Video stabilization software good or bad?

[tom95521]

Waiting for PTE 8.5 beta testing to start...

I rarely carry a tripod when I go out with my camera. It's usually not a problem for image capture but for video capture movement is noticeable when using zoom (optical image stabilization enabled). Video stabilization software works by panning rapidly to correct for movement and then adjusting zoom and crop. Due to the zoom the video quality is slightly lower than the original. The more stabilization the more zoom is required.

I am planning on buying a pistol grip for my camera and a fluid head for my tripod (and keep it in my pickup). There are also steadicam devices but I am not planning on walking while capturing video.

I am testing Mercalli software. VirtualDub with Deshaker does the same thing and is free.

Thanks,

Tom

Sample. I don't think the quality suffers too much. (Hint) I try to add a static image to the start of my youtube videos to allow the cache to buffer the video before higher bitrate motion.

[orizaba]

Stabilization!

In fact, this is a need for video shooting, I always stabilize all my clips, even not using zoom, because presentation is always better, for example, in case of an horizontal or vertical pan, even shooting with wide angle, start and end of pan are much more gradual and smooth which adds quality to presentation.

I already tried some softwares before but my conclusion was SONY VEGAS MOVIE STUDIO HD (my version is some 3 years old, v11.0) is the best, I always use it with excellent results.

It has several stabilization degrees and roller shutter correction. Try it free.

Concerning loss of quality due to stabilization zoom, I use to apply 5% to 10% sharpen effect, if the stabilization zoom is too much, to replace some loss of native sharpness. It works.

All this with VEGAS, and I render in M2TS file (22 Mbps video bitrate) which is accepted by PTE 8.0.4 converter, where I always use PROGRESSIVE, 100% QUALITY.

Do you really think that a pistol grip with a fluid head can replace post-stabilization? I don't think so... Hand shaking will not be absorved, neither hand small movements, I think.

Regards,

Jose

[tom95521]

Hi Jose,

I think the pistol grip might improve my video stabilization a small amount so I will not have to apply such a large amount of software image stabilization. The fluid head for my tripod is for smooth video panning although using a tripod should help with video stabilization.

I am using Corel x7 ultimate which includes the Mercalli plugin. It is 64 bit, has smart rendering and supports 4K @ 65 mbps. Speaking of 4K I have been reading about the new Panasonic FZ1000 and the sample videos look great (even on 1080 display).

Thanks,

Tom

[Barry Beckham]

Doesn't video require a solid support, unless there is good reason not to. I am thinking here of hand held cameras in films where they convey action. Some of the video I have seen used here can only be described as awful. I think a video shot that is jumping about when it's one that needs to be still, is best left out of any presentation

[Guest Yachtsman1]

Hi Tom

I could write a book on trying to get steady video, but I haven't tried post processing. I had a manfrotto metal tripod with a 3 way head, that wasn't smooth so I bought a fluid head for it., total weight 12kg!!!. I even have a mini tripod for my Olympus mike before I bought an on camera bracket & leads. Despite having all that kit I still get jumpy video, (See the start of trouble Town on Youtube ) bought a fluid head, still not perfect & a pig to set up.

Trying to plan getting good "interesting video" IMO doesn't work, trying to cart all that kit around, set it up and get the shot by the time you've done all that you are either knackered, or the moment has passed. In the TT show we'd just arrived at the station where the miniature train had just pulled in, so I had to either hand hold or wait 2 hours for the next train, so I took the risk, rested my arms on a fence & took the shots. I've now sold my Manfrotto kit & carry around a mono pod, which doubles as a pistol grip, even used it to reach out over the side of the ferry when we went to the IOW. Save your money & get the FZ1000.

Regards Eric

Yachtsman1.

[PGA]

I'm in agreement with Barry on this. I was always told: "It is the subject that moves, not the camera". To me a tripod is essential when I'm recording a video clip. And once the camera is recording the video clip, I take my hands off it and don't touch the camera again until I want to stop the recording.

I don't normally attempt panning. If I wanted to do it regularly, then I would have to accept the weight and time penalty of carrying, setting up and using a fluid head. I don't zoom during recording because, on the Nikon D300s, that means manual zoom on the lens which imparts handling movement to the entire camera and, on the Lumix FZ200, the zoom is electronically controlled and isn't smooth enough; nor does it maintain focus through the zoom.

To my way of looking at this, if you haven't got a professional video outfit, and aren't willing to take the time and trouble that the professional crews do, don't expect to produce professional results. Accept the limitations of your equipment; spend time getting a thorough understanding of these; then work within them to produce the best result that you can.

