Can't figure out video setting for small file size, adequate resolution

[hpcampr]

I've been using my camera to record tennis sessions. It's a Panasonic Lumix ZS20. It has the automatic cutoff at 30 minutes since it's not an official camcorder. Recently I got an action cam, a Sony AS200. It will keep on recording and just make a new file where the Panasonic just shuts off at it's limit. My problem is that on the Panasonic I got an acceptable video resolution at a reasonable file size (425MB). Picture was a bit blurry but I could easily see what was going on. I've now tried several settings on the Sony and don't come close. Yesterday, I thought I had put it on a low resolution but the file size came back just as big as HD (4GB) and the picture was blurrier than the low res setting on the Panasonic. I'm including the specs I found. Could someone tell me if there is a solution for the Sony AS200? Thanks

Panasonic Lumix ZS20
Resolution: 640 x 480
Aspect ratio: 1.33333
Format: h264
Bitrate: 1944 kbps
Frames per second: 29.970030
Selected codec: lavc:h264
Length 30 min 425 MB
lavc:h264 - H.264 / AVC / MPEG-4 AVC / MPEG-4 part 10


Sony AS200
Resolution: 800 x 480
Aspect ratio: 1.66667
Format: h264
Bitrate: 0 kbps
Frames per second: 239.760239
Selected codec: lavc:h264
Length: 00:22:20 Size: 4038 MB

These are the possible video settings for the AS200
Demuxer: lavf
MP4: PS: 1920 x 1080 60 p / 50 p
MP4 HQ: 1920 x 1080 30 p / 25 p
MP4 HS120 (HS100):1280 x 720 120 p / 100 p
MP4 HS240 (HS200): 800 x 480 240 p / 200 p
MP4 STD: 1280 x 720 30 p / 25 p
XAVC S 24 p: 1920 x 1080 24 p
XAVC S 30 p: 1920 x 1080 30 p / 25 p
XAVC S 60 p: 1920 x 1080 60 p / 50 p

[jagabo]

You recorded with the Sony at 240 fps, whereas the Panasonic was only 30 fps. If you were happy with the frame rate of the Panasonic you should try 1280x720 at 30 fps. The larger frame size will require more bitrate though. And bitrate determines the file size: size = bitrate * running time.

[hpcampr]

You recorded with the Sony at 240 fps, whereas the Panasonic was only 30 fps. If you were happy with the frame rate of the Panasonic you should try 1280x720 at 30 fps. The larger frame size will require more bitrate though. And bitrate determines the file size: size = bitrate * running time.

Aha! That's the culprit. By the way, I forgot to mention the day earlier I had the AS200 set at:

File: J:/MP_ROOT/102ANV01/MAH00114.MP4
Size: 1304580 KB (1274 MB)
Length: 00:28:52
Demuxer: lavf
Clip info
Name: MAH00114.MP4
Video
Resolution: 1280 x 720
Aspect ratio: 1.77778
Format: h264
Bitrate: 6012 kbps
Frames per second: 29.970030
Selected codec: lavc:h264

So I see by your comment that the 30 fps is what made the size 1/4. The picture looked close to HD quality ,which was nice, but not necessary because it was still 3 times the file size of the Panasonic.
The Panasonic stats, from my old videos, that suit my hard drive better are:

Resolution: 640 x 480
Aspect ratio: 1.33333
Format: h264
Bitrate: 0 kbps
Frames per second: 29.970030
Selected codec: lavc:h264

I'm not sure if I can get those exact same ones on the Sony?...I just looked and it seems the only options (for lower res) are 720 at 30, 720 at 120p and 480 at 240p.

[jagabo]

According to the specs you posted the camera cannot produce video similar to the Panasonic's. To get something similar you'll have to record with one of the settings supported by the camera then resize and re-encode the video. That seems like a waste of time give the cost of storage these days. I'd even go with 1920x1080 at 60 fps for the sharper picture and smoother motion (assuming the camera uses sufficient bitrate)

Note that file size does not depend directly on frame rate, frame size, etc, but rather the bitrate used during compression. But larger frames and higher frame rates require more bitrate to retain image quality. So if you make a 1280x720 30 fps video at the same bitrate (ie, same size) as a 640x480 30 fps video the former will have more compression artifacts.

[hpcampr]

Thanks for the reply. Good to know these things. I'll have to balance the size of the files vs the convenience of the camera just running without stops. It also seems to need less battery changing. On the other hand it's a luxury to have those smaller file sizes so I can just store them rather than erase.

[jagabo]

I often see 1 TB drives for US$50. You can get 8 TB drives for US$150 now.

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/wd-easystore-8tb-external-usb-3-0-hard-drive-black/5792401.p

Most buyer's indicate an there's a standard SATA Western Digital Red NAS drive inside. The 4TB version is US$90.