7D - video, now I've got it what Can I do to optimise it?

[hollis_f]

OK, I've just got a 7D and, being as it has the video option, I thought I'd try to make a decent hack of using it. I've taken a couple of trial videos and came across the following problems:

1. The sound is great, when there's noise to pick up. When it's silent I get a great recording of my IS system working. Would an external mike help? From reading 5D MkII threads it seems like the Rode VideoMic is around my price bracket. I wouldn't want to spend over £100 though. Any recommendations?

2. The videos play back perfectly using Zoombrowser. I've tried Quicktime (thinking about upgrading to Pro) but the videos are horrible - with the contrast way too bland. I've downloaded the trial of Premier Elements - but the playback is jerky (and this is on a 3GHz, Quad-Core with 4GB RAM and SSD). Is there an editing program (again <£100) that can play the video without jerking? All I really want to do is be able to crop the crap bits out and glue the good bits together.

[skulpt]

I don't have one myself, but external MICs are the way to go. Especially when using IS. Even with an external MIC, you still might pick up a bit if the IS humming.

Here is a GREAT resource for those interested in 5D2 and 7D video information... :)

http://www.cinema5d.com/index.php

There's even a full areas there for just 7D video talk. Check it out.

[mellofelow]

Hi Frank, I'm right behind you, with my 7D coming tomorrow. #1, Based on my research, I think I'm going to invest in Zoom H2.

http://www.samsontech.com/products/productpage.cfm?prodid=1916

[hollis_f]

Here is a GREAT resource for those interested in 5D2 and 7D video information... :)

http://www.cinema5d.com/index.php

There's even a full areas there for just 7D video talk. Check it out.

Excellent! Thanks a lot, that looks like the place to go.

Hi Frank, I'm right behind you, with my 7D coming tomorrow. #1, Based on my research, I think I'm going to invest in Zoom H2.

Yeah, I've had a look at that too. A bit expensive for my needs just now.

[ErikM]

Double the ram, at least. :)


...2. The videos play back perfectly using Zoombrowser. I've tried Quicktime (thinking about upgrading to Pro) but the videos are horrible - with the contrast way too bland. I've downloaded the trial of Premier Elements - but the playback is jerky (and this is on a 3GHz, Quad-Core with 4GB RAM and SSD). Is there an editing program (again <£100) that can play the video without jerking? All I really want to do is be able to crop the crap bits out and glue the good bits together.

[jgrussell]

Is there an editing program (again <£100) that can play the video without jerking? All I really want to do is be able to crop the crap bits out and glue the good bits together.It doesn't have all the bells and whistles of the other programs, but Movavi Video Suite 7 (http://www.movavi.com/suite/) is cheap and absolutely dead easy to use.

[bangarang]

Zoom h4n + a rode video mic would be the two things I would suggest. You can TOTALLY tell the difference with a rode video mic plugged in and the zoom h4n is very important for proper audio recording.

[Salleke]

It doesn't have all the bells and whistles of the other programs, but Movavi Video Suite 7 (http://www.movavi.com/suite/) is cheap and absolutely dead easy to use.

I've downloaded the trialversion and it's color reproduction is terrible.
The movie plays back, but agian, very jerky and unusable.
Rendering a movie takes very long.

To bad because like you said it's easy to use and has the basis that
I need for editing ...

Now I'm gone try Sony Vegas Platinium ans see what this has to offer.

Thanks and good luck.

[RWatkins]

2. The videos play back perfectly using Zoombrowser. I've tried Quicktime (thinking about upgrading to Pro) but the videos are horrible - with the contrast way too bland. I've downloaded the trial of Premier Elements - but the playback is jerky (and this is on a 3GHz, Quad-Core with 4GB RAM and SSD). Is there an editing program (again <£100) that can play the video without jerking? All I really want to do is be able to crop the crap bits out and glue the good bits together.

Are the videos jerky when the leave Premiere or when they are playing in Premiere.

[gooble]

OK, I've just got a 7D and, being as it has the video option, I thought I'd try to make a decent hack of using it. I've taken a couple of trial videos and came across the following problems:

1. The sound is great, when there's noise to pick up. When it's silent I get a great recording of my IS system working. Would an external mike help? From reading 5D MkII threads it seems like the Rode VideoMic is around my price bracket. I wouldn't want to spend over £100 though. Any recommendations?

2. The videos play back perfectly using Zoombrowser. I've tried Quicktime (thinking about upgrading to Pro) but the videos are horrible - with the contrast way too bland. I've downloaded the trial of Premier Elements - but the playback is jerky (and this is on a 3GHz, Quad-Core with 4GB RAM and SSD). Is there an editing program (again <£100) that can play the video without jerking? All I really want to do is be able to crop the crap bits out and glue the good bits together.

I didn't know Zoombrowser would play back 1080p files smoothly. Is that what you're shooting or are you shooting 720p? Zoombrowser does not play back my 5D 1080p files smothly at all.

1080p files from the 5D cannot be played back smoothly on almost any hardware and cannot be edited smoothly except perhaps in Final Cut Pro with very capable hardware. I don't know how 720p differs from 1080p in terms of the power needed to play it back as the 5D cannot record in that format. In order to edit 1080p files smoothly it is necessary to convert them with something like Cineform Neoscene or into Prores.

[hollis_f]

Are the videos jerky when the leave Premiere or when they are playing in Premiere.

They are jerky when they're playing in Premiere. So far I've not tried exporting anything.

I didn't know Zoombrowser would play back 1080p files smoothly. Is that what you're shooting or are you shooting 720p? Zoombrowser does not play back my 5D 1080p files smothly at all.

I originally used 1080p and Zoombrowser played them wonderfully. Perhaps it requires a high-spec machine.

I've just tried shooting 720p @ 50fps and it seems that Premiere is much happier with that format.

I was going to get Quicktime Pro, but the video in QT is really lacking in contrast - here's an example:

http://www.frankhollis.com/temp/qt%20vs%20zb.jpg

You can see that the QT frame (on the right) looks a lot 'flatter' than the ZB frame. Does QT Pro have an option to fiddle with the contrast?

[jgrussell]

I've downloaded the trialversion and it's color reproduction is terrible. The movie plays back, but agian, very jerky and unusable. Rendering a movie takes very long.I didn't find the end result to be bad at all. See here (http://www.vimeo.com/6899757).

[liquidstone]

Zoombrowser does not play back my 5D 1080p files smothly at all.


What's your computer specs? My 5D2's 1080p footage plays smoothly in Zoombrowser on my modest computer (4 GB RAM, 512 MB Vcard, Q6600, XP).

[gooble]

What's your computer specs? My 5D2's 1080p footage plays smoothly in Zoombrowser on my modest computer (4 GB RAM, 512 MB Vcard, Q6600, XP).

Same as yours but a P4 3.0GHz HT proc instead. I think it's the weak point.

[liquidstone]

Same as yours but a P4 3.0GHz HT proc instead. I think it's the weak point.

My other desktop is a P4 3.0 Ghz with a 2 GB RAM and 256 MB Vcard, and that one chokes on the 5D2's 1080p, whether in Zoombrowser or VLC. I think you need a bit more hp under the hood.