Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

Rant

Canon HF M300 - shaky video even with a tripod

Jul 18, 2011 4:21AM PDT

Hi all,

I have a Canon HF M300 and the majority of filming I do is around moving trains. The problem is that when a train goes by it shakes the ground (literally) and that motion gets transmitted up into my tripod and camera. Even with the maximum optical image stabilization it still does this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ACTHdLslCE
Skip to about 1:40 in this video for a good example of what I'm talking about. The trains shake the ground and my camcorder. Its interesting because this was never an issue with my Canon FS20 (which had no optical image stabilization).

I've been looking for good image stabilization software to rescue some clips but it seems there's no good answer.

Thanks for any help.

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
So what about Adobe AfterEffects?
Jul 18, 2011 5:09AM PDT
- Collapse -
Looking to prevent the shaking from happening
Jul 18, 2011 5:54AM PDT

I'm not looking to buy software, I'm trying to figure out how to prevent this from happening in the first place? And why not use the FS20? One, it doesn't shoot in HD, and two, it was destroyed in a car accident in November. The M300 is its replacement.

- Collapse -
Then we have to go beyond tripod.
Jul 18, 2011 6:02AM PDT
- Collapse -
Its not the tripod its the camera
Jul 18, 2011 9:17AM PDT

Bob, I think you're misunderstanding me. The FS20 didn't have this issue. I also just tested out my Powershot A590IS and my Rebel T1i (with a 28-135mm IS). Neither of those have the same problem the M300 does even if I put the tripod/camera on a wooden deck and jump up and down. This is a camcorder-specific issue.

The reason I asked is because I was wondering if there was some setting I was supposed to be using or changing to prevent it, or if anyone else had this problem. I'm thinking it might be a defective unit or something.

- Collapse -
I hear you.
Jul 18, 2011 10:30AM PDT

I tend to fix things or return them. The second link is more my style. Make, fix, use it.
Bob

- Collapse -
Contacted Canon:
Jul 18, 2011 1:45PM PDT

Response from Canon:

"When using a camcorder with a CMOS sensor, the exposure (integration) time is controlled by a slit aperture that scans over the pixel array. The consequence of this architecture is that pixels in different rows are exposed at different times, which leads to artifacts in fast moving scenes, or with pulsed illumination. Unfortunately, there is no work around for this issue."

However I'm thinking that maybe if I use a super fast shutter speed (1/2000 is the fastest on the M300) I can work around that, since even though each row of pixels is exposed at a different time, all 1080 pixels would have to be exposed within the 1/2000 of a second (roughly 10x faster than the 1/250 I've been using up until now). The only down side is that I'll need three more stops of light, but most of my shooting is in daylight so that shouldn't be much of an issue, I'll just open up the aperture.

- Collapse -
its not the shake
Jul 18, 2011 4:05PM PDT

it's not the shake its the vibration thats messing with the electronic side of your recording. my guess is that you'll need to put some kind of cushin between either the feet of you tripod or camera and tripod. good luck

- Collapse -
Tried a quick fix but I'll think of something else
Jul 19, 2011 6:41AM PDT

I tried rigging a make-shift shock absorber between the camera and the tripod (made out of a foam pad) but that didn't seem to help too much. in the cooler weather when I have a coat on I can put it under the tripod or if there is soft ground I can put it on that, but unfortunately its not always an option. but I'll try out the higher shutter speed tonight and see how it works.