Panasonic hc-v700 and vs x5

[lata]

Hi David
"One is : Is the video camera I bought a dud?"

I do not think the camera is a problem, I am intending to upgrade this year if I can open the wife’s purse, the Panasonic 700 range was the one i was looking at, Now the 900, as far as i know produces the same video.
So if you are throwing the camera away, throw it my way.

"The second question is - Is VS PRO X5 capable of producing quality edited videos from these files?
Yes otherwise I would not be purchasing the Panasonic.

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Sorry but your panning is not that smooth any way, saying that I do not see any blips or jumps that cause poor quality. Use a tripod and do not zoom in, record a pan shot.

I am using Media Player Classic - Home Cinema http://sourceforge.net/projects/mpc-hc/ to play the clips. Also using VLC Media Player does a good job.
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Video Studio does not produce full quality playback, for HD video you should enable Smart Proxy, making sure the files have been created. This improves project playback.
The final rendered files should be full quality.
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Connect the camera directly to your HD TV ----------what does the quality look like.
Copy your files to a memory stick and play on the HD TV, maybe via a BluRay DVD Player. That should prove to you that the camera is ok and VS produces good video.
otherwise I will send my postal address.

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There is an article on the Knowledge base regarding:-
Video files from a Digital Camera or Digital Camcorder will not import for editing in VideoStudio

It refers to a Codec pack K-Lite, now I have never advised using additional codecs, the ones provided with the cameras and software are usually suitable. Besides some packs cause more problems than they solve.
I installed this about one month ago and have had no problems, not that i had problems in the first place.

[ianwoody123]

Just to offer some thoughts on the jerkiness experienced with using the Panasonic 700. I used to have the Panasonic NV-GS400 which was a superb camcorder. I wanted to upgrade to an hd camcorder and being a real fan of Panasonic I persuaded my husband to let me have the Panasonic TM-700. It produces superb footage, very clear. However it took me some time to eliminate the jerkiness that appeared in my early attempts with it. The camcorder is 8oz lighter than the NV-GS400 and I think that lightness contributed to the camcorder being harder to keep absolutely still - it picks up the slightest of hand movement at full zoom despite the excellent OIS. I have a friend who has made me a weight to attach to the bottom of the camcorder via the screw hole designed for use with a tripod and that has helped significantly. Perhaps it might be worth trying it with a tripod just to see if you get a steadier result if only to reassure yourself there is no fault with the camcorder itself.

Sally

[canuck]

Using "full zoom" is most likely the biggest culprit when jerkiness occurs doing handheld recording. Any small movement is multiplied several times by the zoom. Panning too fast also creates jerkiness.

[dmz]

Yes it appears I have to be more careful when panning. Strange that my gs-300 never had that problem. I could pan quite quickly and whilst the vision might make some people dizzy, it certainly never jerked.
The tripod is not an option. I use the camcorder on family holidays etc and I dont want to have to carry a tripod everywhere I go.

Thanks

p.s. still the issue with the rendering though....

[Ken Berry]

Horizontal panning with a high def camcorder is a widespread and well-known problem. If you look at a professionally shot high def clip, you will see only verrry slow pans over a rather short distance. This is because, with intertleaved high def footage, the quality can't keep up with the panning movement if it is too fast. There is a noticeable shimmer and it often seems as though the image is caught momentarily and then jumps forward to catch up... I even get this from time to time with my (heavier) HDV camcorder if I get over-enthusiastic about panning too fast. Vertical pans don't seem to create near the same problem.

The only solutions seem to be to always bear in mind the need to keep pans as slow as possible; or else get a tripod, as already suggested. Moreover, it would need to be a floating head tripod which allows smooth motion. Velbon make an excellent and surprisingly cheap one. I recall paying US$76 for mine in a camera shop in California about 3 years ago. While I understand the need for spontaneity at family events, I always cart the tripod along for more considered -- and smoother! -- shots .

I believe camcorders like yours capable of shooting in full progressive mode will have less of this problem, though I have not been able to check this out at first hand. However, you would still need to bear in mind the weight of the camera and the need not to dizzy your audience too much by fast panning...

[pvreditor]

The tripod is not an option. I use the camcorder on family holidays etc and I don't want to have to carry a tripod everywhere I go.