Peter

[tom95521]

I think I will do another test using a tripod at different zoom settings to see if stabilization software does make a noticeable difference. The above test video was created on purpose to be hard to stabilize with the added flag movement. I could have probably made it more stable by increasing the zoom and camera movement settings.

Eric,

That FZ1000 looks nice. Some smartphones shoot 4K now. Nice video of the train.

Thanks,

Tom

[morturn]

Yes, defiantly a sturdy tripod with a fluid head, I would have reservations using a pistol grip, or worse still a monopod. Filming video is a different skill set, panning a camera takes a lot of practice, as do hand help shots, which I would certainly avoid unless you have a decent mount and plenty of experience.

[Barry Beckham]

Ignoring specialist equipment like fluid heads, you can steady your video camera in much cheaper ways. A bean bag takes some beating and weighs nothing. I also have one of those Gorillapods and they are really good. Wrap the legs around a tree branch, street furniture or just allow them to free stand.

No good for heavy SLR's though.

[Ken Cox]

Practice holding your breath when doing close-up's, video, zooms etc.

ken

[tom95521]

Still testing the Mercalli software. Even with the tripod it seems to help when zoom is 12x or greater. Even after the video is stabilized in software I think I can see the Panasonic OIS "wobble" where the lens is tilted to attempt to stabilize the video. Since it's a tilt and not a pan I don't think it can be removed. Maybe I should turn OIS off.

Anyone who wants to experiment without spending too much money there are a few options (besides the free VirtualDub/Deshaker).

http://www.mercallieasy.com/

and

http://www.muvee.com/products/turbo-video-stabilizer

Thanks,

Tom

Video using tripod. Most of them were at 300mm(12x) and 600m (24x).

[Barry Beckham]

Tom and others

Please forgive my direct comment, but put your camera on a tripod and get good steady shots that are worth viewing. Trying to stabilise a video afterwards is always going to be third rate. Whats that old saying....rubbish in, rubbish out

[Guest Yachtsman1]

Hi Tom

Watched your latest test & had another look at the FZ150 manual. It brought to mind something that happened when were were in Scotland on the Firth of Forth in a trip boat, I was using The FZ150 for stills & video using the monopod, as we were passing under the iconic Forth Bridge I switched to video with stabilisation on & the foot of the monopod resting on the deck, the image went haywire. I realised it was the vibration of the deck causing the problem, I re-place the monopod onto my shoe & the image stabilised. However this is another strike against a full sized tripod & fluid head set up, which would have been impossible to deploy in that situation. I found another section in the manual which I hadn't seen before about there being 2 image stabilisation modes, you may or may not have seen it? see screen shot.

Regards Eric

Yachtsman1.

[tom95521]

Tom and others

Please forgive my direct comment, but put your camera on a tripod and get good steady shots that are worth viewing. Trying to stabilise a video afterwards is always going to be third rate. Whats that old saying....rubbish in, rubbish out

Even with a tripod (I think) the newer superzoom bridge cameras at full zoom need to be corrected for stabilization. The tripod does help but some of these cameras have 60x zoom and they can act like a seismometer, transferring small ground movements into image displacement.

Barry, since you seem to favor DSLR cameras over bridge cameras and images over video I doubt if this applies to you?

Tom

[morturn]

It is not always possible to get all your film shots done from a tripod, in fact a lot of media is filmed without.

However when you are filming, you should in my opinion always aim to get shots that will not need stabilisation. Hand held filming need practice; the trick is not to try to hold the camera dead still, as this introduces vibration which does not look good. Instead the trick is to allow some full body movement so the movement flows gently. Watching news reports are great examples of this.

Last year I was asked to produce a short promotional film for a heritage trust group, the practicality's of the site dictated that some hand held shots had to be made; I don't think that the results look to bad.

http://youtu.be/uUNjdtE1TI8?list=UUr94oT1lZFb2vsKAfmYRsVA

[tom95521]

Hi Tom

Watched your latest test & had another look at the FZ150 manual. It brought to mind something that happened when were were in Scotland on the Firth of Forth in a trip boat, I was using The FZ150 for stills & video using the monopod, as we were passing under the iconic Forth Bridge I switched to video with stabilisation on & the foot of the monopod resting on the deck, the image went haywire. I realised it was the vibration of the deck causing the problem, I re-place the monopod onto my shoe & the image stabilised. However this is another strike against a full sized tripod & fluid head set up, which would have been impossible to deploy in that situation. I found another section in the manual which I hadn't seen before about there being 2 image stabilisation modes, you may or may not have seen it? see screen shot.

