In Praise of Digital-Camera Movie Mode
Posted by Harry McCracken | Sunday, June 19, 2005 2:49 PM PT
I'm about to wind up a far-flung vacation, and not only did I have a great time, but I learned something about technology: Those video-clip modes that digital cameras offer are actually worth using. I think ever digicam I've ever owned has had one, but I've almost never used 'em--I thougt they were too wimpy in terms of quality to create anything worth saving, and I obsessed about the fact that even a 1GB memory card can hold only a few minutes' worth of movie footage.
Instead, I bought a decent DV camera. Carrying both a still camera and a DV one turned out to be a hassle, though--which shouldn't have surprised me--and since I love to take still photographs, the DV cam usually ends up staying at home. Which is where it is right now.
But the moment I got on vacation this time, I was sorry I hadn't brought the video camera. The first thing I did on my trip was to get together with some friends I hadn't seen in more than twenty years, and I quickly realized I'd rather have movies of them talking than still images of them. So I resorted to my Canon Digital Elph SD500's movie mode--and found that I loved it.
No, it can't compete with the quality of a full-blown DV camera, but both the visuals and audio are surprisingly decent. And yes, you can't record more than a few minutes at a time, but that turned out to be kind of fun--rather than capturing hours of raw footage (most of which even
I probably wouldn't get around to watching back home), I thought carefully about what was worth preserving, and recorded pithy little bites of my vacation. In effect, I was editing as I went. I shot a few minutes' worth at any given time, which left enough room on my 1GB SD card for lots of still photos.
Already, these brief, simple clips have gotten enjoyed more than most of the more ambitious DV footage I've shot--I discovered that friends and relatives I've visited during the trip like watching them on my notebook. And all of those folks had the same comment: "I didn't realize that an ordinary digital camera could do such good video."
Sometimes movie mode is limited by either resolution or frame rate, or both. On my camera (a Canon Powershoy A95) I can shoot up to 30 seconds at 640x480 and 10 frames per second or up to 1.5 minutes at 15 fps and 320x240.
Some cameras limit the length of movie clips so look for a camera that does not limit movie length. Also some cameras capture only video not audio so get a camera that captures both. Some cameras, like the Canon IS1, will capture full 30fps with audio like a DV camera.
I got a Canon SD500 camera along with 1GB ultra II card for my father's day present, can anyone explain how to take movies with it.
Thanks!
I just bought the Sony DSC-W5 and it's great for capturing FMV. It has 30 FPS at 640x480 and is limited by the size of the card. Good stuff
I always apposed the convention of the video camera for the fact that ALL users were unable to resist capturing every second of every event that it was ever brought to. I swore that the 3 minutes provided by 8mm home movies preserved greater memories for the fact that the user captured only the best moments - documenting the memorable not the mundane. For me, my Nikon 3700 forces the same thoughtful self-limiting while dramatically increasing portability and thereby availability for movie taking.
Think about it. Have you ever pulled out that 6 hour tape of Uncle Ed's retirement party? Think you ever will?
Hey John. Jest rotate the dial on the back of the SD500 to what looks like a movie camera with legs.
I've taken hours (literally) of 10 to 15 second bites underwater using my Canon S-50. With Pinnacle software to edit I can make some very cool 3 and 4 minute movies. Use it and enjoy!
I have been using the movie mode, editing on the fly since I bought my Canon PS40 3 years ago and my friends and I have been enjoying the heck out it limitations in all. With quality and restrictions addressed I am looking for a new Canon camera. Primarily, I want to avoid the unpredictable length and long delay between shooting clips that afflicts my current camera. I think a one gig sd card in a PS510/520 looks good. Anybody have experience here? Thanks.
Did anyone try the SD500 digital zoom in video mode? Is it good? Do you get pixelate when digitally zooming in?
what about movies taken with the canon s2 is? i heard approx 8 mins of high quality movie can be recorded on 1 gb card? has anyone done this? what is the result? is it worthwhile to go in for this camera for its video mode too? any comments?
I HAVE A NIKON COOLPICK 3100 AND I HAVE TAKEN SEVERAL MOVIES ON ABOUT 4 COMPACT FLASH CARDS FROM A VACATION AND FAMILY REUNION. HOW CAN I DOWNLOAD THESE MOVIES FROM THE MOVIE MODE TO A DVD? WILL I HAVE TO JUST DOWN LOAD THEM TO MY COMPUTER AND SHOW THEM ON THE COMPUTER? WHAT SOFTWARE DO I NEED?