New to digital camera video? Here's an introductory guide

[DPNow]

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Practically all cameras currently on sale that are designed primarily to record stills images now include video recording options. This article is aimed at anyone who has not yet explored the wonderful world of digital video. It's not an in-depth technical article but instead it is a guide on how to get started and an explanation of the technology in an an easily digestible form that should help the reader get decent results straight away.



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[Bob Ross]

Re: New to digital camera video? Here's an introductory guide

Hi Ian,
This is a very useful article for me, even though I'm not inclined to do movies with all the story boards and splicing.....
You'll be proud of me for shooting my first video....all three seconds of it........while playing the buttons on a new Nikon 1 V2. It is even in B&W and picked up a conversation from another room....
Thanks for putting this one together for the likes of me.
Bob

[Ian]

Re: New to digital camera video? Here's an introductory guide

Hi Bob - don't worry, you will soon have hours of footage - literally, taken as the camera is resting and pointing down at your feet (well, I have - so I guess it's trendy!)

Ian

[patmoore]

Re: New to digital camera video? Here's an introductory guide

Great article Ian! I learned a lot from it. I shoot a great deal of video and have tried many different "camcorders". My primary DLSR (Canon Rebel XSi) doesn't offer video so I've experimented with my wife's Canon Digital Elph with decent results. I'm always amazed at the quality output from the three models of iPhone that I've owned. I also have the GoPro Hero models 1 and 2. Model 3 comes in White, Silver, and Black with widely varying features. I can't justify upgrading right now. A few weeks ago I experimented with different mounts for the GoPros. I mounted one on my helmet and one on the tip of one ski for the same run on a race course. For the second run, I rotated the camera on the ski pointing it down the hill. As you can see the adhesive didn't stick with an interesting result. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFN8BNb386Y&list=UUucZoU1hxVdtgnuFtSXRetw& index=8"]the video[/ame]

In 2004 I was flying between Oahu and the Big Island and decided to capture a short video of the spinning prop which had to be going at several thousand RPM. I used a Olympus C-770 and the result was amazing. Because of the frame capture rate, the resultant video, "slowed down" the prop to the point where you could actually see the logo on the blade. I uploaded it to YouTube.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSibBVtOHRs"]Spinning Prop[/ame]

For editing I use a few different programs. I own Roxio but find its title graphics pretty lame. Most new PCs come with Windows Live Movie Maker but I prefer the older basic Windows Movie Maker. The downside to it is that it doesn't support as many video formats.

[Bob Ross]

Re: New to digital camera video? Here's an introductory guide

Hi Ian,
The accidental Indy Movie hazard seems to be inherent to the smaller form factors with the silent running. So far I have several stills of shoe styles.
What I have to explore is the size issue for sharing with friends and how that will impact storage for me and friends
Bob

[patmoore]

Re: New to digital camera video? Here's an introductory guide

I just re-read the article and found it very helpful with understanding my newly acquired Panasonic Lumix ZS10. Now I understand what AVCHD is. It took me a while to figure out that the video files had MTS extensions. The article explains it nicely.

I'll experiment with it this coming weekend if the rain in New England every ends.