Short Time-Lapse test at DVinfo.net

Steven White · April 7th, 2005, 03:12 PM

Not so much relevant, or advice seeking, this is just a time-lapse test I did on my camera the other dusk. It seems that not a lot of HDV content is available, so I thought I'd put some out there. Note that the file is hosted by www.yousendit.com - so if you've got stuff you want to put up, this is a pretty cheap (as in free) and easy way to do it.

Here's a link (10 MB)
http://s23.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3...X24TGUVU10VL4I

Details:
- Shot on an FX1 on 1080i for 7 minutes.
- Captured on CapDVHS.
- In After Effects a 1440x1080 composition was made (PA 1.33)
- Video was time stretched to 10s @ 60p
- Frame blending for the LAYER and for the RENDER was turned (note - this signal averages all frames, which results in a reduction of the noise per frame).
- Equalize filter (Photoshop mode) was applied at 50% to maintain brightness and increase colour saturation
- Video was rendered out to an uncompressed 1440x1080 60p avi file.
- Avi was taken into After Effects and compressed to WMV 8000 kbps @ 720 (60p) for web distribution.
- When video was played back I noticed a smudge on my lens and swore.

Additional notes: as the motion in general in this shot was smooth, and every frame was averaged, no deinterlacing was required. The raw 1440x1080 60p image was the cleanest video I've ever seen thanks to signal averaging, and any blocks or grain you see here is a direct result of the WMV compression.

Note: I also have the clip hosted online on a private server. If this link becomes unavailable, e-mail me and I'll send a direct link.

Chris Jothi · April 7th, 2005, 03:54 PM

Looks fantastic.

Time lapse is a wonderful effect, and the Sony camera (as well as your post process) work perfectly.

The only problem for me is how widespread it has become in documentary filmmaking. It is almost a visual cliche, however when it looks this good WHO CARES!

Can't imagine how sweet it would look on a projector.

Thanks for the demonstration.

Drew Mandac · April 8th, 2005, 05:58 PM

Awesome footage! Didn't really notice the smudge until you mentioned it.

Steven Gotz · April 8th, 2005, 07:11 PM

It is funny how clouds interest so many of us. Cheap talent? But still very interesting?

In any case, this was from the balcony in Acapulco, and I didn't notice the rain drop smudge until I was editing. It was the last thing I shot on that vacation or I would have known sooner.

I cropped it a bit in the corners to cover the fact that I messed up the composition of the shot by allowing part of the roof to intrude.

As I recall, it is over 30 minutes of video compressed into 30 seconds.

9.19MB and it is 1280X720 since that looks fine on my television, so there is no real need to have it full size.

http://s18.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0XALCOR805RUK2RZV7MFKBWVNN

Steven White · April 8th, 2005, 08:17 PM

Nothing like time-lapsed clouds to show you smudges on the lens you'd likely have not noticed otherwise!

-Steve

A. Stone · April 10th, 2005, 08:54 AM

Very nice!

I'd like to see a pre-After effects sample before any manipulation, namely because I don't cuurently have After Effects and wonder what is would look like "raw".

Cheers!

Andrew Stone

A. Stone · April 10th, 2005, 09:15 AM

what shutter speed and F-stop did you shoot at?

Steven White · April 10th, 2005, 09:49 AM

Ask and ye shall receive:

3 raw frames (jpg compressed, but untouched otherwise)

http://s94963366.onlinehome.us/HDRFX1/sky.jpg
http://s94963366.onlinehome.us/HDRFX1/sky2.jpg
http://s94963366.onlinehome.us/HDRFX1/sky3.jpg

Mode:
PP1 - 1080i, color +7, sharpness 8
Iris - f6.0
Shutter - 1/60
Gain - 0 dB
WB - outdoor pre-set
Focus - infinity
+ UV filter

In retrospect, I might have turned on the Cinematone Gamma, opened it up until I saw zebras, then turned it down one stop to try and get a higher dynamic range in the image.

A. Stone · April 10th, 2005, 10:36 AM

Wow thanks!

I'm reasonably familiar with still photography, but videography is a whole new experience...it's nice to see what the camera can do in capable hands...something to shoot for.

Cheers!

