Canon FS10 16:9 problem..

[alpinestar]

Hi all,

Totally newbi in the camcorder world, so here goes

Just bought a Canon FS10 and am quite happy with the cam just plugging it into my 16:9 LCD tv works fine!
So now I want to edit some of the tings I have recorded, and download the files to my pc via the included tool, imagemixer. Now I have the MPG files on my machine, but when I play them on the PC they are squeezed into 4:3 format

Thanks for any help

[guns1inger]

What are you playing them back with ? Windows MEdia PLayer is very good at ignoring aspect ratio flags, so try something like Media PLayer Classic, VLC or The KM Player

[alpinestar]

Ok now i downloaded media player clasic, and got it to play in 16:9 , but there is no sound ? Any ideas?

[Soopafresh]

1)Install Haali Media Splitter

2) Make sure you have a codec installed which plays AC3 audio. ffdshow or ac3filter http://sourceforge.net/projects/ac3filter/

[Soopafresh]

Oops. Sorry.

[alpinestar]

Cool that works perfect! Thanks very much for the help! So now I am just looking for a tool for easy editing, any recomendations?

[Soopafresh]

You can use VoltaicHD to convert the .MTS file into something that Microsoft Movie Maker can import. That's a $30 solution and probably the easiest thing to do.

Vegas Movie Studio Platinum is a great editor, but I don't know if it will accept .MTS from a Canon camcorder.
You can try the 30 day trial and see if it works: http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/download/trials/moviestudiope

[alpinestar]

Hm but the files from the camera are .mpg but perhaps it is still the same, that I need voltiacHD?

[tha5150]

anyone know the best settings for this video recorder? camera seems to take pics worse than a 5 yr old cell phone and video seems like it could be a bit better.

[turk690]

Canon still believes in SD by putting a megapixel CCD and mic in on the FS10/11/100, as well as the highest bitrate of any SD MPEG-2 acquisition device around, which is 9mb/s. I think it's called XP mode and this is what should exclusively be used to get any artifacting to the minimum in the video. As for still pics, it will only be as good as video would be from a digital still camera.
For editing the *.MOD files produced by this camcorder I use Womble MPEG-VCR (which correctly puts back the 16:9 flag when so selected so the AR is preserved across all platforms).

[tha5150]

Are you saying that by using an sd card, things will turn out better?
Like I said before, I think the camera function isn't set right cause everything looks very choppy on pc.

[turk690]

The Canon FS10/11/100 is a standard definition (SD) camcorder that can record MPEG2 video with Dolby Digital audio onto secure digital (SD) memory cards. Not confusing, no?
The FS10 has 8GB built-in, the FS11 has 16GB, the FS100 has none which means it relies totally on that SD card you will insert. Quality of the video or still photo has NOTHING to do with whether you use the built-in memory or the external SD card.
After shooting video, play it back on the camcorder screen and see if it's "choppy". Chances are, it's not and the problem lies with the program (or its settings) on your PC that you use to manipulate the clips taken from the FS10/11/100.
For that matter, any PC that will be used to manipulate MPEG2 has to have a minimum of specs. I won't go into those details here as they are all over the WWW.

[tha5150]

does anyone have some advice on settings for video and camera? video seems 1/2 way decent but looks like it could be tweaked a bit.

the camera is terrible!!

[tha5150]

look at this pic.. terrible

img_0124_2.jpg

[Soopafresh]

You're getting a lot of color noise due to low light. There's a virtualdub plugin called camcorder color denoiser

http://acobw.narod.ru/

It's the 6th or 7th filter down on on the list.

[tha5150]

ok guys and girls.. it has been a while since i was asking for help on here.. my newest problem is that i have no idea how to get the best settings on here. (which was never answered before) i have a baby due in 2 weeks and need this thing tweaked for inside video settings.

any help is greatly appreciated!!!

[davexnet]

Best setting on what - post capture? If depends on the problems the video has.
You have to look at it case by case.

[tha5150]

Best settings for general recording inside the house fire my new baby that's due soon. I have yet to try and make a movie or just watch it on the tv. Only true laptop and it looks like the settings are not proper..

[davexnet]

I would read the manual and look at the different modes. See what it offers for low light situation and do a few test shoots.

[tha5150]

i hear ya.. i was looking for a good starting point though. lastnight i reset the whole thing to factory settings and will try to start from there i guess... i just wish there was a tips sheet for this or something..

[edDV]

Looking at the FS-10 spec sheet,
http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/support/consumer/camcorders/flash_memory_camcorders/fs10...Specifications

The small 1/6" sensor is going to have issues with low light. Try to add room fill lighting when you shoot indoors.

Shoot at the XP 9Mb/s setting. The lower settings will introduce digital artifacts in exchange for longer recording time.

Before you shoot, place a white card close to your subject (under similar lighting) and do a manual white balance. Zoom in until the card fills the center of the LCD viewfinder. This should be done each time lighting conditions change.

Hold the camcorder steady when you shoot. Avoid zooms or fast pans. Steady as you go. Wild camera movements will make viewers sea sick especially on large screens.

[tha5150]

thank you very much edDV....

when using the white balance with a white card or piece of paper it should match the exact color right? being indoors, i will most likely be going room to room. baby room to living room. both are different in how much sunlight comes in and how bring the light bulbs are ya know?

dang, i hope i get this right.. worse case i will learn as i go..

[edDV]

thank you very much edDV....

when using the white balance with a white card or piece of paper it should match the exact color right? being indoors, i will most likely be going room to room. baby room to living room. both are different in how much sunlight comes in and how bring the light bulbs are ya know?

dang, i hope i get this right.. worse case i will learn as i go..

Yes, try to use a flat white card under the lights you will be using. The camera then adjusts to that lighting. Otherwise it has no idea what white is.

Test shoot before the baby arrives in the various rooms. If the picture is too noisy, you need to add more lighting. Best to have lamps positioned in each area so you don't have to move them around.

I keep an IKEA light in the corner of my living room for camcorder shooting. It raises the nominal black level for that room. The white walls and ceiling help diffuse the light.

I use this one with 4x12W compact flourescent bulbs.


http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/departments/living_room/10731?sorting=rel...e&pageNumber=3