Sony Alpha a6000 Camera¶
We have purchased four Sony a6000 cameras for use in the course. These have many features, so the following notes may help you configure it for your needs. Each camera kit includes a Blackmagic HDMI interface for capturing video on a laptop or previewing captures in Dragonframe.
We have a copy of the full manuals on the Manuals and Datasheets page for a detailed reference on the specific camera. Please see Suzie’s slides for a discussion of photography.
Contents
Recommended a6000 Setup for Video¶
Here is a list of all settings to adjust starting from a new out-of-the-box configuration. This will set up the camera for normal live shooting; remote shooting with Dragonframe is slightly different.
| Camera menu/1/File Format | XAVC S for highest quality video |
| Camera menu/2/Record Setting | 30p 50M or other 50Mbit setting for highest quality video |
| Gear menu/3/Pre-AF | On: continuously adjust focus; Off: only focus when shutter is halfway depressed |
| Gear menu/3/Peaking Level | High to enable focus indicator lines |
| Gear menu/3/Peaking Color | Yellow for more visible focus indicator lines |
| Gear menu/3/Release w/o lens | Enable to use Rokinon 12mm |
| WiFi menu/1/Airplane Mode | On to disable WiFi |
| Toolbox menu/1/Audio signals | Off to disable beeping sounds |
| Toolbox menu/3/Remote Ctrl | leave Off; this is for the RMT-0 Wireless Remote |
| Toolbox menu/3/HDMI Resolution | 1080i works with the Blackmagic UltraStudio Mini |
| Toolbox menu/3/CTRL for HDMI | leave Off; this is for using a Bravia TV remote control |
| Toolbox menu/3/HDMI Info. Display | Off for clean HDMI output (the camera LCD will show the menus instead) |
| Toolbox menu/4/USB Connection | PC Remote |
| Toolbox menu/4/USB LUN Setting | Single |
| Toolbox menu/4/Date/Time Setup | set to local time |
| Toolbox menu/4/Area Setting | set time zone |
| Toolbox menu/5/Format | to prepare a new SD card with a Sony database |
Blackmagic Ultra Mini Recorder Setup¶
These are small interfaces for importing HDMI video via Thunderbolt into a computer. We will use these for high-quality ProRes video capture using a clean HDMI output from the camera.
Be sure to run the Blackmagic Desktop Video Utility.app and
- set the input to HDMI instead of the default SDI.
- leave 1080PsF On (Progressive Segmented Frame)
- set the camera to 1080i (see previous section)
Recommended a6000 Setup for Stop Motion¶
Shooting stop-motion with Dragonframe involves both live HDMI video preview and still frame photography. Many of the global setting are the same as for live video, but please follow this checklist to set up for stop-motion:
Stop-Motion a6000 Settings¶
- Exposure. Set the mode dial to M (Manual Exposure).
- ISO (sensor sensitivity). See Menu - Camera Settings - ISO. For best (low noise) results set this between 100-200.
- Shutter Speed. Turn the wheel on the back of the camera. For best results set this between 1/10 of a second to 2 seconds.
- Aperture. Hold the AEL button while turning the wheel. Set the f-stop to what creates your desired depth of field. Lower numbers create shallower DOF, higher numbers create wider DOF. This determines what the camera is able to focus on.
- White Balance. See Camera - Settings - White Balance, Set the White Bal. Use a white reference card to define neutral color.
- Focus. See Menu - Camera Settings - Focus Mode, Set Focus to MF (Manual Focus).
- Aspect Ratio. See Menu - Camera Settings - Aspect Ratio, Set Aspect Ratio to 16:9.
- Image Size. See Menu - Camera Settings - Image Size, set Image Size to S (3008x1688 pixels), M (4240x2400 pixels), or L (6000x4000 pixels). All of these are larger than HD 1080p video but the larger image size will allow for more flexibility in post-production.
- Quality. See Menu - Camera Settings - Quality. Set quality to either JPEG Fine or RAW & JPEG Fine.
- Color Space. See Menu - Camera Settings - Color Space. Set this to SRGB.
- USB Connection. See a6000 Toolbox/4 menu, set Connection to PC Remote and LUN Setting to Single.
- HDMI Resolution. See a6000 Toolbox/3 menu, should be set to 1080i.
- HDMI Info. Display. See a6000 Toolbox/3 menu, should be set to OFF.
Dragonframe a6000 Setup¶
After configuring the camera and Blackmagic interface as per the previous instructions, this checklist will guide you through setting up the camera with a computer to capture your scene:
- Use the AC power adapter for the a6000 camera. This must be installed prior to mounting.
- Mount the camera securely on a tripod.
- Close any other applications that might connect to your camera.
- For Mac OS X, Open Image Capture, select your a6000, then in pop up area in lower-left select Connection camera opens: No application.
- Connect the a6000 to the computer with a USB micro to USB cable. The USB and HDMI connectors are on the left side of the camera underneath a cover, with the HDMI on bottom and USB on top.
- Connect micro HDMI on a6000 to a Blackmagic UltraStudio Mini Recorder.
- Connect Thunderbolt cable from the Mini Recorder to a MacBook Pro.
- Use short strips of gaffer’s tape to secure the cables to the tripod with minimum strain on the camera connectors.
This is a synopsis of the basic vendor instructions which can be found on the Dragonframe support page for our Sony Alpha 6000 cameras.
Other considerations:
- Dragonframe is not able to control focus on the a6000 over USB; if you need to animate a focus pull, you’ll need to carefully plan manual refocusing during frame by frame capture.
- Dragonframe can transfer each full-resolution image over USB as it is captured and save on your laptop drive; no SD card should be necessary in the camera.
Troubleshooting the a6000 and Dragonframe¶
- If the preview doesn’t work, exit Dragonframe and run the Blackmagic Media Express utility to verify that HDMI input is functioning.
- If the preview appears black, try depressing the shutter button halfway to make sure the camera is in shooting mode.
- If Dragonframe cannot connect to the camera over USB, exit Dragonframe and try using the Image Capture utility to verify it is connecting.
- If Dragonframe repeatedly disconnects from the camera, make sure you are using a high-quality USB A to USB micro cable and have it securely gaffed to minimize strain on the connector. The micro-USB connector is delicate and prone to disconnection.
General Notes¶
- The camera needs to create a Sony database file on the SD card if the card hasn’t been used before in a Sony camera.
- Each camera comes with a 16-50mm f3.5-5.6 lens.
- We also have one Rokinon 12mm f/2.0 wide-angle all-manual prime lens: no autofocus, no aperture control.
- We also have one Sony 50mm f/1.8 telephoto prime lens. This can be fully automatic and has image stabilization.
Camera Kit Checklist¶
The cameras have been kitted into a box comprising a complete workstation. Please take a complete inventory whenever you check out a camera to verify nothing is missing, otherwise you may be charged for a deficiency.
- Ruggard Streak 25 Camera Case
- Sony A6000 Camera with installed SELP1650 Lens
- Sony NP-FW50 Battery
- Extreme Pro, 64GB, SD Card
- Lens Cover, Front of Lens
- Lens Cover, Back of Lens
- Camera Body Cover
- Camera Battery Charger with attached cable
- Blackmagic Design, UltraStudio Mini Recorder
- Thunderbolt Cable, Apple, 1.6ft, white
- HDMI Cable, 15ft, braided cover
- HDMI F to HDMI Micro M adapter
- 1TB External Hard Drive, USB 3.0, 7200 RPM
- USB 3.0 cable for external hard drive
- AC-PW20 camera power supply (connector fits into battery compartment)