Reading mode: Light Dark

Guys, I don't get it!!!!

Go to last post
K

Ken Ross

Senior Member
Messages
1,357
Reaction score
921
Location
US
I've shot a number of video clips with my NEX5 in AVCHD and none come even close to the smoothness of this clip that was shot with the NEX5 in the link below. How could this be????? I mean I'm watching it on the same computer, same exact setup and mine wouldn't begin to show this fluid motion with that much motion in the frame (dog chasing the Frisbee). In fact with LESS motion, my video is far more stuttery than their clip.

I'm just loving the camera's still section, but I'm finding this really frustrating when I see smooth clips like this from the same exact camera.

What am I missing???

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/NEX5/NEX5VIDEO.HTM
 
Tripod... or the way you're holding it... arms need to be out... supporting it well?
 
What kind of memory are you using? Could be it's not fast enough. Did you try MP4?

Mike
 
Are you playing the video from the memory card itself? Did you try to transfer it to your computer hard drive before playing the movie?
 
I'm really very steady with cameras, so that's not it. I'm using a San Disk Extreme III, rated at 30MBS, so that's not it.

Are you guys telling me that with your NEX5s you can get video that's as smooth as the one I linked? If so, there may be some defect in mine. But then I think about my buddy taking a video with the NEX5 displayed at Sony Plaza in N.Y. and also noting that it stuttered.

I'd be inclined to blame the computer, but I see precisely the same stutter on my plasma in addition to the fact that the dog AVCHD clip played like butter on the same computer.

Man, am I confused!!!! :(
 
See this thread:

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1042&message=35889732

and specifically these two posts:

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1042&message=35900296
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1042&message=35900399

for links to samples of a fast pan test I just did. Neither Steady Shot on or off with my NEX-5 produced the high judder that another user in that linked thread posted on youtube and you seem to be talking about here, Greg. Mine is just as smooth as DPR's tests.
 
Ken Ross said:
I'm really very steady with cameras, so that's not it. I'm using a San Disk Extreme III, rated at 30MBS, so that's not it.
Click to expand...
...

The manual says to use a "class 4" card. I looked it up online, and that's 40MB/s. So, my guess is that your card isn't fast enough.

I bought a Class 10 and Class 6 -- I'd rather have some extra headroom. The 8GB Class 10 was less than $29 at a local store. Shop around...

--
Gary W.
 
GaryW said:
The manual says to use a "class 4" card. I looked it up online, and that's 40MB/s. So, my guess is that your card isn't fast enough.
--
Gary W.
Click to expand...
Actually "class 4" only guarantees a minimum write (technically minimum transfer) speed of 4 (not 40) MB/s.

Ken,

Have you verified the write speed of your card in the past? Cards (even from premium brands and lines) have been accidentally or deliberately mislabeled in the past.

Another question: is it possible your card is either fragmented or badly worn? How old is the card and how extensively have you used it?

I did a couple different test pans with my NEX-5 and then viewed them both on the camera's screen and my tv and though I saw some judder/rolling shutter, it was nothing like the occasional visible stutter your video exhibits.

-Peter
 
panamamike said:
Could always be a bad cam.

Mike
Click to expand...
Definitely could be. Memory card's a lot quicker and easier fix, though. I'd hate to be separated from my NEX for a week or two or more for a trip to the repair shop only to be told there's nothing wrong.

-Peter
 
Ken, please can you upload a clip somewhere (Megaupload or whatever) so we can have a look at it? Then at least we will all be able to see what the problem is.
 
Just a couple of reminders that might explain the problem:

1) it seems like (according to reviews and samples), the NEX always try to keep the aperture wide open (shallow DOF), thus leading to fast shutter speeds during the video. If you are shooting a bright scene that might explain why some videos are not fluid (strobe effect)

2) also, the "PAL" version of the NEX will shoot at 25p (stored as 50i) compared to the 30p (60i) of the "NTSC" version. It doesn't sound like a big difference but it is 15%!

That might explain some of the problems!
 
nykoh said:
Just a couple of reminders that might explain the problem:

1) it seems like (according to reviews and samples), the NEX always try to keep the aperture wide open (shallow DOF), thus leading to fast shutter speeds during the video. If you are shooting a bright scene that might explain why some videos are not fluid (strobe effect)

2) also, the "PAL" version of the NEX will shoot at 25p (stored as 50i) compared to the 30p (60i) of the "NTSC" version. It doesn't sound like a big difference but it is 15%!

