HD camcorders

[Esa Tuunanen]

Here's some lower light/inside video taken with HC7
http://dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=86693

I mention this because we as chasers shoot in some of the most challenging lighting situations.

Maybe about only thing which could make it even more challenging would be some snow on ground.

 

[Martin Kucera]

CMOS Lightning Artifacts

I just wonder what future hold since most of the HD cams seem to employ the CMOS sensor these days which is quite horrible when shooting lightning. I can not stand the way video looks every time you capture lightning strike within or outside the frame.

 

[cedwards]

Are those artifacts a result of the CMOS sensor or are they from the MPEG compression?

 

[Dan Robinson]

There are two different types of artifacts when capturing lightning in HDV. There are the MPEG artifacts from the HDV codec (nighttime lightning only), and then there is the 'rolling shutter' problem with CMOS chips (daytime and nighttime lightning). With a CMOS based camera (HC5, HC3, FX7), you'd encounter both problems, while with a CCD cam (Z1, FX1, HVX200), you'd only have the codec issue. Again, the MPEG codec issue isn't much of a problem unless you're extracting still frames.

From what I've heard, the CMOS rolling shutter problem might have been fixed on the newer models (including the FX7, though I have yet to see an actual clip to confirm this.

 

[Martin Kucera]

CMOS or MPEG

I am not even close to be of any decent knowledge when it comes to video technical stuff but remember there was a discussion here on ST not a long time ago and it seemed CMOS sensor would be the issue. I have shot some video on my Sony HC3 and the footage is pretty much useless anytime a lightning strikes. Seems like CCDs did not have that problem.
If it is a MPEG compression is there anything that can be done to get rid off the problem. Perhaps some more knowledgeable folks on here could provide some more input. Thank you.

 

[Dan Robinson]

The CMOS 'rolling shutter' will make a frame with a lightning bolt divided horizontally, with differing brightness levels or even cut off completely at the horizontal split point.

The HDV artifacting is blocky pixelation along the lightning channel and in parts of the illuminated sky and ground.