Andrew Stone

April 7th, 2005, 03:12 PM	#1
Steven White Major Player Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 547	Short Time-Lapse test Not so much relevant, or advice seeking, this is just a time-lapse test I did on my camera the other dusk. It seems that not a lot of HDV content is available, so I thought I'd put some out there. Note that the file is hosted by www.yousendit.com - so if you've got stuff you want to put up, this is a pretty cheap (as in free) and easy way to do it. Here's a link (10 MB) http://s23.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3...X24TGUVU10VL4I Details: - Shot on an FX1 on 1080i for 7 minutes. - Captured on CapDVHS. - In After Effects a 1440x1080 composition was made (PA 1.33) - Video was time stretched to 10s @ 60p - Frame blending for the LAYER and for the RENDER was turned (note - this signal averages all frames, which results in a reduction of the noise per frame). - Equalize filter (Photoshop mode) was applied at 50% to maintain brightness and increase colour saturation - Video was rendered out to an uncompressed 1440x1080 60p avi file. - Avi was taken into After Effects and compressed to WMV 8000 kbps @ 720 (60p) for web distribution. - When video was played back I noticed a smudge on my lens and swore. Additional notes: as the motion in general in this shot was smooth, and every frame was averaged, no deinterlacing was required. The raw 1440x1080 60p image was the cleanest video I've ever seen thanks to signal averaging, and any blocks or grain you see here is a direct result of the WMV compression. Note: I also have the clip hosted online on a private server. If this link becomes unavailable, e-mail me and I'll send a direct link.

April 8th, 2005, 07:11 PM	#4
Steven Gotz Trustee Join Date: May 2002 Location: Clermont, FL Posts: 1,520	It is funny how clouds interest so many of us. Cheap talent? But still very interesting? In any case, this was from the balcony in Acapulco, and I didn't notice the rain drop smudge until I was editing. It was the last thing I shot on that vacation or I would have known sooner. I cropped it a bit in the corners to cover the fact that I messed up the composition of the shot by allowing part of the roof to intrude. As I recall, it is over 30 minutes of video compressed into 30 seconds. 9.19MB and it is 1280X720 since that looks fine on my television, so there is no real need to have it full size. http://s18.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0XALCOR805RUK2RZV7MFKBWVNN __________________ Steven Gotz http://www.stevengotz.com

April 7th, 2005, 03:54 PM	#2
Chris Jothi Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 74	Looks fantastic. Time lapse is a wonderful effect, and the Sony camera (as well as your post process) work perfectly. The only problem for me is how widespread it has become in documentary filmmaking. It is almost a visual cliche, however when it looks this good WHO CARES! Can't imagine how sweet it would look on a projector. Thanks for the demonstration.

April 8th, 2005, 05:58 PM	#3
Drew Mandac Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 28	Awesome footage! Didn't really notice the smudge until you mentioned it.

April 8th, 2005, 08:17 PM	#5
Steven White Major Player Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 547	Nothing like time-lapsed clouds to show you smudges on the lens you'd likely have not noticed otherwise! -Steve

April 10th, 2005, 08:54 AM	#6
A. Stone Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: California Posts: 60	Very nice! I'd like to see a pre-After effects sample before any manipulation, namely because I don't cuurently have After Effects and wonder what is would look like "raw". Cheers! Andrew Stone

April 10th, 2005, 09:15 AM	#7
A. Stone Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: California Posts: 60	what shutter speed and F-stop did you shoot at?

April 10th, 2005, 09:49 AM	#8
Steven White Major Player Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 547	Ask and ye shall receive: 3 raw frames (jpg compressed, but untouched otherwise) http://s94963366.onlinehome.us/HDRFX1/sky.jpg http://s94963366.onlinehome.us/HDRFX1/sky2.jpg http://s94963366.onlinehome.us/HDRFX1/sky3.jpg Mode: PP1 - 1080i, color +7, sharpness 8 Iris - f6.0 Shutter - 1/60 Gain - 0 dB WB - outdoor pre-set Focus - infinity + UV filter In retrospect, I might have turned on the Cinematone Gamma, opened it up until I saw zebras, then turned it down one stop to try and get a higher dynamic range in the image.

April 10th, 2005, 10:36 AM	#9
A. Stone Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: California Posts: 60	Wow thanks! I'm reasonably familiar with still photography, but videography is a whole new experience...it's nice to see what the camera can do in capable hands...something to shoot for. Cheers! Andrew Stone