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Gear / Technical Help => Photo / Video Recording => Topic started by: in2blues on December 09, 2016, 12:40:26 PM

Title: Vibrations and light issue
Post by: in2blues on December 09, 2016, 12:40:26 PM
I will be video taping a show soon and could use some advice.
1. It is a old movie theater and people walking cause vibrations. What is the best thing to put under camcorder legs to help with the vibrations.

2. I have done some video taping before of bands.
Is there a adjustment that can be made to help with the glow from the spotlights? (Sony HDR-CX130)

Thanks
Title: Re: Vibrations and light issue
Post by: if_then_else on December 09, 2016, 01:24:55 PM
I will be video taping a show soon and could use some advice.
1. It is a old movie theater and people walking cause vibrations. What is the best thing to put under camcorder legs to help with the vibrations.

2. I have done some video taping before of bands.
Is there a adjustment that can be made to help with the glow from the spotlights? (Sony HDR-CX130)

Thanks

(1) Is there any possibility to clamp your camcorder to a seat / table / rail / truss? Otherwise weigh down your tripod (e.g. use some sandbags or water bottles).
(2) Use a suitable lens hood (+adapter ring). Use manual settings for focus and aperture.

EDIT (2016-12-10):
I just had a quick look at the 37-58 mm step up adapter and the 58mm wide-angle lens hood* I use with my Sony HDR-CX550 camcorder:

They're identical to these items on amazon.com:
https://www.amazon.com/Goja-Accessory-MagicFiber-Microfiber-Cleaning/dp/B00BFWCPDC/ref=sr_1_3?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1481361701&sr=1-3&keywords=step+up+ring+adapter+37-58
https://www.amazon.com/FOTGA-Screw-Mount-Metal-Pentax/dp/B009GFYCIQ/ref=sr_1_2?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1481361840&sr=1-2&keywords=lens+hood+58+mm+wide-angle

*I had to use that combination in order to avoid vignetting effects.

Some pics attached...
Title: Re: Vibrations and light issue
Post by: flipp on December 10, 2016, 10:32:06 AM
https://www.astronomics.com/vsearch.aspx?SearchTerm=vibration%20damper
Title: Re: Vibrations and light issue
Post by: guitard on December 11, 2016, 05:50:44 AM
Is there a adjustment that can be made to help with the glow from the spotlights? (Sony HDR-CX130)

Are you referring to over exposure?  If so, just manually adjust the exposure to the proper level.  I looked at the manual for this cam and it has manual exposure control.
Title: Re: Vibrations and light issue
Post by: if_then_else on December 11, 2016, 06:57:15 AM
Is there a adjustment that can be made to help with the glow from the spotlights? (Sony HDR-CX130)

Are you referring to over exposure?  If so, just manually adjust the exposure to the proper level.  I looked at the manual for this cam and it has manual exposure control.

I guess he's referring to lens flare.
Title: Re: Vibrations and light issue
Post by: in2blues on December 11, 2016, 01:47:28 PM
Thanks for advice
Title: Re: Vibrations and light issue
Post by: bombdiggity on December 12, 2016, 04:33:10 PM
Is there a adjustment that can be made to help with the glow from the spotlights? (Sony HDR-CX130)

Are you referring to over exposure?  If so, just manually adjust the exposure to the proper level.  I looked at the manual for this cam and it has manual exposure control.

I'd think so.  Can't make good concert video without manual exposure control...   
Title: Re: Vibrations and light issue
Post by: guitard on December 12, 2016, 07:39:05 PM
Is there a adjustment that can be made to help with the glow from the spotlights? (Sony HDR-CX130)

Are you referring to over exposure?  If so, just manually adjust the exposure to the proper level.  I looked at the manual for this cam and it has manual exposure control.

I'd think so.  Can't make good concert video without manual exposure control...   
QFT!
Title: Re: Vibrations and light issue
Post by: xjsb125 on December 12, 2016, 09:11:15 PM
Are those vibration dampening pads worthwhile in a concert environment?
Title: Re: Vibrations and light issue
Post by: flipp on December 13, 2016, 07:12:39 PM
Are those vibration dampening pads worthwhile in a concert environment?

