Gadgets That Wring Amazing Video Out Of Cheap Camcorders

The Steadicam-type shots are nice, but the lack of steadiness in everything else is giving me Blair-Witch-like nausea. MTV may try to convince you that shakiness works, but for this type of video, give me a solid tripod, please. No, actually, give the videographer a steady tripod.

This viedo looks better than the still pictures I take.
I feel useless.
D:

I own the Handy35, and while its a monster of a DOF adapter, it's a little overkill for the Mark II.

THe Mark II can already to DOF beautifully because of it's interchangeable lens...so there's no need for the Handy. All it will do is produce more grain, vignetting, and make it much more difficult to shoot in low light.

The Handy was designed for consumer HD camcorders...

I do agree about the steadicam though...it's a must have if you want to shoot video that's convincing enough to make a short film. Dam...I really want the Mark II !

mangamonster

A Lumix GH1 which does the same thing with a better image for cheaper than an HD camcorder + 35mm adapter + lenses...which gizmodo reviewed badly because the video mode had these features.

TheCrudMan

There are many 35mm adapters out there that are way better than this one... (better edge to edge sharpness, better bokeh, no moving parts, no vignetting, etc.) Check out the G35 at cinemek.com (best static 35mm lense adapter) or the Letus products at www.letusdirect.com (best vibrating adapters) ...although vibrating or spinning adapters are a sign of poor screen design. They have to vibrate to hide the grain structure.

OctaviaMaravilla

What's the deal with all of Giz's video posts recently?? The vids are on the home screen and they cover up the post text. Is it just me or is anyone else noticing this??

All I have to say to this is "Threeve. A combination of three and five, simply stunning."

@Bacchus1976: A fully formed thought?

;^)

@catamountdave: I thought the same thing. It felt like I was losing my eyesight.

I think I'm missing something here....

@CyrilUmbrellabird: Um...not great, but not bad either. Certainly better than some video I've seen from DIY (or cheap/knockoff) "Steadicams".

Still, while the camera height seemed to be under control—no noticeable pogo stick effect—I saw a whole LOT of the camera/horizon canting left, canting right, canting left again, etc. Looked like it was shot while standing in a row boat.

To be fair, some of that could be operator talent (or lack thereof), but I'd think a fair portion of that also is due to the rig.

@bosskev: one too many posts there, halt edited this one

beekerstudios

@bosskev: the only thumb that's going up my ass is my own... if you get my drift

beekerstudios

@beekerstudios:
"if I could thumbs up your post I would."

Well, I can certainly put my thumb up your post!

Wait…

@bosskev: if I could thumbs up your post I would. People and there gadget fetishes, myself included, but there is art in them there hands, and them there brain and eyes, that just can't be replaced by any, I repeat ANY technology.

beekerstudios

@lens flares.

While most of that was very nice, the vignetting was certainly over the top.

How is this amazing?

phytonix

This guy made an awesome DIY SteadyCam. Check out his videos! http://www.youtube.com/user/WSCLATER

CyrilUmbrellabird

Point it at naked people.

That 35mm is definitely not the cheap option! Try the Jag35 Pro for real affordable 35mm adaptors, although possibly not of the quality of the Handy35 its definitely the cheaper option! The Glidetrack is great but the DIY option can give amazing results for a fraction of the price as well. There are tutorials all over the net for DIY tracks and dollies. I want to try the poor mans steadicam though!

xshortx

You want the best way to wring amazing video out of cheap camcorders? Quit looking at gadget solutions and put that camcorder into the hands of a talented DP (Director of Photography). You might be amazed what you can get, regardless of the equipment—seriously—when the eye behind the lens knows how to light and frame a shot.

And I don't mean this as a dismissal of gadgets, but if your goal really is amazing video, you can do that with any camera when the lighting is creative and the framing/focus/angle/etc. is aesthetically appropriate or pleasing.

it's not so much the dof that makes that video look so great, but the cc in post.


for hv20/30/40 users, check out irvb's focus ring.

@mangamonster: he didn't say for the mark II, but to achieve the type of dof that the mark II can produce. re-read that sentence.

I'm going to say the best thing to get amazing video (aside from BossKev's suggestion of putting a camera in the hands of a real DP) is to shoot something that actually tells a story.

Transformers looked pretty but was a piece of shit movie. Even spectacular 'looking' video won't be interesting unless there's something more going on than just video. In all of these examples, I'm bored to tears with what I'm seeing.

Ok ok ok, now that I'm done with that, I'm going to say that post-production color correction is going to be the best thing. Get your hands on any software capable of altering the picture manually and you'll be set. Everyone has their preference, but if you're taking what was shot directly out of the camcorder and expecting it to be this saturated and contrasty, then you've got another think comin.

Think of it like this: When a photographer takes a picture on 35mm, he tweaks it in the dark room. When a photographer takes a picture on digital, he tweaks it in Photoshop or whatever specific software they like. When a DP shoots on 35, he tweaks it in processing whether it be digitally or when actually processing the film.
When you shoot on video, you should do the same. Any DP or editor will tell you that.

The site is in french but the project is awsome: a DIY steadycam. Much better than the Poor Man's Streadicam:
http://www.bignoz.com/steady-brico-presentation.html

Guillaume Filion