I've been playing around with me new HD camera...

[Broken Viking]

...And on a test run earlier today I managed to get a fair bit of footage recorded. I would've taken more, but - True to form - My one set of batteries decided to go flat as soon as I got to Farnborough North! :roll:

Anyhow...This is the first time I've done a photting trip, and although the photos/videos came out relatively OK, I could do with some extra opinion on mistakes that I'm probabally making. I've already noticed some of them (I.E: Using full zoom when I havn't got the camera steady!) but with my inexperienced eye alone, there's probabally several stuff-ups that I'm not seeing.
Either way, my videos certainly have an amateur look to them...And I doubt it's anything to do with the fact that I'm using a "YouTuber" style camcorder!

Anyhow...All of the videos I've taken today have been uploaded to a new YT channel that I've crafted to keep the train stuff seperate from my video slash-ups, and can be watched via This YouTube Playlist if anyone's curious or wants to offer hints or constructive critique.
The photos are being uploaded to Fotopic as I type this, and can be viewed via http://dieseldragontrains.fotopic.net as soon as they're done!

Farewell for now, thanks in advance for any feedback/tips/critique, and apologies for being quiet for so long!
>> Death <<

 

[rail-britain]

What make and model is the device?

My only criticism of the videos is that there is no sound
That suggests that its main function is as a camera

Most HD cameras have anti-shake and some have image stabilisation
I have a Fujifilm S2000HD and I now have these on all the time (depending on filming mode)

The only other criticism I have is that the camera switched off after 2 minutes without use, so it was quite easy to miss something whilst waiting for the camera to switch back on
Thankfully there is an option to prevent that, although it does cut the battery life by about 30%

 

[Jordy]

My only criticism of the videos is that there is no sound

There is sound at this end!

 

[Broken Viking]

What make and model is the device?

It's an Enova DVS567. Ye've probabally never heard of it mind...It's an unknown brand 5MP thing that I found in PC World for thirty quid in a sale! That said though, it can't be all that bad...I just saw two of 'em listed for £79.00+ on Amazon! hock:

My only criticism of the videos is that there is no sound. That suggests that its main function is as a camera

I can hear sound at my end...Are ye sure that ye havn't got thy YouTube player muted or turned right down?

That said: Whenever I've played the videos on my PC, the soundtrack seems to be shifted behind by a few seconds. However I'd put that down to the non-Apple MOV codec that I'm using, plus the fact that this PC has a 990MHz Sempron in it!

Mind ye: If anyone notices sound-slip whilst viewing on a fast PC, could they please let me know? It'd mean that what I'm currently putting down to the low speed of my PC is - In fact - A problem with the camera itself! hock:

Most HD cameras have anti-shake and some have image stabilisation. I have a Fujifilm S2000HD and I now have these on all the time (depending on filming mode)

I've not found any "anti-shake" function in the instructions or other documentation despite reading through it...As it's from a lesser known firm though, it might not have it at all.
That said, it might simply need to be activated via the supplied PC application suite. As a chronic one for not installing OEM utility suites (Especially those that come with mobile 'phones) it's easy for me to miss software based control panels like that!

The only other criticism I have is that the camera switched off after 2 minutes without use, so it was quite easy to miss something whilst waiting for the camera to switch back on
Thankfully there is an option to prevent that, although it does cut the battery life by about 30%

Mine seems to stay on at all times, including keeping the screen and backlight going. At first, I thought it'd be best to keep it turned on and cover the lens to reduce CPU and screen consumption...But after a while I was turning the camera right off between trains as I figured that a reboot would use less power than keeping the screen running for five minutes!

On the bright side though, this thing only takes about three seconds to go from Off to Ready...So I'm alright as long as I have a few extra seconds sighting distance as a preamble!

Farewell, and cheers!
>> Death <<

 

[142094]

Think a small mini tripod would do the vids a lot of good, just to get rid of the shake. Not a bad effort from something that costs £30!

