Low budget way to simulate dolly or crane shots using only tripod
07/20/10 07:48 AM Filed in: Videography
This YouTube video shows how to use your tripod to
simulate smooth dolly or crane shots by retracting the
front leg and pivoting on the two back legs.
Best low budget storage containers for lots of MiniDV tapes
11/10/08 04:05 AM Filed in: Selecting
Equipment
How to save YouTube and other Internet videos on your Mac computer
11/16/07 07:46 PM Filed in: Capturing
Videos
To save videos from websites such as YouTube
and Google to your hard drive:
1. From a site such as YouTube.com, go to the video you want to save.
2. Copy the URL from that web page (for example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zFI35TVXao)
3. Go to http://keepvid.com
4. Paste the URL you copied in step 2 into the text box at the top of http://keepvid.com and click the Submit button.
5. Click on ›› Download Link ‹‹ when it appears below the text box. A file named something like get_video-1 will be copied to your computer.
6. Using Finder, rename the file so that it has the extension .flv (for example: get_video-1.flv) to indicate that this is a Flash Video file.
7. If you don't already have it, download a program called iSquint to your computer by going to http://www.isquint.org and clicking Download iSquint
8. Run iSquint and drag the get_video-1.flv (or whatever it's called) file from Finder into the central area in iSquint.
9. Click the Start button in the lower right corner of iSquint. If you keep the default settings, an MPEG-4 file will be created called get_video-1.mp4 (for example) that can be viewed in QuickTime or placed on the timeline of a video editing program such as Final Cut Pro.
1. From a site such as YouTube.com, go to the video you want to save.
2. Copy the URL from that web page (for example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zFI35TVXao)
3. Go to http://keepvid.com
4. Paste the URL you copied in step 2 into the text box at the top of http://keepvid.com and click the Submit button.
5. Click on ›› Download Link ‹‹ when it appears below the text box. A file named something like get_video-1 will be copied to your computer.
6. Using Finder, rename the file so that it has the extension .flv (for example: get_video-1.flv) to indicate that this is a Flash Video file.
7. If you don't already have it, download a program called iSquint to your computer by going to http://www.isquint.org and clicking Download iSquint
8. Run iSquint and drag the get_video-1.flv (or whatever it's called) file from Finder into the central area in iSquint.
9. Click the Start button in the lower right corner of iSquint. If you keep the default settings, an MPEG-4 file will be created called get_video-1.mp4 (for example) that can be viewed in QuickTime or placed on the timeline of a video editing program such as Final Cut Pro.
Best low budget shotgun microphone
10/09/07 01:08 PM Filed in: Selecting
Equipment | Sound
Best low budget tripod
05/27/06 11:05 PM Filed in: Selecting
Equipment
Update: If light weight and maneuverability are important, or for places where tripods are not allowed, for about the same price, you may be better off with the Manfrotto 560B Fluid Video Monopod with 234RC Head, which weighs only 1.5 lbs. (700 g), has a load capacity of 4.4 lbs. (2 kg), expands from 26" (66 cm) to 65.5" (166 cm), has three pivoting, retractable feet for solid footing and a fluid cartridge in its base for smooth panning. The 234RC head adds 9.5 oz (270g) to the weight.
Best low budget video camera
03/26/06 12:56 PM Filed in: Selecting
Equipment
On the downside, these video cameras do have some trouble with the auto focus drifting in low light situations. This can be dealt with by zooming in or reframing the subject or by using the manual focus feature.
One other note of caution: there have been some problems with JVC camera's CCDs failing and giving a "lens cap" error when the lens cap is already removed, and this model has also had this problem. We are checking with JVC to learn more about this. But from experience, when these cameras work, they work well. If you know of a better low budget video camera, let us know.
Update: We had a JVC GR-DF430 which developed the lens cap error about after about 6 months of use. The warrantee on these is 3 months for parts and labor and 12 months for parts only, so we called JVC (800-858-6442) to complain. They responded by emailing a "Letter of Accommodation" which extended the warranty and covered both parts and labor to fix the lens cap error problem. A local JVC authorized service center agreed to honor this letter, which allowed them to bill JVC for the repair, and fix the camera at no cost to us.
Update 3/8/07: The discontinued JVC GR-DF430, 450 and 550 are difficult to find, and where they previously could be found for around $300, when they are available, they are now selling for too much. The next best choice for an inexpensive MiniDV camera with a mic input, good low light performance and other desirable features is probably the Canon Elura 100, Camcorderinfo.com's 2006 Camcorder of the Year, which can still be found in the $300-$400 range. But this camera has also been discontinued and will be increasingly hard to buy.
Update 5/24/08: The prediction that the HV20 would be selling for less than the HV30 wasn't true for very long. They are both available for about $770. Get the HV30 because it records in HDV 1080/30p and has an improved LCD fold-out screen.
Tips for settings on your miniDV video camera
03/26/06 12:55 PM Filed in: Videography
Here are a few tips for important settings for your
miniDV video camera:
Set the date and time
It's usually good to know exactly when your video was recorded, so set the time and date before you start using the camera. With miniDV tapes you can always decide later if you want the date and time to show or not. Time and date are stored separately from the image data, not burned into the image like earlier video formats.
Use SP recording mode, not LP
SP is the standard recording mode for miniDV tapes and gives about 62 minutes on a standard tape (80 minute tapes are also available, but they are more expensive and the tape is thiner so may be more likely to break). The LP mode will record 90 minutes to a standard tape, but is less reliable and you may have problems capturing your footage in your computer editing program. If what you are videotaping is important, it's probably not worth the risk.
