Image stabilization

[beatniq]

I tried searching, but found little discussion on this topic here or on DVXUser.com

Any idea if RED will have this feature?

[Stephen Williams]

I tried searching, but found little discussion on this topic here or on DVXUser.com

Any idea if RED will have this feature?

Hi,

I think that is something you can do in post far better than in camera.

Stephen

[beatniq]

Hi,

I think that is something you can do in post far better than in camera.

Stephen

I read a little about that and I've not heard good things - a lot about blurriness and other issues when done in post.

Do you know if FCP can do this? I've played with the "Image Stabilizer" filter in FCP but it never seemed to work very well, though I must admit I haven't done much more than just fiddle with it.

[Steve Freebairn]

Some lenses have Image stabilization built in, but most likely your best solution would be to use After Effects (shake, combustion) to stabilize a shot.

[Stephen Williams]

I read a little about that and I've not heard good things - a lot about blurriness and other issues when done in post.

Do you know if FCP can do this? I've played with the "Image Stabilizer" filter in FCP but it never seemed to work very well, though I must admit I haven't done much more than just fiddle with it.

Hi,

Not sure about FCP but after effects and any effects programme will have tracking software. You will always loose resoloution, however starting with a 4k image will help.

Stephen

[beatniq]

Some lenses have Image stabilization built in, but most likely your best solution would be to use After Effects (shake, combustion) to stabilize a shot.

Wow. That is going to be a difficult workflow for ENG/EFP.

[Stephen Williams]

Wow. That is going to be a difficult workflow for ENG/EFP.

Hi,

FWIW very few broadcast lenses have stabalization, the ones that do are very expensive. I don't know of any broadcast cameras that have such a feature.

Stephen

[Mike Devlin]

Stabilization is kind of a broad topic.

Lens: The long ENG lenses (we have a Fujinon HA42X13.5) have stabilization, but it really is for wind shake and such only. High frequency small amplitude stuff.

Post: We have had excellent results in Avid Media Composer HD with motion tracking and stabilization (stabilize or smooth). Sometime you have to slightly crop or zoom the picture afterwards, but it can make a huge difference with little or no loss of rez depending on the shot. It helps if you shoot at a higher frame rate like 60P (less delta t between samples for the software) with a fast shutter (even if you then have to go back in and add motion blur in post to reduce strobing at 24P). We often shoot 60P with a 24P timecode to allow us to do this in post (overcranking 2.5 times)

GyroStabilization: The bigger problem is shooting from a boat or helicopter or other vehicle where you are dealing with both low frequency (boat rolling in moderate seas) and high frequency motion (boat vibrating as you work the engines/props to maneuver while holding the shot). There are some great gyrostabilization solutions out there. MakoHead and Cineflex are the two I am familiar with and both are excellent in different ways.

Of course there are Steadicam type rigs, but I have never used them and have no experience.

[Martin Drew]

Hi Beatniq

Trying to avoid shake on a small camcorder is very tricky, hence the ubiquitous built in stabilisation. You will find that you get a lot less shake with a large pro or broadcast camera, just because of the greater mass involved. It is far easier to move the camera smoothly when it has a bit if weight.

Martin

[beatniq]

Hi Beatniq

Trying to avoid shake on a small camcorder is very tricky, hence the ubiquitous built in stabilisation. You will find that you get a lot less shake with a large pro or broadcast camera, just because of the greater mass involved. It is far easier to move the camera smoothly when it has a bit if weight.

Martin

That is reassuring. Though the RED is actually pretty lightweight, I'm sure with all of the accessories I'll be putting on it, it will gain some much needed mass.