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View Full Version : Image stablization 4k - Smooth Cam?


Aaron Bernakevitch
03-08-2009, 05:48 PM
Hi there I have shot some footage out my car and am doing a rough test for some helicopter handheld footage. The smooth cam FX in FCP has always been my lifesaver. Normally I shoot on p2 at 1080 and smooth cam to Finnish in 720 and it looks awesome. What is the bet workflow for shooting 4k files to be smooth camed to finish at 1080p out of FCP? In my mind it seems like a very powerful tool as smooth cam analyzes the best and most stable route by cropping in on the images and key framing a rotation stabilizer.


Anyone experienced anything with smooth cam FX and 4k footage? Or handheld helicopter advice?

Thanks Gang

Aaron
Alexis Hanawalt
03-08-2009, 07:10 PM
haven't tried it yet, but of course you'll be limited to 2K in FCP. Running smoothcam in Shake might be a bit more stable...
Charles Angus
03-08-2009, 08:40 PM
Shake will handle 4k DPX no prob - but be prepared to wait. Same SmoothCam as FCP.
Jochen Schmidt-Hambrock
03-09-2009, 02:26 AM
That means that you have to use Shake if you dont want to loose resolution, right?

Jochen
sander kamp
03-09-2009, 02:37 AM
Remember that stabilising in post only works well with higher shutter speeds since it can't take away motion blur.
JanneJansson
03-09-2009, 04:26 AM
The SmoothCam in FCP actually work very good. Just keep in mind that if you have a very bumpy ride, you need to shoot with VERY SHORT shutter time to minimise motion blur.

I have used it on helicopter fotage on sevral times, and with amazing result!!! A bumpy hand held cam suddenly looks like an expensive gyro sytem. .. just use as short shutter time as your light allow.
Ryan E. Walters
03-09-2009, 06:30 AM
You also might want to check into the program iStabilize. I find that it offers a lot more control over the parameters then FCP does. (I haven't used shake.)

You can download a demo and purchase it here:
http://www.pixlock.com/index.php?Itemid=33&id=13&option=com_content&task=view
Aaron Bernakevitch
03-09-2009, 09:42 AM
Thanks Ryan


But concern is I want to smooth cam the 4k footage to finish in 2k. So therefore no resolution loss as most stabilizers crop in.

Can iStabilize handle this, do you have direct exprince with this?
Charles Angus
03-09-2009, 10:33 AM
Well, there is always a resolution loss when you stabilize - you said it yourself - the stabilizers crop in.

I understand, though, that a slight blowup at 4k will not be noticeable when downrezzed to 2k.
Uli Plank
03-09-2009, 10:42 AM
I like Mocha in After Effects more than SmoothCam. The latter can make the image look like jelly if there's a lot of motion going on (similar to very heavy rolling shutter).

AE in it' current incarnation can work with native R3D.
Ryan E. Walters
03-09-2009, 11:48 AM
Thanks Ryan


But concern is I want to smooth cam the 4k footage to finish in 2k. So therefore no resolution loss as most stabilizers crop in.

Can iStabilize handle this, do you have direct exprince with this?

Yep- you can work with the full 4k image, and you have finite control over every parameter. If you take a look at my reel, the last clip which was shot from a helicopter using a sandbag to help with shake, was stabilized this way. Shot in 4k for delivery in 1080p. (2k would have been fine as well, but that was not the projects specs for the shoot.)
Scott M
03-11-2009, 01:08 PM
The opening Helicopter RED shot in this clip has smooth cam applied http://vimeo.com/1021632 . I had forgot to up the shutter speed so you'll notice a very obvious blur right at the beginning when the camera shook (I had it hanging on bungee cords). If you compare it to this clip with no smoothing applied, you can see the difference: No Smoothcam (http://glorycubed.com/red/AF03480P.mov)