 

[rail-britain]

It takes hours of practice to remove unwanted shake when taking video footage
The trick is to prop your body against a structure and then level your wrist with it, and then rotate as smoothly as possible
Equally, use the zoom slowly
The shake will still be there, but not as obvious on a close up

Apologies about the sound, it is there, but its very basic
Perhaps your finger or hand is near the microphone as only close up sounds seem to be obvious

 

[142094]

Depends on what type of camera I suppose, I've used the HD vid function on my 500D a few times just in the same stance as taking a still photo and they have come out alright. Only problem is zoom and focussing, which I don't do as you can hear the auto focus on the recording.

 

[Broken Viking]

Hail again!
I decided to run out and take another batch today whilst nipping out to get the groceries. The videography is probabaly worse than last time, but I admit I'm still getting used to this YouTuber-style thing! Video playlist on YouTube as usual
Note: YouTube was being buggy as anything earlier, and some of my uploads were getting mangled. It looks like it's all been sorted now, but bear in mind that some of the HD feeds might still be a bit stuffed up!

I have to confess to making a bit of a blooper today also: I decided to make Syndhurst FC my first stop to see if I could grab any Voyager/HST footage, and I was there for the best part of an hour before I suddenly remembered that the section BAW -> WKM is closed at weekends for p-way renewal at the moment...And thus Blackwater is now the Northern end of a shuttle route with no through traffic! hock::razz:

Finally: Looking at 165105...Going back again! [03/13], would anyone say that I was in a suitable place of safety when I filmed it? Given that I'm within/behind the fences leading to the crossing itself, I'd say that I was...But given the speed at which the train passed the crossing, I've been wondering if the driver might've thought otherwise... :eek:

Farewell...
>> Death <<

 

[Bill EWS]

I watched a few of your videos and they are not bad at all. However, there was a lot of camera movement that became distracting. I liked that you didn't make scenes last too long and followed through a train approach & passing quite smoothly.

In cine filming the art was to keep single scenes not more than 12 seconds unless they awrrented it. With video it is all too easy to just keep the camera running. Film worked so well, mainly because it was silent and you could cut & edit a series of shortish scenes to make them more interesting and avoid boredom setting in. There is no reason why you coudn't do something similar with your video shooting, allowing for the easier use of video/dvd.

Try doing a little editing in the camera! Mentally imagine and time your scene so that you don't make it too long and don't unecessarily have the camera running too long before amd after the real action, which is when most camera wobble ocurrs.

Remember the old photographer's addage! "It's the subject that moves, not the camera".

That was good advice about using your body as a prop and to hold the camera steady and level. If you must move 'pan' the camera it is better to make the movement at least as twice as slow as you think it you are doing it. There is nothing worse than the camera floating and bobbling around continually.

A film cameraman/woman would continue the panning movement for two-three seconds after the main action, which would leave enough room to edit the scene without any camera wobble, giving nice smooth panning scenes from start to end of the finished 'edited' scene.

Tripods are annoying to carry about and to set up and they are not welcome in many places. Try using a small bean-bag, which you can place on any firm object such as a wall or post and the camera will settle into it snuggly and help give you get more stable videoing.

Mostly, it is just having a little pre planning. Try to work out a scene before you actually go for it. A little trial and error will go a long way to improve your photography. Modern video cameras are brilliant and will give you perfectly exposed scenes virtually all the time. However the one thing they can't do is make you a good cameraman/woman. Not everyone can make that stage and we should give credit and make allowances for their attempts but it takes time and experience and a real interest in making the best of it to become a really good cameraman or woman.

Hope that this helps.

 

[transportphoto]

Better report that bridge then!!!

If standard trains make it shake!

 

[Retropractor]

If you are using a compact camcorder. With one handed operation. They are notoriously difficult to hold steady. Particularly with the side wrist strap, thumb release arrangement. And image stabilisation is not a lot of help.
I have found that some sort of pistol grip, fitted underneath, gives a much firmer, more stable result. Holding the camcorder with your left hand, and operating, with the right, is far better.
Have you considered a monopod? Not nearly so cumbersome as a tripod.