Sony xr 520 slow mo settings? at DVinfo.net

Russell Bailey · July 15th, 2009, 05:01 PM

Hi, i have had by cam for a little while now and used the slow motion feature a few times.

One thing i can't find in the settings is how to you alter the frames per second rate? its default seems to be 60 fps. But in all the advertising it says it does from 60 fps to 240 fps.

anyone know where this setting is?

my little collection of slow mo footage http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2Nkz90sNEE

thanks
russ

Adam Gold · July 15th, 2009, 05:27 PM

If you used the Smooth Slow Record function (p.45-46), then that's it. The cam doesn't really have variable frame rates and doesn't really overcrank. SMTH SLW REC *is* the 240 fps rate. And in this case the f is for fields, not frames.

For the uninitiated, the regular video from this and all US HD interlaced cams is 30 frames or 60 fields per second. Sony's SMTH SLW REC function is 120 frames/240 fields per second at 1/4 the resolution, or just a little better than VHS; it's not HD or even as good as DV.

Russell Bailey · July 15th, 2009, 06:33 PM

Thanks for the info Adam, it was a bit confusing.

so is it 120 frames per second or 30 frames per second when i use "SMTH SLW REC"?

sorry but i am just confused :(

Kevin Duffey · July 15th, 2009, 07:06 PM

It's 120 fields, or 60 frames.. basically 50% speed. Problem is.. as he says, its poor resolution, so you won't really be able to use the video in an SD timeline as it's going to be smaller. That seems odd to me tho that they do that..that really renders it useless except for maybe web video.

Russell Bailey · July 15th, 2009, 08:10 PM

ok, so its 60 frames per second. the video i took seems fine to me regardless if its classed as poor resolution or not. it looks great. even this boat video i took sony XR520ve boat in slow motion test on Vimeo

thats the reason for the question. as someone asked me and i actually wasn't sure and now i am still not 100% sure lol :)

Dave Blackhurst · July 15th, 2009, 09:52 PM

You can't change the frame rate, but the camera and PMB indicate it is in fact shooting the slo-mo in HD resolution... I know earlier cameras were limited to SD, but it appears the XR is not.

Adam Gold · July 15th, 2009, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin Duffey

It's 120 fields, or 60 frames.. basically 50% speed.

I can't swear to it, as the manual isn't specific and I don't have the 520V, but all other Sony cams to date do it as I described above, which is 120 Frames/240 fields per second in that mode, or 25% speed.

From the Sony Website:

"Smooth Slow Record:
The Smooth Slow Record mode increases the record rate from 60 frames per second (fps) to 240 fps, allowing you to capture 3 seconds of fast motion and play the video back in 12 seconds. This is a great tool for analyzing a golf swing or a viewing a bird in flight. In addition, you record an audio track to narrate the video footage."

Of course when they say frames they mean fields, as this is a 100% 60i cam and does not have any form of progressive.

HDR-XR520V | HDR-XR520V 240GB High Definition Handycam® Camcorder | Sony | SonyStyle USA

Dave Blackhurst · July 17th, 2009, 04:11 PM

The camera uses a buffer to record at 4x the "normal" frame rate (60i x 4 = 240i meaning that 3 seconds played back at 60i results in 12 seconds of playback) - I would presume this means that for a short burst, they are pushing/pulling the data through the sensor (probably causing some heat buildup, but no problem for short bursts?) at an accelerated rate.

Apparently with the "R" sensor they were able to maintain the HD resolution - haven't played with the function much yet, but will have to fiddle with it some more - I have a couple things I want to try with it...

Stu Holmes · July 17th, 2009, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russell Bailey

ok, so its 60 frames per second. the video i took seems fine to me regardless if its classed as poor resolution or not. it looks great. even this boat video i took sony XR520ve boat in slow motion test on Vimeo

thats the reason for the question. as someone asked me and i actually wasn't sure and now i am still not 100% sure lol :)

Actually Russell, since you're in Australia, you have a XR520VE and so the Smooth Slow Record will be shooting at 100frames-per-second, and not 120-frames-per-second.

Russell Bailey · July 18th, 2009, 12:34 AM

thanks for the clarification Stu, I will update the response to my video again :)

thanks
russ

July 15th, 2009, 05:01 PM	#1
Russell Bailey Regular Crew Join Date: May 2009 Location: Australia Brisbane Posts: 37	Sony xr 520 slow mo settings? Hi, i have had by cam for a little while now and used the slow motion feature a few times. One thing i can't find in the settings is how to you alter the frames per second rate? its default seems to be 60 fps. But in all the advertising it says it does from 60 fps to 240 fps. anyone know where this setting is? my little collection of slow mo footage http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2Nkz90sNEE thanks russ

July 15th, 2009, 05:27 PM	#2
Adam Gold Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Woodinville, WA USA Posts: 3,467	If you used the Smooth Slow Record function (p.45-46), then that's it. The cam doesn't really have variable frame rates and doesn't really overcrank. SMTH SLW REC is the 240 fps rate. And in this case the f is for fields, not frames. For the uninitiated, the regular video from this and all US HD interlaced cams is 30 frames or 60 fields per second. Sony's SMTH SLW REC function is 120 frames/240 fields per second at 1/4 the resolution, or just a little better than VHS; it's not HD or even as good as DV.

July 15th, 2009, 06:33 PM	#3
Russell Bailey Regular Crew Join Date: May 2009 Location: Australia Brisbane Posts: 37	Thanks for the info Adam, it was a bit confusing. so is it 120 frames per second or 30 frames per second when i use "SMTH SLW REC"? sorry but i am just confused :(

July 15th, 2009, 07:06 PM	#4
Kevin Duffey Major Player Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: California Posts: 206	It's 120 fields, or 60 frames.. basically 50% speed. Problem is.. as he says, its poor resolution, so you won't really be able to use the video in an SD timeline as it's going to be smaller. That seems odd to me tho that they do that..that really renders it useless except for maybe web video.

July 15th, 2009, 08:10 PM	#5
Russell Bailey Regular Crew Join Date: May 2009 Location: Australia Brisbane Posts: 37	ok, so its 60 frames per second. the video i took seems fine to me regardless if its classed as poor resolution or not. it looks great. even this boat video i took sony XR520ve boat in slow motion test on Vimeo thats the reason for the question. as someone asked me and i actually wasn't sure and now i am still not 100% sure lol :)

July 15th, 2009, 09:52 PM	#6
Dave Blackhurst Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Apple Valley CA Posts: 4,874	You can't change the frame rate, but the camera and PMB indicate it is in fact shooting the slo-mo in HD resolution... I know earlier cameras were limited to SD, but it appears the XR is not.

July 17th, 2009, 04:11 PM	#8
Dave Blackhurst Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Apple Valley CA Posts: 4,874	The camera uses a buffer to record at 4x the "normal" frame rate (60i x 4 = 240i meaning that 3 seconds played back at 60i results in 12 seconds of playback) - I would presume this means that for a short burst, they are pushing/pulling the data through the sensor (probably causing some heat buildup, but no problem for short bursts?) at an accelerated rate. Apparently with the "R" sensor they were able to maintain the HD resolution - haven't played with the function much yet, but will have to fiddle with it some more - I have a couple things I want to try with it...

July 18th, 2009, 12:34 AM	#10
Russell Bailey Regular Crew Join Date: May 2009 Location: Australia Brisbane Posts: 37	thanks for the clarification Stu, I will update the response to my video again :) thanks russ