Jumpy video from Nikon d300s

[Owen1]

Hi

I am very new to this video thing and I have just discovered this site.What a great resouce.
I have been doing some realestate stills photography and the agents I have been doing work for have enquired about video so I borrowed a friends d300s and a slider but have run into some real problems. The video I am recording 1024 x 780 (i think) is reall jumpy and jerky when I look at it in adobe premier. I thought it might have been because I was using a super wide (12mm) lens , so changed that to a 18 mm (which is really the least that I need )and that really hasn't helped. I am using a manfrotto tripod and fluid head and even when I do the slowest smoothest pan i can there is still a bit of jerkyness. The problem is also there when I do Slides as well.

An example of the sort of video I would like to produce is
www.videoopenhomes.com.au

Some questions

Is the d300s the problem ? I have read that it does have problems processing on pans and slides or is this a problem with the operator? or the way that I am post processing. I really cannot see how I can do smoother pans or slides. The video on the back of the camera looks OK , Its just when I load it onto a computer or process in adobe premier.

What vido camera should I go and buy. I can't keep borrowing the d300s for too much longer. Would a canon handycam (hopefully around the 600 bucks mark) be able to produce video close enough to that in the example? I am aware the d300s does not have any antivibration in it and I am wondering what difference this would make.


Would really apreciate any help or direction I can get on this and Thanks in advance


Much appreciated


Owen

[edDV]

Nothing to do with the lens.

What version Premiere?

The Nikon D300s seems to record 1280x720p or lower with MJPEG codec but only at 24 fps. They don't make it easy to find out. 24p editing is advanced.

Suggest you concentrate on selling real estate and find a Premiere savvy geek to deal with 24p MJPEG. Do you service your BMW yourself?

Re: new cam... Does it have to be HD?

Last I asked, real estate was tied to standard def DV format to DVD. Are you guys doing Blu-Ray and HD TV ads now?

[Owen1]

Version of premier is cs5

yes it is 24 fps ,, why is this an issue ? has it got something to do with how premier is handling the file?
Don't have a Bimmer nor do I sell RE . I do weddings ,portraits and RE and a bit of sports
The video thing has been haunting for some time , and I have to start somewhere.

Finances don't really allow for purchase of new camera at the mo
would be good if I could continue to borrow the d300s for a while until things ramped up

Where would I learn how to process mjpeg in premier as the editing that I want to do is basic

I want to produce similar images to videoopenhomes.com.au and they do HD so I guess the ans to HD is a yes

Thanks for your reply

[edDV]

I'm not sure if Premiere CS5 includes the MJPEG codec or if you will have to install it. Maybe someone here knows.

It would help if you installed mediainfo and posted the text view results for the file here. 1024x780 doesn't match any of the D300s modes. Normal modes would be 1280 x 720 @ 24fps, 640 x 424 @ 24fps or 320 x 216 @ 24fps.

What are your computer specs and OS? Have you been successful editing HD files with CS5 on that computer? What formats?

[edDV]

Normally you would need to purchase an MJPEG codec from Morgan Multimedia, Mainconcept or PicVideo but this guy found a way to get one free from BlackMagic that is compatible with Premiere CS4.
http://thediff.wordpress.com/2009/10/12/how-to-edit-nikon-d300s-videos-in-realtime-in-...miere-pro-cs4/

Once you get the file playing, you will need to create a custom project profile since 1280x720 @ 24fps is non standard. What is the target player? DVD? Media player? Blu-Ray? Youtube?

[edDV]

... so I borrowed a friends d300s and a slider but have run into some real problems. The video I am recording 1024 x 780 (i think) is reall jumpy and jerky when I look at it in adobe premier....

Does this mean the video played in Premiere CS5?

Was the video jerky during preview, or after rendering?

What was your project format?

Did you export encode? If so to what format?

If this video played during preview and after encoding, that means CS5 has the codec. Next we need to work on project settings and export formats.

[Owen1]

The video did play in cs5 so I guess the codecs must be loaded
have changed project settings a few times HDV 720 seems to give the best results but still by no way a smooth image.
Pan shots are still very jumpy

Have tried rendering and makes no or little diference ??


