Filming Fireworks!

L

Luqa - Malta

Registered User
Hello All,

I need some advise from experianced fireworks filmers.

Up till now I have always used a digital camera to film fireworks but I am thinking about purchasing a Digital Camcorder DVC.

I would need to upload them to the computer and also take still images/frames from the movies.

I would like to know:

1.) What format would a DVC camcorder film? (mpeg?).

2.) Is it hard to upload the movie to a computer? and is it hard to edit the movie by a computer?

3.) How long does your battery serve you? approx.

4.) Any set backs / disadvanteges?

5.) any type of advise at all?

I am travelling to brussels next Thursday and I am told that electronics are cheaper in Brussels. (can you confirm?). So I would need some good advise fast! 2 more days to go.

Thank You and Best Regards,
 
L

Luqa - Malta

Registered User
Approx 250 Euros. Maybe more. depends what I find. I was thinking about the mini DVC Camcorder. Thanks
 
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M

meggsy

Registered User
I would go for MiniDV, after all it has become one of the standards for consumer and semiprofessional video production. The DV specification (originally known as the Blue Book, current official name IEC 61834) defines both the codec and the tape format. Features include intraframe compression for uncomplicated editing, a standard interface for transfer to non-linear editing systems (FireWire also known as IEEE 1394), and good video quality, especially compared to earlier consumer analog formats such as 8 mm, Hi-8 and VHS-C. DV now enables filmmakers to produce movies inexpensively, associated with no-budget cinema.

There have been some variants on the DV standard, most notably the more professional DVCAM and DVCPRO standards by Sony and Panasonic, respectively. Also, there is a recent high-definition version called HDV, which is rather different on a technical level since it only uses the DV and MiniDV tape form factor, but MPEG-2 for compression (and, as a result, records higher resolution but more highly compressed video). But, if you just want to film transfer to your PC and get on with it (without being Spielberg) and without too many problems go for MiiniDV

Steve
 
L

Luqa - Malta

Registered User
Thanks Meggsy.

I am enquireing about the miniDV.

My concern is more on using it.

I would like to know:

1.) What format would a DVC camcorder film? (mpeg?).

2.) Is it hard to upload the movie to a computer? and is it hard to edit the movie by a computer?

3.) How long does your battery serve you? approx.

4.) Any set backs / disadvanteges?

5.) any type of advise at all?

Thanks for the reply.

I need Help urgently.
 
A

atlantvinc

Registered User
wouldn't take the minidv's, they arn't shockproof as a camcorder with a harddisk, the hi8 camcorders are still good too( me makes the fireworksmovies with it) got a sony dcr-hc19e, and uploading only takes a bit of time.
 
D

demetan

Registered User
Hi,
1.) What format would a DVC camcorder film? (mpeg?).
Klik om te vergroten...
For the miniDV the format is AVI DV. One minute of this format occupies 220 MB of space on your hard disk.


2.) Is it hard to upload the movie to a computer? and is it hard to edit the movie by a computer?
Klik om te vergroten...
It is very simple, some camcorder have also the usb connection, but the connection more affidable is the fire-wire, so you must have such port on your pc.
To upload the movie to a computer you must set play on the camcorder and attend all the time of the film. If you want only cut the movie and add some title it is very simple, but in any case the computer should be powerful.


3.) How long does your battery serve you? approx.
Klik om te vergroten...
1h15' 1h30', but there are battery up to 3h or more.


4.) Any set backs / disadvanteges?
Klik om te vergroten...
I don't understand / The digital camcorder have some problem as smear effect, and bad performance in low light condition.
A very good camcorder in daylight condition can be bad for fireworks for the problem above, so you must find a person that have direct experience filming fireworks and can say to you a specific model to buy.


5.) any type of advise at all?
Klik om te vergroten...
The best consumer camcorder are from Canon, Panasonic and Sony.
Some new model have a specific function for fireworks.
To choose a camcorder you must see also other features as the input and output connection. For example new models don't have the rca input, so you can't record on your camcorder old vhs video.
 
L

Luqa - Malta

Registered User
Thanks all for the replies.

220mb per minute is HUGE! Hope I wont have problems there! Imagine uploading 3 hours per go....

