Difficulty in getting sharp landscaps shots!!! at DVinfo.net

Raymond Jones · June 11th, 2006, 03:50 AM

I'm happy with my XM2 overall. The only really difficulty I have is when trying to film landscapes. The pictures appear to be blurry and without detail. If I zoom in in a subject the pics fine but when zooming out the pics bad!!! Is there anyway I can increase the picture detail?

Robin Davies-Rollinson · June 11th, 2006, 04:01 AM

Sorry, but I think that you've found the biggest drawback with small CCD DV camcorders, and Standard Def DV as well. You just won't have the resolving power of the system to allow for the fine details in landscapes. Close shots will be fine - as you've discovered.
The loss of resolution is even more marked if you use the faux-widescreen setting as well.
Another reason - although I don't think so somehow - could be a fault with your lens; though with fixed lenses, there shouldn't really be anything to go wrong...

Robin

John Jay · June 11th, 2006, 04:34 AM

I agree with what Robin says.

As a remedy, you could zoom in a bit and try your hand at a very slow pan.

Raymond Jones · June 11th, 2006, 04:38 AM

Thanks for your replies....any 3 ccd cams you can recommend which would be good for landscapes? I've heard the Sony FX1 is good at capturing landscapes?

Tim Johnson · June 11th, 2006, 04:39 AM

Stupid question time again for me - what f number (aperture) are you shooting at? Generally, the higher the more dof and the sharper the image seems.

Raymond Jones · June 11th, 2006, 04:45 AM

I think the last time I took some video of a local landscape it was set at f4 or something near that!

Tim Johnson · June 11th, 2006, 05:02 AM

f4 on dv is quite sharp, but it cant hurt to try higher values

Raymond Jones · June 11th, 2006, 05:16 AM

I've just been trying my cam out through my bedroom window and at the local mountain at f1.6 the pictures a great deal sharper! I think I need to experiement more!

Don Palomaki · June 11th, 2006, 05:48 AM

The problem is the resolution limits of video. 720x480 will not resolve fine detail, and wide landsacpe shots need fine detail. The same issue can be encounterd with still photography, but because film is generally much higher resolutionit is notas pronounced and arises ar much greater distances fromt he subject.

The sweet spot for lens performance is likely around F/5.6, give or take a stop.

Boyd Ostroff · June 11th, 2006, 06:51 AM

People have made some good points here. The relatively low resolution of standard definition DV is a big limitation for shooting landscapes, and the small chips in your camera don't make things any better. But with some experience you can compose shots that are still effective by concentrating on large, bold shapes or dramatic skies. Here are a few still frames from my Z1 with a .6x wide angle lens, scaled down to half resolution (960x540). If landscapes are important to you then you might consider the FX1 or one of the other new HD camcorders:

http://forums.njpinebarrens.com/gall...707&fullsize=1
http://forums.njpinebarrens.com/gall...705&fullsize=1

Have a look at this old thread which contains some interesting info and also links to some tests I did awhile ago: http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=28087

Raymond Jones · June 11th, 2006, 07:54 AM

Cheers and thanks for the great advice from everyone! Amazing still pictures by the way!

June 11th, 2006, 03:50 AM	#1
Raymond Jones New Boot Join Date: May 2006 Location: UK Posts: 14	Difficulty in getting sharp landscaps shots!!! I'm happy with my XM2 overall. The only really difficulty I have is when trying to film landscapes. The pictures appear to be blurry and without detail. If I zoom in in a subject the pics fine but when zooming out the pics bad!!! Is there anyway I can increase the picture detail?

June 11th, 2006, 04:34 AM	#3
John Jay Major Player Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: US & THEM Posts: 827	I agree with what Robin says. As a remedy, you could zoom in a bit and try your hand at a very slow pan. __________________ John Jay Beware *PLUGGER-BYTES*

June 11th, 2006, 04:38 AM	#4
Raymond Jones New Boot Join Date: May 2006 Location: UK Posts: 14	cheers! Thanks for your replies....any 3 ccd cams you can recommend which would be good for landscapes? I've heard the Sony FX1 is good at capturing landscapes?

June 11th, 2006, 04:45 AM	#6
Raymond Jones New Boot Join Date: May 2006 Location: UK Posts: 14	Hello I think the last time I took some video of a local landscape it was set at f4 or something near that!

June 11th, 2006, 05:16 AM	#8
Raymond Jones New Boot Join Date: May 2006 Location: UK Posts: 14	Cheers! I've just been trying my cam out through my bedroom window and at the local mountain at f1.6 the pictures a great deal sharper! I think I need to experiement more!

June 11th, 2006, 04:01 AM	#2
Robin Davies-Rollinson Trustee Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Gwaelod-y-garth, Cardiff, CYMRU/WALES Posts: 1,215	Sorry, but I think that you've found the biggest drawback with small CCD DV camcorders, and Standard Def DV as well. You just won't have the resolving power of the system to allow for the fine details in landscapes. Close shots will be fine - as you've discovered. The loss of resolution is even more marked if you use the faux-widescreen setting as well. Another reason - although I don't think so somehow - could be a fault with your lens; though with fixed lenses, there shouldn't really be anything to go wrong... Robin

June 11th, 2006, 04:39 AM	#5
Tim Johnson Regular Crew Join Date: May 2006 Location: London, England Posts: 101	Stupid question time again for me - what f number (aperture) are you shooting at? Generally, the higher the more dof and the sharper the image seems.

June 11th, 2006, 05:02 AM	#7
Tim Johnson Regular Crew Join Date: May 2006 Location: London, England Posts: 101	f4 on dv is quite sharp, but it cant hurt to try higher values

June 11th, 2006, 05:48 AM	#9
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,488	The problem is the resolution limits of video. 720x480 will not resolve fine detail, and wide landsacpe shots need fine detail. The same issue can be encounterd with still photography, but because film is generally much higher resolutionit is notas pronounced and arises ar much greater distances fromt he subject. The sweet spot for lens performance is likely around F/5.6, give or take a stop. __________________ dpalomaki@dspalomaki.com

June 11th, 2006, 06:51 AM	#10
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,802	People have made some good points here. The relatively low resolution of standard definition DV is a big limitation for shooting landscapes, and the small chips in your camera don't make things any better. But with some experience you can compose shots that are still effective by concentrating on large, bold shapes or dramatic skies. Here are a few still frames from my Z1 with a .6x wide angle lens, scaled down to half resolution (960x540). If landscapes are important to you then you might consider the FX1 or one of the other new HD camcorders: http://forums.njpinebarrens.com/gall...707&fullsize=1 http://forums.njpinebarrens.com/gall...705&fullsize=1 Have a look at this old thread which contains some interesting info and also links to some tests I did awhile ago: http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=28087

June 11th, 2006, 07:54 AM	#11
Raymond Jones New Boot Join Date: May 2006 Location: UK Posts: 14	cheers! Cheers and thanks for the great advice from everyone! Amazing still pictures by the way!