Jim,
It is 8 feet wide by 15 feet long. 2 main levels (second level folds over itself) and a third level coal mine line.
I’m a little late into this thread but here is what I do.
I use my Sony DSC W80 cybershot digital camera. The videos it takes can be directly downloaded to a Windows computer. I’ll usually spend an hour downstairs trying different shots, angles and train speeds. Basically I create a bunch of little movies. Then I use Microsoft Movie Maker and edit them together into one long movie usually about 3 minutes long. Depending on the movie I may add music but most times I let the trains make their own. I upload them to Google and then share them on the forums.
Some recent videos…
and
I process my videos just as Marty does for my other video stuff. It seems to work pretty well. My camera is a Panasonic PV-GS12. I usually import in in DV mode, and then convert to something smaller in size so I can upload it to Goodle video. Unfortunately, google video does some compression on top of my compression. I haven’t messed around with it enough to know if there is a MB threshold that must be crossed before google does the compression.
Wes
On the club layout we have a BUDD car with a camera and wireless transmitter onboard built by ChooChoo Cam. As long as the track and p/up roller/wheels are clean the picture is quite clear and few breaks. The receiver is mounted on one of the support columns and connected to a flat screen monitor, all of the guests seem to enjoy it whether it be sitting stationary or being pushed around the layout.
Gee, Wes, there’s that word again. It’s a “finely seasoned” Panasonic Video camera, or a “classic” Panasonic Video camera. [:D]
I notice that there is no side to side rocking in the videos, even on the curves. With the larger finely seasoned cameras mounted on flatcars, I thought you’d get some of that…top heavy, etc.
MartyE, are you hand holding your camera in those videos?
Brent, was that you in your video bolting for the beer and chips?
Jack
Jack
Yea, the Panny is old, but it’s still digital (on an analog meduim I guess). The only flatcar I have, came with a tractor-trailer on top of it. It seems pretty rigid. I seem to remember that the old lionel starter set flatbeds were not as rigid.
OK, here is my first attempt at collecting video using the DV camera instead of my Canon SD700IS. The cannon is too wide, so I previously had to turn it sideways, which isn’t what brent wanted to do. I just wanted to try it out for comparison.
It’s not bad, but not great. The autofocus was going crazy when I was in that back left corner with nothing to focus on. Google did some compression, which makes it less detailed. I also have a wide angle lens that I will try tonight to see if it helps.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3452240698027062420&hl=en
Wes
HeHe… no I had just realized I left my bag of Utz Pretzels on the track (I eat them when working, helps to feed the brain).
Jack
90% of the videos are handheld. The rest are either sitting on the layout or on a flatcar. 50% of the time I can’t even see what I am shootingso it usually takes a few takes. Having a large memory card and a decent sized hard drive helps. I’m finding though once I create a movie I have to delete the raw footage. It’s just too big and as Wes said I do compress my videos but not too much because I know Google will too.
I just bought this camera for my wife this past Christmas…All I can say is awesome camera for around 250 bucks!! Nice BIG LCD screen on the back, super compact, and full of handy features. It’s about the size of a deck of playing cards if you can believe it! Perfect flat car freight. It’s a still camera first, but the movie mode is definitely workable as Ray has proven.
Roland
That’s a fine steady hand you got there, Marty (oooops, I thought I was in the Jim Beam liquor decanter thread).
Seriously, I thought you might have been using a tripod on wheels. Thats how good the video appears.
Thanks, Jack
That’s one of those things where his profession carries over to other aspects in life.
Do you guys know if the Canon SD700 or SD750 allows you to rotate the video once you are done shooting it, or software that allows you to rotate the video when you are done shooting? My SD700 is too wide to sit on a flatcar and pass through the portal, so I would have to film it vertically and fix it post filming.
Wes
Wes,
You don’t have to rotate the video. I just lay down when I watch your videos. And Chief reclinerizes.
Jack
Or turn my monitor sideways…
Microsoft Movie Maker has an option to rotate the video. I imagine most programs do.
That’s great news. I haven’t used it much.
Wes
Wes
I had the same idea and did some testing and yes you can use the Canon software to rotate your movies.
I plan on doing some videos like that in the future