Regards Eric

Yachtsman1.

is1.jpg fof1.jpg

Hi Eric,

I will check out the stabilization mode. I am getting a pistol grip like the handles on the old 8 mm film cameras. If I get that Panasonic FZ1000 it will be interesting to compare focus and stabilization. I know the 4K video quality will be amazing. I sure hope PTE supports 4K video. I guess I can download one of the FZ1000 sample videos and test with PTE.

Thanks,

Tom

[JudyKay]

What a wonderful luxury to be in places and situations where you can shoot with a tripod or even be able to carry a tripod. Sometimes we can. Other times we use rocks or poles or our unsteady hands. Just because it isn't shot from a tripod doesn't mean it cant be high quality professional work. Those of us who have no choice but to shoot this way are very grateful for image stabilizing software.

[davegee]

http://rungunshoot.com/why-you-probably-dont-need-the-amazing-movi-camera-stabilizer/

DG

[Guest Yachtsman1]

That's similar to the one used in "Celebrity Come Dancing" TV programme, don't think it would fit in my gadget bag.

Yachtsman1.

[Barry Beckham]

Barry, since you seem to favour DSLR cameras over bridge cameras and images over video I doubt if this applies to you?

But I view the slide shows that are posted and I can have an opinion on video even if I don't use it as much as some. What I have shot recently has been mostly using a Canon G16 , but mostly with the Gorillapod. For video photographers I think they are worth a serious look. Below is a couple of shots of how effective the Gorillapod ican be

Judy

If we want people to view and like what we do, we have to put some effort into it and with video, 99% of the time, the big issue is camera movement. I have already said that often all you need is a beanbag, but the Gorillapod is a good example of a cheap alternative to a heavy tripod and will meet most of our needs for our videos and weighs next to nothing

[cgbraggjr]

Criticizing stabilization software is just like saying, "Don't dodge and burn. Get the exposure right the first time." For which I have two words: Ansel Adams.

I was on safari, stuck in a Land Rover, when we came across a herd of gazelles kicking up their heels in an obvious moment of play/stress relief/whatever. I videoed them as best I could, but with all the commotion in the Land Rover the video was a bit jumpy - too jumpy to present. I used Mercalli as lightly as I could, and the final video set to appropriate music was the hit of my safari presentation 6 months later. (BTW - I also selectively slowed down the video to match timing with the music - another useful trick.)

Do the best you can in the field and don't do less than your best in post.

[tom95521]

I might try adding sorbothane feet to my tripod to see if it helps with vibration reduction during ultrazoom videos. If it's good enough for telescopes it should work with my camera.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sorbothane

http://www.sorbothane.com/blog/camera-vibration/

Tom

[Barry Beckham]

Argonaut

Lets have a look at a before and after of what you shot then, so you can prove your point and teach us sceptics along the way. I hope stabilization works, I really do, but I have a healthy dose of scepticism. Of course in any debate you can isolate the odd area where hand held was the only possibility, but generally that's not the case. Certainly not in the video I have seen used in PTE slide shows.

[tom95521]

It is not always possible to get all your film shots done from a tripod, in fact a lot of media is filmed without.

However when you are filming, you should in my opinion always aim to get shots that will not need stabilisation. Hand held filming need practice; the trick is not to try to hold the camera dead still, as this introduces vibration which does not look good. Instead the trick is to allow some full body movement so the movement flows gently. Watching news reports are great examples of this.

Last year I was asked to produce a short promotional film for a heritage trust group, the practicality's of the site dictated that some hand held shots had to be made; I don't think that the results look to bad.

http://youtu.be/uUNjdtE1TI8?list=UUr94oT1lZFb2vsKAfmYRsVA

Video quality looks good to me. We have steam locomotive and donkey (winch) the lumberjacks used for redwood logging a long time ago. The historical society fires it up a few times year but not as impressive as your steam engine.

Tom

[Guest Yachtsman1]

Tom

This just flashed up on my home page, there is a link to an article on the best tripods if you are still interested.

Regards Eric

Yachtsman1.

http://www.wexphotographic.com/?/latest-deals-tripods.html&cm_mmc=exacttarget-_-marketing-_-lm_2474498-_-main-banner&utm_source=exacttarget&utm_medium=2474498&utm_campaign=main-banner