Change the audio from 12-bit to 16-bit
To get the full audio quality of your video camera you must be in 16-bit mode. Many cameras come set in 12-bit mode by default. This mode sacrifices audio quality for an extra stereo audio track to add in-camera voiceovers or narration to your videos, but adding additional audio tracks is better done later with video editing software.
Turn off the digital zoom
Video cameras typically offer optical zooms from 10x to 30x and digital zooms of up to 1000x, but using a digital zoom degrades the quality of the image, and probably does not do anything you couldn't do later with image processing software. Set your camera to just use the optical zoom range.
Learn how to do a manual white balance
Manual white balance (MWB) is important for making sure the colors in the images you record are accurate. Often with the automatic white balance the image will appear reddish or blueish due to misadjusting for the color temperature of different light sources (sunlight, fluorescent, incandescent, halogen, etc.). To avoid this, most video cameras have a manual white balance feature. Once you have located the manual white balance feature of your camera, setting it usually involves pointing the camera at something you know to be true white (a sheet of white paper is often used), zooming or moving in so it fills the whole screen and holding down a button or joystick until the color is readjusted. It is good to get into the habit of doing this before you start shooting and whenever the light changes.
If using a tripod, turn the image stabilization off
Image stabilization (often abbreviated EIS for electronic image stabilization or OIS for optical image stabilization) can help steady the image when the camera is handheld, but the EIS type, usually found on lower end cameras, also slightly degrades the resolution of the image, and if you leave it engaged while you are using a tripod it can actually make the image much less stable. EIS can mistake the movement of the subject as unwanted camera movement and try to steady the subject by moving the stationary background. Remember to turn EIS off when using a tripod.
Turn audio level display on
If you use an external microphone with your video camera to get better sound quality (a good idea), you put yourself at greater risk of not capturing any sound at all. Some cameras allow you to see the audio levels on the fold out screen or viewfinder. It is important to set this feature on to make sure you are getting audio, especially if you are not using headphones to monitor the audio.
Set the date and time
It's usually good to know exactly when your video was recorded, so set the time and date before you start using the camera. With miniDV tapes you can always decide later if you want the date and time to show or not. Time and date are stored separately from the image data, not burned into the image like earlier video formats.
Use SP recording mode, not LP
SP is the standard recording mode for miniDV tapes and gives about 62 minutes on a standard tape (80 minute tapes are also available, but they are more expensive and the tape is thiner so may be more likely to break). The LP mode will record 90 minutes to a standard tape, but is less reliable and you may have problems capturing your footage in your computer editing program. If what you are videotaping is important, it's probably not worth the risk.
Change the audio from 12-bit to 16-bit
To get the full audio quality of your video camera you must be in 16-bit mode. Many cameras come set in 12-bit mode by default. This mode sacrifices audio quality for an extra stereo audio track to add in-camera voiceovers or narration to your videos, but adding additional audio tracks is better done later with video editing software.
Turn off the digital zoom
Video cameras typically offer optical zooms from 10x to 30x and digital zooms of up to 1000x, but using a digital zoom degrades the quality of the image, and probably does not do anything you couldn't do later with image processing software. Set your camera to just use the optical zoom range.
Learn how to do a manual white balance
Manual white balance (MWB) is important for making sure the colors in the images you record are accurate. Often with the automatic white balance the image will appear reddish or blueish due to misadjusting for the color temperature of different light sources (sunlight, fluorescent, incandescent, halogen, etc.). To avoid this, most video cameras have a manual white balance feature. Once you have located the manual white balance feature of your camera, setting it usually involves pointing the camera at something you know to be true white (a sheet of white paper is often used), zooming or moving in so it fills the whole screen and holding down a button or joystick until the color is readjusted. It is good to get into the habit of doing this before you start shooting and whenever the light changes.
If using a tripod, turn the image stabilization off
Image stabilization (often abbreviated EIS for electronic image stabilization or OIS for optical image stabilization) can help steady the image when the camera is handheld, but the EIS type, usually found on lower end cameras, also slightly degrades the resolution of the image, and if you leave it engaged while you are using a tripod it can actually make the image much less stable. EIS can mistake the movement of the subject as unwanted camera movement and try to steady the subject by moving the stationary background. Remember to turn EIS off when using a tripod.
Turn audio level display on
If you use an external microphone with your video camera to get better sound quality (a good idea), you put yourself at greater risk of not capturing any sound at all. Some cameras allow you to see the audio levels on the fold out screen or viewfinder. It is important to set this feature on to make sure you are getting audio, especially if you are not using headphones to monitor the audio.
Convert a VHS tape to S-VHS
03/26/06 12:53 PM Filed in: Converting
Video Formats
If you need to use S-VHS tapes but are on a low budget
you can modify a much cheaper VHS tape of HQ (high
quality) or better to act like an S-VHS tape by making
a hole in the underside of the tape case. To make sure
you get the size and location of the hole right, use an
actual S-VHS tape as a guide. To create the hole, thin
out a square patch in the hole location by gently
shaving plastic away with a small, sharp flathead
screwdriver. Then, while holding the tape case
hole-side-down so the plastic shavings fall down
instead of ending up inside the tape case, stick a
corner of the screwdriver blade in the center of the
hole area and gently twist it back and forth, using it
like a drill bit, until the hole forms. If the hole is
not as wide as the hole on the S-VHS tape, gently carve
it out to the correct size with the screwdriver blade.