am i better off

[Noah Kadner]

Are you using a tripod?

-Noah

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[Daveyg]

during my practice shot, no tripod. i dont know which is a good portable one to get. like the 30 dollar ones from best buy. but im not using one for now.

[Noah Kadner]

I suggest at the very least a Manfrotto. Why fix something so basic in post when it’s easy to get it right in production.

Noah

Unlock the secrets of the DVX100 and Final Cut Pro!
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[Steve Wargo]

A $30 tripod isn’t going to do much for you, UNLESS, you put the camera on it and then hold it in front of you, competely collapsed, letting it “float” a little bit. You can also do the same with a mono-pod. This may sound a little silly at first but try it and then get back to us. Neither of the scenarios you suggest is going to solve your problem.

You may also want to check the spelling of stabilize vs. stabalize. Correct spelling is very important if you ever want someone to take you seriously. When people send me resumes, I toss them in the trash after catching the first typo and then I call the stupid, moronic idiot who sent it to me and tell them about it. Some resend a perfect resume right away and others call me an a-hole. They need to realize that if they have a “don’t care” attitude, we don’t want them anywhere near us.

Steve Wargo
Tempe, Arizona

It’s a dry heat!

[Tom Maloney]

Lighten up on the guy will you ?
Tom

[Steve Wargo]

I did. I really did.

Normally, I tell them to go take a fifth grade spelling class and get back to us.

If you think bad spelling is OK then what will you think of bad framing, bad audio, and bad writing? People who can’t spell think nothing of looking stupid.

But that’s just my opinion.

Steve Wargo
Tempe, Arizona

It’s a dry heat!

[Andrew Stone]

Not to get off subject here, but I really dont think grammar and spelling really interfere with video work. As long as you spell check all your text before you export 😉

Now back to the question: You really shouldn’t let the amount of shakyness in your shooting interfere with your choice in frame rate (thats not why they are there) If you are shooting for film style use 24pa, also if you are shooting for film here is a technique my friend uses. Most people shoot in widescreen format, however that limits yourself, you can shoot full screen and then add bars in post, this can also cut down in shakyness if you stabilize it. Either way you shouldn’t go out without a tripod.

http://www.somethingmisleading.com

[Steve Wargo]

[SomethingMisleading] “As long as you spell check all your text before you export ;)”

Exactly! We all make mistakes while typing. People who don’t fix their post will probably not fix their video. This is not a forum for hacks. The professionals here would like to be treated as such. We are not somebody’s girlfriend who is getting a text message.

As for shooting in 4×3 for later letterbox, why would one do that? If the intent is to have a 16×9 image for 16×9 viewing, the footage should be shot in 16×9, period. If your target is a 4×3 monitor with a 16×9 image across the vertical center, you would then possibly shoot in full screen or letterbox. And what, exactly, is the limitation that you are talking about?

Also, you say that shooting in 4×3 for 16×9 cuts down on shakyness. Can you explain your theory here for this mystery technique?

Here’s my suggestions: 1. “Hold the camera steady”. This will immediately cut down on shakyness. If you can’t hold the camera steady, buy a device that will allow you to do so. 2. “If shooting for 16×9, shoot 16×9”. If you shoot full screen, you may find out later that you didn’t leave enough height for the image that you want. 3. “Use 24pa if you are going to a DVD. If going to tape, use 24p”. 4. “Use a tripod as a final act of desperation”. A tripod is OK on a dolly of some sort, or to hold a jib off the ground. They also come in handy as a place to park the camera between shots.

I happen to be from Akron also. Graduated from Garfield High School in 1966. Later went on to get degrees in mechanical engineering, diesel engine technology, technical design (designing automobiles), welding, skydiving, and then finally an associate degree in film school. Education is important. We learn every day.

[Andrew Stone]

I use to play Garfield’s tennis team. I graduated from Manchester in 2003.

When I say to shoot 4:3 and make widescreen in post I am meaning just that. Where I went to school, a lot of people felt that widescreen gives video a certain feel. So shoot full screen add bars in post, and then do some track motion in after effects or what have you. Since you are adding the bars and getting rid of a fourth of the screen. You will have a fourth of the screen to work with for motion stabilizing.

http://www.somethingmisleading.com

[Steve Wargo]

Widescreen was never intended to be placed in the center of a 4×3 frame. Japan switched to 16×9 many years ago and all Japanese TV is HD. We Americans live in the stone age. The 4×3 letterbox version of 16×9 is a compromise. The black bars are filler for the area where there is no picture when mixing the two.

One should shoot 16×9, edit 16×9 and output two versions. One with an anamorphic 16×9 image and the second with the added cover bars top and bottom for use on a typical 4×3 screen.

Some time in the near future, the standard will be 16×9 and the historic medium will be 4×3. We have been shooting 16×9 on 16×9 chips for 10 years. When we shoot for 4×3, we use only the center section for 4×3 output but all of our master footage is 16×9. Shooting in 4×3 is actually a thing of the past, just like shooting in SD will soon be a thing of the past.

Steve Wargo
Tempe, Arizona

It’s a dry heat!