.. because I like to move the camera a little bit when a guitar player or keyboard player, etc. is doing a solo and obviously they're in a different level of light than the singer.

[@TheOttawaStrong1]

So incredibly helpful!! Just watched a handful of your vids and learned pretty much everything I needed and much much more! just got this camera to shoot makeup tutorials and weightlifting videos. can't wait to c the difference setting it up manually will make..as oposed to filming in "auto" with a couple soft boxes..would u recommend any other ISO for artificial light indoors or 1600 should fly?! thank u!

[@DocequeenCarlaGrazi]

Thank you for the video!

[@mikedoingmikethings702]

Awesome!!! Thank you Nikon 5100 Guru!!!

[@ivanriobla]

nice vid !

[@desichocha5102]

Amazing 👏👏👏

[@syabba]

thanks mate.. it is helpful..

[@HYFEEproductions]

really helpful, thanks a ton!

[@jag1870]

Thanks so much for this video!

[@Prouisorsapientiae]

You're welcome!

[@mroleg904]

great tip! thank you man!

[@Prouisorsapientiae]

+Alex Ragby No problem!

[@TheColosseumStudios]

Nice! Thanks for that!

[@nadyavlassoff5134]

I have a question about indoor lighting. We have a small budget and are considering using 500w quarts halogen lights. To get the same effect as your video where the light is very even, would you suggest a different set up?

[@Prouisorsapientiae]

No problem! I hope you are able to improve your videos beyond what you hope to accomplish. Thanks for the kind words and feedback!

[@bmm8085]

Excellent video! Clear and thorough explanations! Thank you for making this. I have a question, I'm a complete noob. I'm trying to film product reviews. Sometimes with apple background and sometimes on the table. I have a white background and a white ikea table. I used about 5 100W bulbs and clamp lights. There were still dark areas and shadows. Could this be due to my ISO setting? What would you recommend for me to fix this? Also what editting program is good? Adobe or Camtasia? Thanks again!

[@shakerstepsproductions7946]

This method, while a pain in the but, works great. I've done 100's of tests to confirm I am getting the setting I want by moving the camera around. I also use the exposure +/- button to adjust getting the lowest possible iso I can at 1/60. I've been battling keeping my d5100's vs getting a cam with full and easier control.

[@Prouisorsapientiae]

I'm glad it helped!