OT "Still" camera vs video cam stabilser

JohnAsh wrote on 3/11/2012, 2:02 PM
I've been using my Canon HV30 (handheld) for a few years for filming our travelogues, a lot of which is shot from cars.(Then edited in Vegas Pro, of course). I've never been too happy with how stable the picture has been (in the car or not).

I got myself a Canon SX30 a while back and recently took it to our local carnival to get some pictures. I decided to take some video and was amazed at how good it was. Reasonable picture and rock solid. Have since tested it in the car and it beats the HV30 for stability.

Should I ditch my HV30? Only thing is I like to archive the tapes!

Comments

ritsmer wrote on 3/12/2012, 3:44 AM
Doing a lot of handheld shooting on travels etc. I eagerly buy the very newest Sonys (like the CX700, HX9V, TX55) every year to get the most updated stabilization.
There has been an enormous development in the stabilization - and now even the tiny TX55 (used for inconspicuous shooting) has got an active Steady Shot - which works surprisingly well. (just returned from Thailand where I did some out-of-the-window recordings with the TX55 - and the result is perfect (PS: as the little thing does not have a manual focus you have to tell it to do a Landscape shot - else it focuses on all the bling-blings that many asian drivers have dangling around in their front windows :- ))

IMHO forget about SteadyShot for videos as fas as it is not the active type.

Right now I'm looking forward to try the upcoming TX66, TX200 and TX20 which are rumored to have a brand new "active SteadyShot combined with an electronic stabilization".

Also the CX series is updated with a brand new "Balanced" optical SteadyShot which mechanically controls the balance of the body by enclosing it in a secondary casing equipped with a motor that compensates more accurately the movements applied to the unit inside.
Wow!
JohnAsh wrote on 3/12/2012, 4:37 AM
Thanks very much for your experiences.

Not entirely clear what you mean with "IMHO forget about SteadyShot for videos as fas as it is not the active type" does that to equate to ´ditch the HV30 camcorder and stick with ´still´ cameras´?

Do none of the new camcorders have as effective stablisers?

I was so impressed with the stuff from my SX30 I am not sure I'll ever be happy with wobbly stuff from my HV30. And I'm not sure my partner would be happy with my laying out more funds, Unless there's a relatively cheap camcorder that can match the stabilisation on my SX30?
ritsmer wrote on 3/12/2012, 10:37 AM
Sorry: I know only the Sony stabilization as they have done it the last 4-5 years from buying and using the new TX, HX and CX cameras every year.

But what I wanted to share was that even if the cameras box says STABILIZED lens etc. then "stabilized" is many things - like i.e. that the earlier Sony SteadyShot (and probably many other brands stabilization too) have improved immensely during the last 2-3 years - and as far as talking about Sony - then the stabilization began really to give something as they added the word "active". ... and probably kind of the same is the case for Canon and others brands - whatever marketing word they use for stabilization.
The technique is under development.

Youtube has several examples of different cameras more or less successful implementation of stabilization.
JohnAsh wrote on 3/20/2012, 6:27 AM
Ok. We did some fairly extensive tests using both of these cameras, in the car and not.

Before, I had not viewed the footage on our plasma TV, just on my PC monitor.

I brought all the footage together, interspersing the HV30 material with the SX30 shots.

The video quality just did not compare with the HV30 winning hands down. The SX30 stuff would be OK for Youtube but not for the serious matter of filming our trips. On the positive side, the SX30 did provide a more stable image especially out of the car.

It was worth a try!