Reasonable video camera ?

Pier or anyone else who is using a PlaySport. What are your thoughts on shooting 1080 30fps versus 720 60fps?

I kind of like the 60 frames per second, although I feel it makes the video home movie-ish. 30fps or 24fps is what we are used too when watching TV and it looks a little “softer”. Obviously the resolution you are giving up makes quite a difference too, and I would like to shoot the highest quality for viewing on a TV. But it isn’t like 720 vs 1080 is as noticeable as HD versus standard definition.

So. What say you?

ps. I dunked mine for the first time this weekend. That was pretty cool.

Also, what does everyone use for video editing?

Did you get the new and improved playsport or the one I have?
I really like the look, feel and some of the changes on the new one.

But anyway I’ve been shooting in 720 60 frames per for the simple fact that I like the slow motion frame by frame capability’s. I haven’t shot hardly any fishing vids mostly sports, both water and some of my games I umpire. I just burned a DVD for softball player that blew up on me last week on play at the plate that he said he was safe by a mile. Well he was out by like 2 feet as video replay will soon show him…

Come to think of it I don’t think I’ve shot any 1080 and I thought I heard the 1080- wasn’t very good quality wise compared to 720from some other owners but I can’t confirm that though.

I mainly watch my videos on a 32″ sony HD flat-screen and the picture quality depending on lighting is outstanding.

I tried the provided software that came with the camera originally but my PC hung up on it a lot so I dumped that for Windows Live Movie Maker and that has worked well for me.

I have the Zx5, which I believe is the new one?

My work laptop does have Final Cut Pro 6 on it, which is high end video editing, but I am not sure what the learning curve would be. So it would be nice to know of a decent free one that might give me more control and options than iMovie or Windows Moviemaker.

That is not to say I wouldn’t use one of those to edit clips together. Those would make it faster if I didn’t want to go crazy on a project where Final Cut would be overkill. And video editing can get time consuming. I assume most people are going to say that one of those 2 are what they use.

Mine has the underwater color correction “effect” mode and the underwater video colors look really good. I even shot it when the light wasn’t so bright because it was overcast. I really like that effect, but I wish it was easier to switch between that mode and the regular mode. So you could film someone reelling in a fish and get under water shots when it got boatside. Maybe a water sensor built in would be nice, but that is expecting a lot for what I paid.

I have to get the remote and one of those small tripods accessories. The remote would be very nice!

I shoot everything in 720. I use the editing software that came with the camera. Works great for what I use it for. Short clips to post on youtube.

-J.

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Did you get the new and improved playsport or the one I have?
I really like the look, feel and some of the changes on the new one.

But anyway I’ve been shooting in 720 60 frames per for the simple fact that I like the slow motion frame by frame capability’s. I haven’t shot hardly any fishing vids mostly sports, both water and some of my games I umpire. I just burned a DVD for softball player that blew up on me last week on play at the plate that he said he was safe by a mile. Well he was out by like 2 feet as video replay will soon show him…

Come to think of it I don’t think I’ve shot any 1080 and I thought I heard the 1080- wasn’t very good quality wise compared to 720from some other owners but I can’t confirm that though.

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Been awhile, but I think the problems comes in when the source is 1080 and the display is 720, that means (if I remember right) that the display/TV has to descale from 1080 to 720…or something like that.

Al

Well it appears that 720 60fps is the way to go. I have noticed that the camera can be choppy when moving the camera quickly. I believe it either doesn’t happen with the higher fps or it is not noticeable. Obviously when filming fishing, that would be a big +.

You have the new one I’m jealous! I really like some of the changes on Zx5 Playsport.

Give 720 a try over 720 60 per that may help a bit.

As far as the accessory’s go a grip-able tripod is going to be most important. That way you can mount the camera on just about anything imaginable. I have the remote and barely use it and even then it’s a pain and a bit flaky. I would rate having an extra battery way ahead of the remote control IMO.

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You have the new one I’m jealous! I really like some of the changes on Zx5 Playsport.

Give 720 a try over 720 60 per that may help a bit.

As far as the accessory’s go a grip-able tripod is going to be most important. That way you can mount the camera on just about anything imaginable. I have the remote and barely use it and even then it’s a pain and a bit flaky. I would rate having an extra battery way ahead of the remote control IMO.

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Ah, good to know. I’d get ticked off with a flaky remote.

I am not sure if you misread, but I thought the 60fps was less choppy with movement. I am going to run a test tonight of the 3 settings 1080, 720 30fps and 720 30fps, especially testing the choppiness.

Those are the tripods I was looking at. I wonder if any stores sell them? Just checked BestBuy online and didn’t see them. Kodaks are considerably cheaper.

I paid less than I though I would for the PlaySport bundle at Sam’s, I think because they were at the end of their supply. They only had black left. But I got the most important accessory, the floating wrist strap.

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You have the new one I’m jealous! I really like some of the changes on Zx5 Playsport.

Give 720 a try over 720 60 per that may help a bit.

As far as the accessory’s go a grip-able tripod is going to be most important. That way you can mount the camera on just about anything imaginable. I have the remote and barely use it and even then it’s a pain and a bit flaky. I would rate having an extra battery way ahead of the remote control IMO.

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I was going to buy the new version but read a few reviews that liked the old version better, so I ended up with the old version. I believe one of the knocks on the new version is that the battery pack is not removable.

Nice Ralph! Got any good tubing action of the relitics flying threw the air?…

I really like the removable battery option on Zx3 and I wouldn’t want to lose that especially for sporting events or hunting outings where the machines running for long periods.

Target has the Tri-pods but they are bit spendy at 25 to 30 per unit. I think on-line is the way to go for them!

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Nice Ralph! Got any good tubing action of the relitics flying threw the air?…

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Tubes are for kids I got a little bit of slalom and wakeboarding footage, but not much yet. My brother-in-law picked up a used Mastercraft a few weeks ago…it tugs a little better than the 115 Johnson

YES! those were days long-line deep-water bare-footing starts with the Master-Craft or Ski Nautique! No boom back in the day just old school learning!…

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No boom back in the day just old school learning!…

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It’s a good way to cleanse those sinuses.

And some other back side cavities as well…..

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And some other back side cavities as well…..

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TMI…

Did a quick test and I am not using 1080 again. The problem is not stuttering or anything. The problem is the FOV. Seems weird to me, but I am sure there is some performance or optical reason for the difference between the 2.

In any event, I recorded in 1080 all weekend and was having a hard time framing everything. I thought it was me just getting used to the 9:16 ratio (or whatever it is). But in reality, using 1080 you appear a lot closer to the subject than in 720 and 720 is more like your eyes normal field of view. So it ends up being harder to frame your subjects and keep them in frame, especially if you or the subject are moving.

I am asking my coworker, who knows more than me about video, about filming at 60fps and then being able to render at 30fps later. I am pretty sure there are no issues and if there aren’t, then it is a no-brainer to use the 60fps setting.

Please keep us posted. I am not video-inclined, but I want to be able to shoot the best videos possible.

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Please keep us posted. I am not video-inclined, but I want to be able to shoot the best videos possible.

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Any major things coming up that would make you want to shoot some videos

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Any major things coming up that would make you want to shoot some videos

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You want me to take some childbirth videos to share?

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Any major things coming up that would make you want to shoot some videos

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You want me to take some childbirth videos to share?

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Nope, seen that. I was thinking along the lines of bringing them home, first everything, and all that other fun stuff

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Please keep us posted. I am not video-inclined, but I want to be able to shoot the best videos possible.

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The answer is no problem shooting at 60 and dropping to 30, plus you can do some slow-mo effects if you go from 60 to 30.