I shoot a lot of run-and-gun things and a tripod is out of the question for me as well, at least most of the time. When someone mentioned a monopod, that also sounded like it would be more hassle than I wanted. Imagine my surprise now that I find myself using a monopod on nearly every shoot... even for family stuff. It's easy to attach and detach, and it definitely holds the camera much more steadily than using just hands. A huge benefit of a monopod is that I can extend it and hold the camera WAY over my head, getting shots I would never have gotten. Monopods are cheap and easy to carry, too.

Here's a shoot I did over the weekend where I used a monopod extensively: http://youtu.be/xpL7rn5To7k

The shots of the demolition derby, knife thrower, chainsaw sculptor and at least two of the rides were done with the monopod holding the camera way over my head. I could not see the demolition derby at all over the crowd, but I got great shots with the monopod.

So, although a tripod might be out of the question, don't rule out a monopod.

Bob Kovacs
http://www.bobkovacs.com

[ianwoody123]

Hi dmz

I only meant try a tripod (if you could borrow one) to just eliminate the concern the camcorder might be a dud. I can't use one for the horse events I video because the action is too fast to be restricted by a tripod - I have tried a monopod but found that too restrictive as well so it has been a case of training myself to adjust to the lighter weight of the camcorder and try to be as still as possible - easier when the subject is closer but not so much when at 18x zoom. I don't tend to need to pan too much because I am usually following a horse and rider and the camcorder focuses on that. I have videoed a friends son refereeing rugby games and have used a tripod for that and the footage is impressively smooth which reassures me the camcorder is fine and I just have to improve my steadiness on the hand held stuff. I use Video Studio Pro X4 Ultimate and have been very pleased with its capability on dealing with HD.

Providing the link works (this is the first time I've used 4Shared) this is a small extract of footage filmed this summer with my daughter doing mounted games. I was just using the camcorder hand held and without any of the stabilizing weight my friend made for me as I only got that recently. I believe overall the camcorder copes very well with the speed of the ponies etc. I leave the setting on "intelligent auto" as I do not have the time to keep changing settings between races. Heres hoping the link works: http://www.4shared.com/file/jKeQ9j6_/MO ... _2012.html


Sally

[tyab]

I am using an Panasonic HC-V700M to record volleyball for my daughter. I added a 64GB SD card ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 12K0CS3192 ). I am recording everything in 1080p 60hz. Most of the files are about 4gb +/- a bit given that most games are in the 15-20 min range. When recording, the camera does break into a new file once the current file hits 4gb.

I copy the files to my machine, and then insert the raw video into the timeline. I am not trying to import directly from the camera, I use the supplied HD Writer software that came with the camera (everything has been updated to latest firmware/versions) to copy the files to my raid 0 data drive. Once there then I start using X5 with the raw files.

I am processing the video - nothing fancy - just adding scores and editing out long breaks - and converting to 1080p MP4 format, and uploading the resulting files (most are right around 2GB) to youtube (manually uploading - not using x5's youtube upload). I have no problems with the original files within x5. Given that my destination is not going to be 60p, I don't bother editing in 60p mode, but I did some tests with this and in the limited tests I do I had no issues.

Here is a link to my channel - all of the games I have done so far are up there.

http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnc5O6J ... sults_main

The needs that I have are very limited so I am not pushing many of the features but I have not had a single crash or problem working with the 1080p files from the camera.

Note - the supplied battery for that camera only lasts about 45 mins or so.

[dmz]

OK, Ive done my first youtube post with the new camera. It may be my eyes but I cannot see the benefit of the new HD camera.

Here is my old Panasonic gs-300. The avi was rendered down to MPEG2 6000 variable two pass encode 25fps, then uploaded to youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waAFfGK_r_s

Here is my first HD. I downloaded the file and did some basic editing. Then I used the upload to web > HD 16:9 option.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKb-zMR4ISM

When I set them to the highest quality and go fullscreen, I cannot tell the difference. Is it how I rendered the HD thats the problem, or is it my eyes that I cannot see a difference, or is there no benefit of HD?
Thanks
David

[Terfyn]

