Looking at buying a video recorder to tape our rides. Any recommendations? Any do’s and don’ts?
There are lots of good viable options depending on what you need.
As a basic, an iPad has a fabulous camera, easily uploads to youtube and more importantly, can quickly and easily allow video to be reviewed. Some coaches, including David O’Connor, are fans of taking clips and showing them to riders during the lesson.
If you want to tape whole lessons/need zoom features etc there are other options that may work better. I guess the key question is - what do you need it to do?
I record on my iPhone. It does a very good job!
I use a ladder for a tripod, with something like this to hold the camera on top of the ladder.
You’ll need a wind cutter to avoid recording that nasty wind sound. This company makes one for every camera. Call them!
Then you’ll need video editing software if you’re trying to do it right. I use and despise Premiere Elements 11. It sucks, but it’s incredible. LOL.
There’s also a device that will make your camera follow you around as you move, which might eliminate the need for video editing. I don’t have one of these. You’ll have to google.
Check out the videos at the link my signature line if you want to see how it all turns out.
I have a Sony DSC-RX100 camera. Practically idiot proof and has very high quality video. I use Sony Vegas Movie Studio to edit and load to YouTube. I video most show rounds for our barn.
Any help re: link for or name of the device that enables the camera to follow? I tried the camera on a fence post and it was worthless.
An ipad is actually excellent for this because it’s easier to see for the person videoing. And there is an app you can buy that allows you to zoom the video for $3.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/moviepro-video-recorder-pause/id547101144?mt=8
For minimal distortion buy a camera that has an optical zoom (in video) rather than a digital one.
I suspect that most manufacturers offer compressed files these days.
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And here’s another: http://www.amazon.com/SoloShot-Automatic-Cameraman-System-Utility/dp/B009NIX3ZY[/QUOTE]
Here’s another one: http://www.21best.com/21_best/electronic/security/video/pan_tilt/Follows-you-pan-head-Manual.html
I use it with a variety of dv cameras. Or at least I used to. Now I usually just use 2 stationary cameras, one to record the closest part of my arena and the other to record the far end, so I don’t have to mess around with setting up the video tracker.
The tracker works well if I set it up in the middle of the arena, but then it’s in the way. But if I set it up at the end then the other end is out of range. The advantages to it over the solo shot are that I can use it indoors and it’s half the price.
If you are going to do much recording in an indoor arena, be sure to compare the low-light capabilities. Some models take very poor video in low light.
I have a Cannon Vixia HF M30, seems to work well in a variety of conditions.
If you want people recording outdoors in sunlight, get a real camera with an actual eyepiece viewfinder. It is EXTREMELY hard to see horse/rider with sun on the screen of any device I’ve ever used without a viewfinder. If you want to get high quality video in a covered arena, I’d go with one which allows you to adjust and set light settings yourself, and if you want to do a true indoor, low light ability.
There are so many options out there, just look for specific features of the video.
Just for taking clips to show riders examples, phone video or iPads are sufficient - but if you want to make sales ads, educational videos, or anything more serious with video distribution you need to look at features and get more serious about it.
Oh, and always set the tripod so the sun is BEHIND the camera! If you’re in an indoor, then set the tripod so the DOOR is behind the camera. (Hate when you can’t see an otherwise decent video because of this!)
I used 2 screen capture software. One of them is Fraps http://www.fraps.com/ and the other is Camtasia https://www.techsmith.com/video-editor.html. By comparison, fraps has a better output image quality but lower frame rate while camtasia has a high frame rate but every time i must convert the output format - CAMREC to avi in order to play on my portable devices as you can see from http://www.videoconverterfactory.com/tips/camrec-to-avi.html. CAMREC is the exclusive format of camtasia which cannot be directly played in any third-party players without conversion.
If you want good quality video, do not use an iPad or iPhone. The zoom sucks - and it is “digital” which really just enlarges the pixels. Buy a video camera with decent optical zoom - at least 10x. There are SO many nice ones out there. Don’t get a helmet mounted one (like GoPro) because they give a fisheye view. You can check out Amazon or Best Buy or similar to see what the ratings say for a camera. Also be aware that many small pocket cameras also do decent video, so you can consider that option.
Suspect you meant GoPro instead of Soloshot which does not mount to your helmet.
Used my Soloshot 2 again this weekend and love the HD video I get with the Sony recorder that came with it several years ago.
Yeah, the helmet mounted ones! Whatever they are called - you do not want those - they have a fish eye lens that distorts the video.
