Camera Specs at DVinfo.net

Ken Sherman · May 7th, 2003, 06:55 PM

I'm looking for a camera that will sometimes see duty shooting footage off Computer Monitors. What specifications should I be concerned with when reviewing potential cameras?

Boyd Ostroff · May 7th, 2003, 07:01 PM

Some cameras have a special feature for this, however depending on what you're doing you might also consider shooting an LCD screen instead. They're getting pretty affordable these days, or you could even film a laptop. LCD's don't scan/refresh like CRT's so there are no problems filming them.

Scott Billups suggested this as a (relatively) inexpensive way to transfer your video to film by renting a high quality plasma screen and 16mm or 35mm camera. Anybody around here ever try that?

Alex Knappenberger · May 7th, 2003, 07:10 PM

Any camera with a 1/60 shutter speed can shoot computer monitors good enough, as long as the monitor refresh rate is at 60Hz...but LCD's are the way to go.

Adrian Douglas · May 7th, 2003, 08:48 PM

Both the XL1 and the GL2 have a feature called clear scan, which allows you to shoot computers monitors without getting the scan lines. The feature is adjustable through a wide range to allow for various refresh rates.

Dylan Couper · May 7th, 2003, 09:54 PM

Adrian, the Clear Scan is only on the XL1s, not the XL1, isn't it?

Adrian Douglas · May 8th, 2003, 08:10 AM

Yeah Dylan, only the XL1s and GL2, my mistake.

Don Parrish · May 8th, 2003, 09:24 AM

In trying some experimenting with my computer I decided to enable tv out on my computer and input it directly into the camera via the audio video inputs. It was a nascar driving game and I wanted to see if I could create a cartoon style television show by computer and get it back to DV with high quality. By doing this there are no artifacts from camera angles, camera movement, or sync lines and it replays beautifully. I used my TV to set it up and make sure the aspect was right, then I used the s-video and rca audio into my XL1S. It came out perfect. It could have easily created the show.

Akos Szemenyei · May 8th, 2003, 09:36 AM

The Panasonic DVX100 can do it.

Ken Sherman · May 8th, 2003, 05:07 PM

Thanks for all of the replies. Does anyone know if it's possible to take the crt (vga) ouput from a computer and get an adapter cable that will go to rca jacks?

Adrian Douglas · May 8th, 2003, 11:52 PM

It can be done. I got an adapter to to exactly that with my Matrox G400. Actually it has both s-video and composite. Don't know if they are available from other places though.

Andre De Clercq · May 9th, 2003, 02:20 AM

Don, you are right on the potential artifacts with screenshoots, but remember that computer images have progressive scan and your TV-out is interlaced. Mostly this conversion (prog>interlace) is done by simple field repetition which results in halved vertical resolution and "stairstepping" on slightly angled horizontal lines.

Don Parrish · May 9th, 2003, 07:19 AM

Andre, although I didn't go over it with a fine tooth comb everything looked in place. It was far better than shooting from the screen. I use a visontek TI 4200, and so far it has done a great job. I also ran it through vegas:)

May 7th, 2003, 06:55 PM	#1
Ken Sherman Tourist Join Date: May 2003 Location: Iowa Posts: 2	Camera Specs I'm looking for a camera that will sometimes see duty shooting footage off Computer Monitors. What specifications should I be concerned with when reviewing potential cameras?

May 7th, 2003, 08:48 PM	#4
Adrian Douglas Trustee Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Chigasaki, Japan. Posts: 1,660	Both the XL1 and the GL2 have a feature called clear scan, which allows you to shoot computers monitors without getting the scan lines. The feature is adjustable through a wide range to allow for various refresh rates. __________________ Adrian DVInfo.net Search for quick answers Where to buy? From the best in the business...DVInfo.net sponsors

May 7th, 2003, 09:54 PM	#5
Dylan Couper Wrangler Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Posts: 8,314	Adrian, the Clear Scan is only on the XL1s, not the XL1, isn't it? __________________ Need to rent camera gear in Vancouver BC? Check me out at camerarentalsvancouver.com

May 8th, 2003, 08:10 AM	#6
Adrian Douglas Trustee Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Chigasaki, Japan. Posts: 1,660	Yeah Dylan, only the XL1s and GL2, my mistake. __________________ Adrian DVInfo.net Search for quick answers Where to buy? From the best in the business...DVInfo.net sponsors

May 8th, 2003, 11:52 PM	#10
Adrian Douglas Trustee Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Chigasaki, Japan. Posts: 1,660	It can be done. I got an adapter to to exactly that with my Matrox G400. Actually it has both s-video and composite. Don't know if they are available from other places though. __________________ Adrian DVInfo.net Search for quick answers Where to buy? From the best in the business...DVInfo.net sponsors

May 7th, 2003, 07:01 PM	#2
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,794	Some cameras have a special feature for this, however depending on what you're doing you might also consider shooting an LCD screen instead. They're getting pretty affordable these days, or you could even film a laptop. LCD's don't scan/refresh like CRT's so there are no problems filming them. Scott Billups suggested this as a (relatively) inexpensive way to transfer your video to film by renting a high quality plasma screen and 16mm or 35mm camera. Anybody around here ever try that?

May 7th, 2003, 07:10 PM	#3
Alex Knappenberger High School Student Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Canton, Ohio, USA Posts: 609	Any camera with a 1/60 shutter speed can shoot computer monitors good enough, as long as the monitor refresh rate is at 60Hz...but LCD's are the way to go.

May 8th, 2003, 09:24 AM	#7
Don Parrish Major Player Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Tavares Fla Posts: 541	In trying some experimenting with my computer I decided to enable tv out on my computer and input it directly into the camera via the audio video inputs. It was a nascar driving game and I wanted to see if I could create a cartoon style television show by computer and get it back to DV with high quality. By doing this there are no artifacts from camera angles, camera movement, or sync lines and it replays beautifully. I used my TV to set it up and make sure the aspect was right, then I used the s-video and rca audio into my XL1S. It came out perfect. It could have easily created the show.

May 8th, 2003, 09:36 AM	#8
Akos Szemenyei Regular Crew Join Date: May 2003 Location: Saitama, Japan Posts: 111	The Panasonic DVX100 can do it.

May 8th, 2003, 05:07 PM	#9
Ken Sherman Tourist Join Date: May 2003 Location: Iowa Posts: 2	Thanks for all of the replies. Does anyone know if it's possible to take the crt (vga) ouput from a computer and get an adapter cable that will go to rca jacks?

May 9th, 2003, 02:20 AM	#11
Andre De Clercq Major Player Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Belgium Posts: 804	Don, you are right on the potential artifacts with screenshoots, but remember that computer images have progressive scan and your TV-out is interlaced. Mostly this conversion (prog>interlace) is done by simple field repetition which results in halved vertical resolution and "stairstepping" on slightly angled horizontal lines.

May 9th, 2003, 07:19 AM	#12
Don Parrish Major Player Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Tavares Fla Posts: 541	Andre, although I didn't go over it with a fine tooth comb everything looked in place. It was far better than shooting from the screen. I use a visontek TI 4200, and so far it has done a great job. I also ran it through vegas:)