Panasonic HC-V700 and VSx5 work fine together, the 700M is the one with the internal memory as well as the SD card.
Remember that the camera produces a series of files, usually held on the SD card. These files and their associated pointer and data files can be downloaded in the normal way to your PC either via USB or by direct card reader.
I suggest you download the Panasonic HDWriter. This does lots of rather useless things BUT it does sort out the video files from the rest. These appear in a window and there is an option to "tick" the files you want. It also recognoses the files that you may have previously loaded. You can then "capture" into VSx5 in the normal way and create a folder for your library thumbnails to point to.
On the v700 set your Record Mode to HA1920 for the best direct recording. I use a 32Gb SDHC Class 4 card and it works fine. I also use the still photo mode to provide background shots in VSx5. Both the video and the stills appear in the window of HDWriter and you just "tick" the ones you want to transfer into VSx5.
I use the OIS function all the time to smooth out pans and handheld shots but I keep the Zoom to 46x which is ideal for framing. In addition I have used Mercalli in VSx5 to control any extra shake. At present I record to DVD but use the HDMI input to my TV (also Panasonic) to compare results.
I have now produced two DVDs using the HC-V700 and VideoStudio. The combination works well.

[pvreditor]

When I set them to the highest quality and go fullscreen, I cannot tell the difference. Is it how I rendered the HD thats the problem, or is it my eyes that I cannot see a difference, or is there no benefit of HD?

The second video definitely has higher resolution for me. However, the slow-motion effect in the second video (the HD video) is not as good quality as the first video's slow-motion effect. Also, in the second video, you may have zoomed in past the point of optical zoom and were using the "digital zoom." That compromises image quality when you have a tight zoom.

However, the wide shot in the second video is higher quality than the first video. It's when you're on a tight shot that the HD video falls apart.

Bob Kovacs
http://www.bobkovacs.com

[dmz]

Panasonic HC-V700 and VSx5 work fine together, the 700M is the one with the internal memory as well as the SD card.
Remember that the camera produces a series of files, usually held on the SD card. These files and their associated pointer and data files can be downloaded in the normal way to your PC either via USB or by direct card reader.
I suggest you download the Panasonic HDWriter. This does lots of rather useless things BUT it does sort out the video files from the rest. These appear in a window and there is an option to "tick" the files you want. It also recognoses the files that you may have previously loaded. You can then "capture" into VSx5 in the normal way and create a folder for your library thumbnails to point to.
On the v700 set your Record Mode to HA1920 for the best direct recording. I use a 32Gb SDHC Class 4 card and it works fine. I also use the still photo mode to provide background shots in VSx5. Both the video and the stills appear in the window of HDWriter and you just "tick" the ones you want to transfer into VSx5.
I use the OIS function all the time to smooth out pans and handheld shots but I keep the Zoom to 46x which is ideal for framing. In addition I have used Mercalli in VSx5 to control any extra shake. At present I record to DVD but use the HDMI input to my TV (also Panasonic) to compare results.
I have now produced two DVDs using the HC-V700 and VideoStudio. The combination works well.

Thanks. I have HDWriter and use it to copy the files to the PC. I then edit those files with VSX5. btw - Do I need all the other files? (with extensions like .TMB and .CONT?). I have no intention of using HD Writer as my editor. I have my vs700 set to record at the highest quality. I have a sandisk 64gb class 10. How do you find the photos with the v700? My last camcorder took lousy photos so I didnt bother. What is Mercalli? I am looking to get a monopod and make sure that all videos taken use this. I believe its an invaluable addition to filming with the v700.

[Ken Berry]

What is Mercalli?

It's a high-end anti-shake filter than comes with the Ultimate package...

[Terfyn]

As Ken says, Mercalli helps to give a steadier shot.
No you do not need the extra files generated by the V700 and HDWriter filters them out to give you the video files only.
I find the V700 photos quite good. I tend to use them in videos as background or under titles.

I have both tripods and a monopod. I bought the monopod to take abroad. Personally I prefer a tripod, I have a Velbon with a fluid head, it is very substantial but the V700 looks a bit silly perched on such a mighty scaffold!

One (not advertised) benefit of cameras like the V700 is that they fit very neatly into a jacket pocket. So I have my video and a still camera always at hand. (Naturally the lens and cap are protected with a 46mm UV filter permanently screwed into place).

[Ken Berry]

Well, I too have a Velbon floating head, and love it. Really adds a smooth, professional touch to pans and zooms. But when thinking of the ridiculous, when I finally get the new Hero 3 Go-Pro after it is released later this week, some of the use I will have for it will be to perch its tiny frame on the mighty Velbon!!!