Video Recording

[travpeg]

Hi all, 

This is our first year using Pixels and Xlights.  I'm trying to get some good video of our display to show our friends and family.

I'm using a Galaxy Note 9 on a tripod, but the autofocus results can be a bit frustrating, and the image quality is not very sharp.

What are others using for this?  Is perhaps a DSLR or something else going to yield better results?

[rayster]

Watch your pixel brightness. I have mine down to about 30% anything brighter does not work so well.

Ray

[Bwinter]

I've struggled with this for years two.  Primarily, you need to LOCK (on your camera) both the BRIGHTNESS and FOCUS (so that it's not auto-adjusting constantly while recording).

I have a test-sequence that has all my props running, and use that let the camera auto-focus (and brightness adjust).  I then LOCK the settings from that test-sequence, and then proceed to record my show.

[Stormyblade]

Watch your pixel brightness. I have mine down to about 30% anything brighter does not work so well.

Ray

I run my display at 25% when filming (I run E682s, so I can't step by 10% at a time like you can with a Falcon). I even had a semi-pro photographer come out and record last year and she had a difficult time locking on and keeping things in focus. I've yet to find a foolproof method that doesn't involve expensive camera equipment.

[rayster]

Maybe if you can put an LED to run off a battery to have as a constant point for the camera to focus on it may help.

Ray

[travpeg]

Thanks everyone, will try to look at some of these setting this evening 

[Stormyblade]

Maybe if you can put an LED to run off a battery to have as a constant point for the camera to focus on it may help.

Ray

She focused on a spot and still said there were occasional issues with recording. Probably didn't help that is was raining and we had traffic driving by several times.

[travpeg]

So, I turned off ALL of my exterior lights, and any "white light" such as my sign that said "tune to XXX".  That definitely helped the most.

I also disabled AF, and selected a spot on the back of the house for focus.

Still a lot of improvement to be made, and i unfortunately have a street light right next to my house, which casts some harsh shadows.

Will try to look at other options for next year.

[Stormyblade]

Looks good! Of course, I'm betting your lights have much better color and intensity in person than in the video. That's not your fault, that's just how filming non-static LEDs works unless you have really good equipment and can tailor the settings.