Find The Bacon

Butch Moore wrote on 5/4/2021, 10:37 AM

I'd like a few opinions on how deep of a crop using PAN/CROP do you consider acceptable in 1080p. I regularly have to edit 2 or 3 camera armateur shoots for a local university. They shoot...I fix! With the exception of a fixed wide shot, the other cameras are virtually unusable. I tell them it "looks like you strapped a GoPro to the back of a chihuahua and said 'C'mon boy, find the bacon." But seriously, these are usually static orchestra/vocal performances, so they lend themselves to a little cheating. i usually set my limit at 1280x720. Before you say it, yes I've tried to fix it on the camera end, but it's a situation where everybody in the class gets a turn behind the lens...but it pays well. Any Opinions?

Comments

RogerS wrote on 5/4/2021, 10:47 AM

Set the GoPro on the chihuahua to 4K or 2.7K and the bacon will look extra crispy?

You didn't mention what the cameras are, which makes a difference. Canon Rebel? Its 1080p isn't really even 1080p to begin with. Others at 1080p look a heck of a lot better (Panasonic GH4, G85, etc.)

Is the issue mainly resolution or also camera motion?

JJKizak wrote on 5/4/2021, 10:54 AM

I use an old Sony set at maximum resolution and can pan & crop to maybe 8 x as long as there was no motion.

JJK

john_dennis wrote on 5/4/2021, 12:01 PM

I don't remember going below 1280x720 for 1920x1080 delivery from a 3840x2160 source. But, I usually run my cameras.

john_dennis wrote on 5/4/2021, 12:04 PM

I'm currently scanning rolls of Instamatic film from the early '70s that were shot by...

... who knows.

I have the deepest sympathy for you.

Butch Moore wrote on 5/4/2021, 12:08 PM

Roger & John, they're really nice, new SONY's, but the model escapes me. The powers that be mistakenly thought great cameras would automatically make great video. Our company has held a contract with the university to shoot these events for over 20 years. Quite lucrative. When COVID-19 hit, they shifted into "do it yourself" mode with the media class. We got to keep the contract, but now I'm in the "fix-it" business.

It's a job...

3d87c4 wrote on 5/4/2021, 1:54 PM

We all survived for decades on 480i...I've cropped down to that for short clips to be viewed on youtube, FWIW.

I've also shot in 2K mode with my (older) GoPros when I knew I was going to zoom in edit.

You might look into the Topaz AI software.

RogerS wrote on 5/4/2021, 7:35 PM

New Sony mirrorless have poor 1080p. Have them shoot at 4K and you can crop heavily. You should be able to identify the exact camera from the media.