New POV Camera Option...And It Is CCD!!!

[Thane Silliker]

Just found out about this camera today, the Canon S95.

Just released recently. It has a waterproff case reminiscent of our beloved
GoPro. This will be larger, but should be rugged and have low risk of destroying
the camera should it break free.

The big news is that is HD and CCD. Downsides are it is limited to 720P
and 24 fps. Promises to be way better (perhaps actually useful) in low light
compared to the GoPro due to f2.0 lens and the abillity to specify an
upper ISO limit to control graininess and wild fluctuations caused by out of
control auto-ISO algorithms.

Brings Canon's penchant for top flight optics into the game. I am getting one
straight away. Jello on single cylinder dirt bikes makes the GoPro totally useless.

There is also a claim that the camera"s new hybrid IS controls
more types of movement.

Other cool bits: stereo sound (probably not much from within the
housing I suppose), selectable aspect ratio (4:3, 16:9, 3:2, 1:1, and 4:5)

I will post some comparison footage when I get the waterproof
housing for my motorbikes.

[Dan Brockett]

Thane:

Thanks for the link, looks interesting. How will you mount it though, it doesn't look as if it has much in the way of mounting options. Looks great for handheld though but for helmet cam or mounting on a car, how would you do it so that you could tilt or pan it to get the shot framing just right?

Dan

[Thane Silliker]

I answered your question with a new thread as others may find it useful.

http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/new-micr...ml#post1592420

[Les Wilson]

This thread may interest you:
http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/photo-hd...ams-video.html

[Thane Silliker]

The following little CCD camera shoots 720P at 30fps: Canon SD1400 IS. Looks nice and compact and has a waterproof cover optional accessory. Although the waterproof cover accessory costs as much as the camera itself!

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/675616-REG/Canon_4182B001_PowerShot_SD1400_IS_Digital.html
I see there is a special on these and tomorrow is the last day!

Videos tagged 'sd1400' on Vimeo

[Dylan Couper]

I have both the S95 and several GoPro cameras... here's the major differences:

S95
Pro
-smokes the GoPro in low light
-fantastic still camera

Con
-double the price of a GoPro
-waterproof case that is mountable doubles the price. You can get 4 GoPros (if you know where to look) for the price of 1 s95 waterproof setup.

GoPro
Pro
-ultrawide lens
-slow motion
-multiple still shot mode

Con
-auto exposure is not great
-noisy image in many conditions


Bottom line:
In good light, for the price, GoPro all the way.
If you need a low light crash cam/underwater cam, buy a used HDV camera/underwater rig off Ebay.


GOPRO PEOPLE... if you ever read this... exposure lock button!

[Ronald Jackson]

But isn't the S95 only 720p while the GoPro is 1080p?

[Thane Silliker]

It is true that the GoPro outputs a 1080P frame in top mode. I would doubt the actual lines of resolution would equal that of the Canon. Many have reported the 720P mode of the GoPro looks better due to its wider field of view. I would agree.

I have really been disappointed with the GoPro in low light and in stuations where it is exposed to vibration. There is often significant rolling shutter artifacts on the single cylinder dirt bikes I attach these things to. I can't wait to find a CCD camera that is both rugged and looks great.

[Dylan Couper]

Originally Posted by Ronald Jackson

But isn't the S95 only 720p while the GoPro is 1080p?

Yes, but the two attractive modes (60p and ulllltrawide) of the GoPro are 720p. 1080 is limited fov 30p only. Great for some occasions, but probably not what you are buying a GoPro for.

And one more time, GoPro lowlight = terrible.

[Chris Hurd]

Originally Posted by Thane Silliker

selectable aspect ratio (4:3, 16:9, 3:2, 1:1, and 4:5)

Selectable aspects ratios in the PowerShot S95 are for
photo mode only. They aren't available in video mode.

However the S95 has a cool video feature called "miniature
effect" which is actually an intervalometer for doing time lapse.

[Laurence Janus]

This is some footage I took yesterday with my Canon PowerShot S95

IMAGE STABILIZATION was ON. I think it was fighting the vibration of the car.

Asayan San at Suzuka Twin Circuit on Vimeo

This was my first time to use my Canon PowerShot S95 as an "incar camera" and unfortunately I didn't have a chance to try it again today with Image Stabilization OFF.

It was attached to the car using a Wood's Powr-Grip suction mount and Manfrotto 3D Super Junior Head #115

Which is the same setup I used to make this video on the same car with a MiniDV Canon MVX25i, so I don't think the mount was the problem

???? LOOKING AE86 :: ????? ??? ???? on Vimeo

[Dylan Couper]

The IS of the S95 in video mode is not the miracle worker that is the IS of other Canons.

[Robert Lane]

Thane,

I'm with you: I'm in the process of putting together a motor-sports show demo and the GoPro is most definitely a "no-go" for us as well.

That being said if you ever get a chance to look at the latest offering from Discovery networks, "Cafe Racer" they have POV shots (done with which cam I don't know) with TONS of jello-vision. It's really horrible to look at. Most especially during a look-forward shot from the rear of the bike during a turn, and the entire horizon line and lower half of the screen went into full-on "warble mode" leaving many of us feeling nauseous.

Jello-vision + Nausea = Bad production idea, so we 'aint gonna do it.

There are HD-CCD options but they're very expensive and require a proper engineering setup to use (i.e. Iconix and others) so like you we're researching options. If I come up with something valid I'll let the forum know.

So far the only thing I've found with a broadcast-quality imager is an older SD lipstick cam from Sony, but having pillars on an HD production just doesn't seem... right. Know what I mean? ugh.

Seems to me there's a huge market for a manufacturer to bang out an affordable and *real* HD POV cam with CCD's and eliminate the jello-vision issue altogether.

[Mark Goldberg]

I've studied this subject and have done some experiments with three cameras, a Canon SX200 point-and-shoot in 720P movie mode, and Canon HF10 HD camcorder in 1080p mode, and a Drift Innovation HD170 Stealth POV camera in 720-60P and 1080-30P modes.

I had the Canon's on a Delkin Fat Gecko dual suction cup mount with arm extended to hold the Canon cameras upright. There was excessive vibration and I figured out that it came heavily from the mount's extension arm and to some extent, the suction cups. The HD 170 is much lighter cam at 6 oz. and can be mounted inverted. I used a small single suction cup mount. Due to the wide lens, lightness of the system, and suspended mounting, the apparent vibration was MUCH LESS over the same course.

However, cameras like the HD170, the GoPro, and the Countour all suffer from a jello-image effect due to the way their CMOS sensors work. CCD sensors capture all pixels at once, then shift out the data. CMOS sensors work line by line top down. For anyone who understands how a focal plane shutter works in a 35mm film or DSLR camera, you've got a similar problem. Beyond a certain shutter speed the entire frame is NOT exposed at once.

However, cameras like the Canon mentioned in this thread require special treatment to avoid pitfalls, namely, careful mounting to minimize vibration, and possibly an accessory wide lens adapter. It may even help to mount the camera inverted on a simpler mount like the Panavise, then reorient the image in software. I have also been successful in stabilizing video like this with an editing application, Sony Vegas Pro 10, that has a stabilizing function. However, it takes rendering time and compromises some resolution.