Nikon D3200 Video Settings: A Beginner's Guide

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The quick answer

For everyday Nikon D3200 video, start with 1920 x 1080 at 30p or 24p and set Movie quality to High. Use 720p at 60p when you want to slow footage down in editing. Choose automatic microphone sensitivity for a simple setup, or adjust it manually while watching the audio meter.

I personally chose 1080p at 24p in the tutorial. If you're comfortable controlling exposure, use M mode and enable Manual movie settings, but set your aperture before recording. Here's how to find each setting and decide when to change it.

Watch my complete Nikon D3200 video settings walkthrough.

My Nikon D3200 video settings at a glance

Setting	Starting point
Frame size and frame rate	1080p 30p for everyday video, or 1080p 24p for the look I prefer
Slow motion	720p 60p on an NTSC setting, then slow it in editing
Movie quality	High
Microphone	Auto for simplicity; manual sensitivity if you want to set levels
Manual movie settings	On in M mode when you want manual shutter and ISO control
Live view/movie AF-area mode	Face-priority AF for people; choose another area mode for the subject

These are starting points, not settings you need to use for every scene. Frame-rate options depend on the camera's video mode: the 30p and 60p options discussed in my tutorial are NTSC options. Check your camera's available PAL options if those aren't shown.

Where to find the D3200 movie settings

1. Turn on the camera and press MENU.
2. Open the Shooting menu, marked with a camera icon.
3. Scroll down to Movie settings and press OK.
4. Adjust Frame size/frame rate, Movie quality, Microphone and Manual movie settings.

To record, switch to live view, compose and focus, then press the movie-record button. For the settings I use for still photos, see my Nikon D3200 photo settings guide.

Choose frame size and frame rate

1080p 30p for everyday video

For a family trip, pets or a regular video you plan to play at normal speed, 1920 x 1080 at 30p is a good place to start. It gives you a smoother rendering of motion than 24p and keeps the camera's Full HD resolution.

1080p 24p for a filmmaking look

I chose 1920 x 1080 at 24p for the tutorial because I like the motion associated with a 24-frame workflow. It can look a little less smooth than 30p, especially with quick movement. Pick the frame rate that fits your project rather than treating either one as automatically better.

720p 60p for slow motion

For slow-motion footage, choose 1280 x 720 at 60p on an NTSC camera. The higher frame rate lets you slow the footage in your editor, but the tradeoff is lower resolution than 1080p. Switch back to 1080p when you're finished shooting slow motion.

On a 30p timeline, 60p footage played at half speed lasts twice as long; on a 24p timeline, it can play at about 40% speed. The camera records the higher-frame-rate footage first, and you create the slow motion in editing.

Set Movie quality to High

In Movie settings, choose High for Movie quality. That's my default when I want the best recording quality available in the selected mode. Higher-quality files take more space, so make sure your card has room.

Set microphone sensitivity

The D3200 has a 3.5mm external microphone input, so you can connect a compatible microphone instead of relying only on the built-in mic. The Microphone menu offers automatic sensitivity, manual sensitivity and microphone off.

• Auto sensitivity: a simple choice when you want the camera to adjust the level for you.
• Manual sensitivity: adjust the level while the subject speaks at the volume they'll actually use. I aim for a healthy level without hitting 0 dB or the red part of the meter.
• Microphone off: the camera records no audio. Use this only when you intentionally don't need it or are recording sound separately.

Do a short test and listen back before an important recording. There isn't one sensitivity number that works for every microphone, voice and distance.

Manual movie settings: what the D3200 actually controls

If you understand exposure and want more control, choose Manual movie settings: On and turn the mode dial to M. On this camera, that enables manual adjustment of shutter speed and ISO sensitivity in movie live view. If you'd rather let the camera handle exposure, leave Manual movie settings off and start with an automatic mode.

Set the aperture before recording. If you need to change it, exit live view, adjust it, then enter live view again before filming. Nikon also notes that with Manual movie settings on in M mode, movie ISO is fixed at the selected value even if Auto ISO sensitivity control is enabled. The available shutter speeds are limited by the chosen frame rate.

The tutorial describes adjusting aperture, shutter speed and ISO manually. The distinction above follows the Nikon D3200 reference manual, so you know what can actually be adjusted in live view.

Choose a live view autofocus area

In the Shooting menu, open AF-area mode, then choose Live view/movie. I usually choose Face-priority AF when filming people. The camera attempts to detect faces, but it won't track every face perfectly, so check focus before and during the shot.

• Face-priority AF: useful when a person's face is the subject.
• Wide-area AF: a larger movable focus area for a general subject.
• Normal-area AF: a smaller movable area when you want a more precise target.
• Subject-tracking AF: select a subject and let the camera attempt to follow it as it moves.

These choices set where the camera looks for focus. Focus mode also matters: AF-S focuses once when you initiate focus, AF-F attempts continuous focusing in live view, and manual focus puts you in control. Older DSLR live-view autofocus can hunt, so test your lens and subject; for a stationary shot, manual focus may be more predictable.

Frequently asked questions

Does the Nikon D3200 record 4K?

No. Its highest movie frame size is 1920 x 1080 Full HD. For the 60p option in my tutorial, the resolution is 1280 x 720.

Can the D3200 record 1080p at 60 fps?

No. The 60p option discussed here is 720p. Choose 1080p 24p or 30p for Full HD on an NTSC setting, or check the available PAL frame rates.

Can I use an external microphone with the D3200?

Yes. It has a 3.5mm external microphone input. Select automatic or manual microphone sensitivity and test the recording before you start.

Why can't I adjust the aperture the way I expect in live view?

Set the aperture before recording. If you need to change it, exit live view, adjust the aperture and re-enter live view. Manual movie settings in M mode give you manual shutter speed and ISO control, but don't turn live-view aperture adjustment into a continuously adjustable movie control.

Keep reading

• Nikon D3200 photo settings for beginners
• My Nikon D3200 review and photo examples
• Where to buy used cameras

Watch more camera tutorials on Adam Harig.