Any ideas on what the project settings should be

Is it time to look at a different editing package

[lordsmurf]

The project needs to match the source specs.
I edit video from a Nikon D3s, and have no issues with Premiere CS4 and smooth video work.

Sports from DSLR cameras look awful, due to jello effect rolling shutter.

[edDV]

Run the file through Mediainfo or GSpot to confirm it is 1280x720 @ 24p.

Try these custom project setttings:

Resolution 1280x720

Frame rate 23.976 fps

No fields, progressive scan

Pixel aspect ratio square 1:1

With these settings the video should play smooth from the timeline. Next you need to decide how you want to encode. I'd start with Blu-Ray 1280x720, 23.976 fps, progressive wide either MPeg2 or h.264 as your edit master. Suggest bitrate approx 30,000 Kb/s for MPeg2 or 24,000 Kb/s for h.264 for the edit master. Either would be suitable for Blu-Ray.

Next you can do separate encodes for DVD or internet upload.

DVD would be MPeg2 720x480, 23.976 fps, progressive, wide aspect @ 9500 Kb/s CBR, audio AC3 stereo.

[edDV]

Sports from DSLR cameras look awful, due to jello effect rolling shutter.

When you shoot real estate videos @24p, avoid slow pans and zooms. Instead suggest pans with fixed scene disolves.

Single CMOS sensor cameras like the D300s also exhibit the rolling shutter issues in fast pans.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolling_shutter
http://www.dvxuser.com/jason/CMOS-CCD/

[budwzr]

This video was shot with a dolly, and probably crane too.

The camera is not tilting or panning, it is moving through the shot.

[lordsmurf]

This video was shot with a dolly, and probably crane too.
The camera is not tilting or panning, it is moving through the shot.

Yep. But the effect is basically still a panning motion.
Either way, it looks like ass on a DSLR.
There is corrective software available, but I've not yet bought a copy. It's somewhat expensive.

For something like this, get a real video camera.

[hech54]

Every DSLR clip I've seen that "looked great" had the camera planted on it's ass and the movement was going past the stationary camera.

[edDV]

This video was shot with a dolly, and probably crane too.

The camera is not tilting or panning, it is moving through the shot.

And probably shot 60i or 60p to look good on the computer.

[lordsmurf]

Every DSLR clip I've seen that "looked great" had the camera planted on it's ass and the movement was going past the stationary camera.

Not just that -- heavy duty tripods are really required.
Any slight movement and you have total jello-vision.
It has to be a boat anchor for a battleship, not a canoe.

That's my biggest current issue.
Tripodage alone will run about $400 for a low-end option.

[hech54]

That's why I always reach for my little Canon Ixus portable before my D90 if I need to shoot a little video clip...

[Owen1]

Ok
First off , many thanks to all who have responded to the problem.
Half of the issue has been that I have not had the right project settings
thanks to edDV for spelling it out ,

Getting export settings right has produced smooth avi and Mpeg2 files
Interestingly both the previews in premiere are still really jumpy

Windows 7 64 bit
Premier cs5 pro

My thinking is that the codec is a bit sub standard for playing mjpeg.
not sure if it is windows 7 or premier cs5 codec

but at this stage proble solver

Thanks greatly



Last question
Looking for a hdv capable vid camera suitable for realesate images
Looking for anything that is reasonably priced

[hech54]

I've been looking at getting one of these. I saw them in action being used as "fill material video" at a professional concert shoot. They were mounted on tripods and even taped to mic stands around the stage. I saw the footage played back on a MacBook and it was awesome.

http://gopro.com/cameras/hd-hero-naked-camera/

[edDV]

Last question
Looking for a hdv capable vid camera suitable for realesate images
Looking for anything that is reasonably priced

Budget?
Why does it need to be HD?

Anything cheap and HD will have a single CMOS sensor.

A 3xCCD JVC HM-100U with wide adapter is what you need.
http://pro.jvc.com/prof/attributes/features.jsp
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/597842-REG/JVC_GY_HM100U_GY_HM100U_ProHD_Camcorder.html

For cheap look at the Canon HV40.

[edDV]

Getting export settings right has produced smooth avi and Mpeg2 files
Interestingly both the previews in premiere are still really jumpy

You need to render the workspace to get a smooth preview. Also get frame by frame steps.