Jerky footage with 1DMK4

Justin Molush · November 27th, 2011, 06:55 PM

DSLR footage is an H264 quicktime file. Post up your shot you are talking about and we can comment better.

Jon Fairhurst · November 27th, 2011, 10:37 PM

It's h.264 and not AVCHD, but that's splitting hairs. The bottom line is that, like AVCHD, it has a long-GOP (group of pictures) structure so it's a poor editing format. I highly recommend Cineform Neoscene. Then again, CS5 handles Canon MOV files pretty well on a powerful computer.

You might try looking at the frames one at a time while measuring the motion. It's possible that the camera dropped some frames if your card couldn't keep up. It's also possible that your computer can't keep up. Frame by frame analysis would prove it out - especially if you find that you get a duplicate.

Trevor Dennis · December 15th, 2011, 02:55 AM

Thought I'd just say I no longer get the jerky footage. I followed advice and always shoot at 1/50th, and keep the movement in tracking shots very slow (and speed up in Premiere pro if needed). I have also found that Premiere Pro's Frame Blend adds that last bit of smoothing.

Wayne Avanson · December 22nd, 2011, 03:27 AM

I used to get jerkiness on an early firmware version but with subsequent updates it went away ages ago, and I haven't had to worry about it since. Then recently I was trying a mini jib and found jerkiness evident in those shots. The shot was one that dropped diagonally into a room scene at a moderate speed.

As always, manual settings, 1/25 shutter 50 - then something like f4 and a moderate iso of 320 I think it was.

I reinstalled the latest firmware update and will check it out again when I get a minute.

Jon Fairhurst · December 22nd, 2011, 01:41 PM

It's that "moderate speed" that can get you. I've seen the same on some of my jib shots that I've done that weren't tracking anything. I was just showing the space.

According to the ASC tables, panning should take 7 seconds or more (roughly) from edge to edge. You can go faster when tracking a person or vehicle. And (aside from rolling shutter issues), you can whip pan. A whip is abrupt enough that the move is disorienting, so the judder isn't noticed.

What I've learned is that I need to be more patient with non-tracking jib shots. If it will take too long or doesn't have high enough energy, I can add jump cuts in post. And if one values smoothness over sharpness, consider 1/30 or 1/25.

November 27th, 2011, 06:55 PM	#16
Justin Molush Major Player Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Montreal Posts: 388	Re: Jerky footage with 1DMK4 DSLR footage is an H264 quicktime file. Post up your shot you are talking about and we can comment better.

November 27th, 2011, 10:37 PM	#17
Jon Fairhurst Inner Circle Join Date: May 2006 Location: Camas, WA, USA Posts: 5,513	Re: Jerky footage with 1DMK4 It's h.264 and not AVCHD, but that's splitting hairs. The bottom line is that, like AVCHD, it has a long-GOP (group of pictures) structure so it's a poor editing format. I highly recommend Cineform Neoscene. Then again, CS5 handles Canon MOV files pretty well on a powerful computer. You might try looking at the frames one at a time while measuring the motion. It's possible that the camera dropped some frames if your card couldn't keep up. It's also possible that your computer can't keep up. Frame by frame analysis would prove it out - especially if you find that you get a duplicate. __________________ Jon Fairhurst

December 15th, 2011, 02:55 AM	#18
Trevor Dennis Major Player Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: New Zealand, Rapaura (near Blenheim) Posts: 434	Re: Jerky footage with 1DMK4 Thought I'd just say I no longer get the jerky footage. I followed advice and always shoot at 1/50th, and keep the movement in tracking shots very slow (and speed up in Premiere pro if needed). I have also found that Premiere Pro's Frame Blend adds that last bit of smoothing. __________________ Stills at: www.flickr.com/photos/trevor-dennis/

December 22nd, 2011, 03:27 AM	#19
Wayne Avanson Major Player Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Lancashire UK Posts: 496	Re: Jerky footage with 1DMK4 I used to get jerkiness on an early firmware version but with subsequent updates it went away ages ago, and I haven't had to worry about it since. Then recently I was trying a mini jib and found jerkiness evident in those shots. The shot was one that dropped diagonally into a room scene at a moderate speed. As always, manual settings, 1/25 shutter 50 - then something like f4 and a moderate iso of 320 I think it was. I reinstalled the latest firmware update and will check it out again when I get a minute. __________________ Avey theactionhouse.com

December 22nd, 2011, 01:41 PM	#20
Jon Fairhurst Inner Circle Join Date: May 2006 Location: Camas, WA, USA Posts: 5,513	Re: Jerky footage with 1DMK4 It's that "moderate speed" that can get you. I've seen the same on some of my jib shots that I've done that weren't tracking anything. I was just showing the space. According to the ASC tables, panning should take 7 seconds or more (roughly) from edge to edge. You can go faster when tracking a person or vehicle. And (aside from rolling shutter issues), you can whip pan. A whip is abrupt enough that the move is disorienting, so the judder isn't noticed. What I've learned is that I need to be more patient with non-tracking jib shots. If it will take too long or doesn't have high enough energy, I can add jump cuts in post. And if one values smoothness over sharpness, consider 1/30 or 1/25. __________________ Jon Fairhurst