Camera for intense action. « Videomaker Community Forums

airtime143
Member

Hi there.
I am new to these message boards, but have been a subscriber to the magazine for about 8 years.

I am toying with the idea of purchasing a Hi-def camcorder, but I have some questions about performance.

I use my camera almost exclusively for filming wakeboarding. The action is intense, and the background is changing every frame. Are the HD cameras acurate enough to capture high speed action and changing backgrounds with minimal pixelation?

Additionally, performance during rough motion is very important. A signature shot in this sport is called a double-up, which consists of looping around over your own wake to set up a peak for the rider..... the boat is subject to 3 GIGANTIC jolts- translated to the camera- after which the camera man has less than 2 seconds to steady and frame a high speed shot.

Just for reference, here is the basic gist of what I am filming....
http://www.wakepics.com/view_single.php/dvd-intro_wakeboarding-photos.html?medid=18089

Any suggestions on a decently priced HD camera that will perform in this enviroment?
I am trying to stay below $4000.

Thanks in advance.....

Posted 5 years ago #
jburkhart

Hey Airtime,

Nice footage, and welcome to the forum!

That's a tough order to fill. You've probably selected the most challenging environment for a camera to work with-

1. Rapid constant motion in frame (check)
2. Repeated hard shocks to the operator (check)
3. An environment filled with water spray and sand (check)

I haven't personally tested an HDV camera to full image destruction, but hard shocks to the camera can even cause DV level compression to break apart.

It's about double your price range with media, but the Panasonic HVX-200 may be a good fit. Not only does it use DVCPROHD compression, which uses discrete frames like DV, and not a complex GOP structure, which should help in compressing all that movement in the frame; but it has a 60p (60fps) mode in HD, that would capture the wake boarding beautifully, and allow you to get some stuning slow motion as well.

As far as under $4,000. There's a lot of new HDV cameras coming out in that price range right now.

I'd certainly try to get an HDV camera out on the boat and try it out before you buy something in that format though.

Maybe someone else has experience on these boards using HDV in rougher environments?
John Burkhart
Editor-in-Chief
Videomaker

Posted 5 years ago #
birdcat
Moderator

It may be out of the question, but at the just ended NAB Post in NY, Olympus was showing a DV camera that could shoot thirty thousand frames per second (it scaled the picture at that rate but did a full 720X480 at lower-but-still-higher-than-normal speeds).

I've also been told that HDV is not ideal for fast motion (like pans and such).

Just a thought - It was very pricey as I remember though....
Bruce Paul
7Squared Productions
http://www.7squared.com

Posted 5 years ago #
paulears
Member

Thirty Thousand frames a second? a quick calculation suggests that you'd expire from the amount of light needed to illuminate the chips based on current efficiency standards - do you have more info.

Posted 5 years ago #
birdcat
Moderator

The link to the camera (called i-SPEED) on the Olympus website is:

http://www.olympusindustrial.com/index.cfm/page/products.index.cfm/cid/1324/navid/185/parentid/1

It is actually 33,00 FPS. It is also very impressive to see. It will do 1000 FPS at 800 X 600.

Posted 5 years ago #
airtime143
Member

Thank you for the replies and the kind words.
The footage I posted was actually a wider shot than I have been using... I have since started to take the shots in a little closer.

I suppose I may just wait a couple more years to upgrade to HD.

Are there any suggestions for a mid range DV camera?
The one I have is a sony trv460 digital 8, very serviceable in most aspects, but I would like something a little more suited for action, as well as more color control.

Wieght and size are not a factor, in fact I believe that the heavier it is, the less jarring I will see.
I would prefer to stay with tape.
Something that shoots 16x9 is a requirement.
A bonus would be anything that has the capability to shoot 60fps or up for a smooth slow motion shot and a fast shutter speed. (the more complex moves can have 720 degrees of spin over 30- 40 frames)

For a standard def camcorder, I would like to put the cap at about $2000.... I still plan on upgrading as soon as a reasonably priced hd camcorder hits the market.

I am sorry to keep bugging you all, but if you have suggestions on something that may fit the bill, I would greatly appreciate it.

p.s...... Thanks again.
Here is a link to the riding that did not go so smoothly..... bone crunching bails!
http://www.wakepics.com/view_single.php/Big-bails_wakeboarding-photos.html?medid=18088

Posted 5 years ago #