That might explain some of the problems!
Click to expand...
Agree with all of the above, hence the desire to see some actual footage.

For example in this clip you can see the water movement is frozen, so the shutter speed is very fast... which doesn't make for smooth movement, especially at only 25 fps!



 
Chippy99 said:
nykoh said:
Just a couple of reminders that might explain the problem:

1) it seems like (according to reviews and samples), the NEX always try to keep the aperture wide open (shallow DOF), thus leading to fast shutter speeds during the video. If you are shooting a bright scene that might explain why some videos are not fluid (strobe effect)

2) also, the "PAL" version of the NEX will shoot at 25p (stored as 50i) compared to the 30p (60i) of the "NTSC" version. It doesn't sound like a big difference but it is 15%!

That might explain some of the problems!
Click to expand...
Agree with all of the above, hence the desire to see some actual footage.

For example in this clip you can see the water movement is frozen, so the shutter speed is very fast... which doesn't make for smooth movement, especially at only 25 fps!



Click to expand...
I should have said, this is a still from a PAL NEX-5 movie taken in Rome recently.
 
GaryW said:
Ken Ross said:
I'm really very steady with cameras, so that's not it. I'm using a San Disk Extreme III, rated at 30MBS, so that's not it.
Click to expand...
...

The manual says to use a "class 4" card. I looked it up online, and that's 40MB/s. So, my guess is that your card isn't fast enough.

I bought a Class 10 and Class 6 -- I'd rather have some extra headroom. The 8GB Class 10 was less than $29 at a local store. Shop around...

--
Gary W.
Click to expand...
Definitely shop around. I just picked up a 16GB Class 10 ADATA card from Meritline for $32. I was wondering if I should have gotten the 32GB card, but it says the 16GB will hold of 2000 14MP photos! I don't know anything about SDHC cards, so I hope ADATA is a good enough brand. Good luck!
 
Gary, I did reformat one of the two cards I've tried. One is the Sandisk Extreme III I spoke of which I think has enough speed (I've used it in my Panasonic TMC 700 which I believe is even more demanding @1080 60p) and the other is a PNY 4GB card of unknown speed, but again successfully used in the Panny 700. I had tried reformatting the Sandisk, but with the same results.

Just as an aside, I haven't posted any clips yet, so I think you have me confused with another poster. Also, my friend picked up the Sony NEX5 today and we did an A/B test with each cam and found the results to be identical. There are times, depending on the subject matter, that the video is mostly smooth. At other times, especially with vertical objects on a sunny day as you pan, the stutter is clearly visible.

It sure looks like a frame rate issue to me as I've seen with virtually every small digicam I've owned that records at either 24p or 30p. So I'm not sure this is 'solvable' as opposed to the nature of the frame rate.
 
An interesting phenomena showed up in a clip of me running in my backyard. Although you couldn't see me stuttering, you could clearly see a stuttering in the vertical trees along my fence which were behind me. Now keep in mind that my wife was panning along with me, so the relative movement that I showed was not as great as the trees along the fence that were 'moving' at a greater clip.

Not sure if that makes any sense. Now tonight I shot some clips in a shopping mall and there was really no evidence of stuttering. I'm really coming to the conclusion that there's nothing wrong with the cam, but rather a combination of frame rate & shutter speeds in bright sunlight. My buddy's brand new NEX5 that was delivered today, showed the same stutter as mine.

I can't believe that any of these NEX5s exhibit pure stutter-free video in bright sunlight with the right subject matter. I'd be curious for you guys to try shooting some video outdoors in bright sun as you pan with vertical objects in the scene.
 
Chippy99 said:
For example in this clip you can see the water movement is frozen, so the shutter speed is very fast... which doesn't make for smooth movement, especially at only 25 fps!



Click to expand...
So Chippy, that's my point exactly! Are you saying in bright sunlight, with high shutter speeds, that any of these NEX cams will exhibit the stutter? Using traditional camcorders that have the luxury of built-in or switchable neutral density filters, you don't see this stutter at all. But they're shooting at a full 60fps and 1/60th second shutter speeds whether at 60i or 60p as in my Panasonic TMV700. The Sony is not acquiring the image at a true 60fps, but rather at 30fps. I think that alone will prevent the same buttery smooth motion of a traditional dedicated camcorder.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Keyboard shortcuts

f
Forum
m
My threads
Mobile site
About
Editorial content
Cameras & Lenses
Community
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1998–2025 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
©GPS Media - Guides, Products, Services.
Back
Top