Is it possible to edit the film by the camcorder itself? So I could cut out pieces that I would not need to upload? In this way I could avoid some precious unwanted Megabytes usage.
 
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meggsy

Registered User
The films I download from my Sony MiniDV, for publishing, only takes up about 14 mb a min....otherwise I just connect to the DVD burner and burn straight to disc....or you buy a 1 terabyte hard drive.

MySony has a setting for fireworks

Steve
 
D

demetan

Registered User
Is it possible to edit the film by the camcorder itself? So I could cut out pieces that I would not need to upload? In this way I could avoid some precious unwanted Megabytes usage.
Klik om te vergroten...

The camcorder miniDV doesn't edit the video itself (cut, merge, insert title).
However you can choose which part you want upload.
A movie in standard avi DV (which is that of the mini DV camcorder) occupies on your Hard Disk 220 MB per minute, this is the native format, ant this is of maximum quality.

The procedure is the following:
I made a video of 10 minute with the camcorder.
I upload the video to the computer using a usb cable or a fire-wire one.
The procedure to upload the video to the computer takes 10 minutes.
When the video is on the computer, it is in avi DV format, and ocupies 2,2GB.
Now with an apposite software (that usually comes with the camcorder), I can cut, I can insert some title etc, and at last I reconvert the video in the format I want.
I can choose to make a DVD, and I convert it in mpeg2, or I can choose to upload the video in internet, reduce the quality and the size, and I convert it in wmv, mov or divx, so the entire video of 10 minutes occupies 50 MB.


The films I download from my Sony MiniDV, for publishing, only takes up about 14 mb a min....otherwise I just connect to the DVD burner and burn straight to disc....or you buy a 1 terabyte hard drive.
Klik om te vergroten...

Yes, but yod don't have downloaded the film on your PC in avi DV, you used a software that downoald and compress simultanusly.

Which software do you use?

For example, I can use Windows Movie Maker to download the film on the computer, with this software I can choose to acquire in avi dv format (maximum quality), or in wmv. If I choose wmv format the file is smaller, but with this file I can't realize a video DVD.

MySony has a setting for fireworks
Klik om te vergroten...

Which is your camcorder?

Best Regards
 
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L

Luqa - Malta

Registered User
Hi

I bought the Canon MV890. Quite an easy to use camcorder and good resolution, also with widescreen. It also has a setting specificaly for fireworks.

I have already filmed some fireworks and came to the process of saving some still images from the videos.

NOW MY PROBLEM:

When I save the frames that I would like as photos, the Adobe Image Ready (of Photoshop) opens the widescreen (16 : 9) videos only as standard frame size (4 : 3), and this makes the shells oval looking since it shrinks its original width and makes the photo look a bit fuzzy and when I stretch it back to its original widescreen size it still looks a bit fuzzy.

What can I do? Should I film in normal size (4 : 3) rather than widescreen (16 : 9)? or is there a specific way to take still images from widescreen videos? Its a pitty if I have to only shoot in standard 4 : 3 because widescreen videos look nice. But it is also crucial for us to save still images from it.

I need your help urgently since today is the first of 2 days of the main showdays.

Thanks as always and best regards,
 
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L

Luqa - Malta

Registered User
Hey, I found another setting for fireworks. maybe this will do the trick. It has 2 settings for fireworks. One which you adjust most of the settings manualy for fireworks and the other Automaticaly adjusts the best settings for fireworks. I will give this a try and maybe this will produce better frames.
 
M

meggsy

Registered User
In situations like this I always call the manufacturers help line, which you will get through, to eventually|:( .....saves a lot of messing around
 
L

Luqa - Malta

Registered User
Thanks meggsy. I am going to play the video in full screen and use 'print screen' and then copy the picture on photoshop. This should work. :) I have some nice videos and photos to show you :)
 
B

brayno

Registered User
What would be the best manual settings for filming a display?

My thoughts are to have manual focus to infinity, Exposure at 60 then ramp it up to 120 or more if you can anticipate bright shells or lots of fireworks, manually adjust volume recording levels by using the pre-announcements as a guide.

I would love to know more ideas on settings.

Thanks,
 
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