Not sure how effective they would be for audio-only recording where a good mic shock mount is all you really need and have no idea about video since I don't do any video. A friend uses some on his telescope tripod and they seem to be quite effective esp when compared to the times he doesn't use them.
Title: Re: Vibrations and light issue
Post by: xjsb125 on December 13, 2016, 09:35:53 PM
Video is what I'm concerned with. I feel like they might not be much use in a rock or amplified concert environment. Could be wrong though.
Title: Re: Vibrations and light issue
Post by: Teen Wolf Blitzer on December 14, 2016, 10:40:57 PM
I use chunks of Temper Pedic.  Have a buddy who works for a mattress store.  It kills!
Title: Re: Vibrations and light issue
Post by: beatkilla on December 15, 2016, 07:31:04 AM
I use chunks of Temper Pedic.  Have a buddy who works for a mattress store.  It kills!


Exactly what I use, only thing that works and you need weight like a bag on tripod in my experience.
Title: Re: Vibrations and light issue
Post by: xjsb125 on December 15, 2016, 07:59:56 AM
I have a Tempur Pedic mattress. I fell like, if I cut a few chunks out for taping, my wife might possibly leave me.
Title: Re: Vibrations and light issue
Post by: beatkilla on December 15, 2016, 09:24:53 AM
Get a memory foam pillow from m Walmart, that's what I use
Title: Re: Vibrations and light issue
Post by: guitard on December 15, 2016, 09:33:37 AM
I have a Tempur Pedic mattress. I felt like, if I cut a few chunks out for taping, my wife might possibly leave me.

The trick is to cut the chunks out from the bottom side of the mattress.   :bigsmile:
Title: Re: Vibrations and light issue
Post by: morst on December 25, 2016, 12:10:41 AM
MEMORY FOAM PILLOW looks like the deal. Combine that with some theatrical sandbags and you're going pro!

http://www.rosebrand.com/product23/Film-Video-Sandbag-Filled.aspx

Well hey, would these work? $60 for a set of 5

http://www.gooscreen.com/store/projector-screen-paint-goo-goo-audio-4821,Product.asp

(http://www.gooscreen.com/store/images/fullsize/Gooeys_Jar250.jpg)

Quote
Vibration will tend to build up in the corners of a given structure, so that’s where we’ll start applying the Gooey treatment. If your component has a flat bottom, place the pink Gooeys under your equipment as close the corners as possible (below left). If the bottom panel permits, it’s best not place them under the “feet”, rather, make sure that they are in direct contact with the bottom panel of the equipment. So far, so simple! Now here comes the fun part: where to put the blue Gooey? In the case of disc players, in our experience, the maximum benefit is achieved by placing the blue Gooey under the drive mechanism (below right). Generally speaking, this will be about 3-4 inches behind wherever you load your discs. With non-disc based components, the transformer is usually the major source of vibration, so that’s where we’ll put the blue Gooey. The transformer is generally located 3-6 inches in from where the AC cord is attached to your component. That’s where to place your blue Gooey.
Title: Re: Vibrations and light issue
Post by: if_then_else on December 25, 2016, 05:54:34 AM
It mostly depends on the flooring and on your video tripod (and of course the musical genre respectively the amount of infra sound involved)...
In general, concrete floors are less prone to transferring vibrations than parquet floors.
Some tripods made of carbon fibre are more immune to vibrations than their counterparts made of aluminium or plastic.

I was shooting video at two shows where even foam pads or several layers of mouse pads or rugs didn't work. In fact they even made the situation worse.
In such a situation, your only alternative is to weigh the tripod down (by using sandbags, your gear bag or other sorts of counterweight) or to clamp your camera to a fixed feature (balcony rails, lighting rails, trusses etc).
Title: Re: Vibrations and light issue
Post by: morst on December 26, 2016, 11:01:33 PM
Sorbothane was mentioned in this older thread:
http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=170884.0;all
Title: Re: Vibrations and light issue
Post by: goodcooker on January 02, 2017, 09:51:29 PM
clamp your camera to a fixed feature (balcony rails, lighting rails, trusses etc).

I have been clamping to rails often and I think it is the most likely to ruin your footage due to vibration - from low frequencies, handling, foot traffic, etc....

Trusses or light rails would be different but it would be hard to get to the camera
Title: Re: Vibrations and light issue
Post by: if_then_else on January 03, 2017, 04:03:21 AM
clamp your camera to a fixed feature (balcony rails, lighting rails, trusses etc).

I have been clamping to rails often and I think it is the most likely to ruin your footage due to vibration - from low frequencies, handling, foot traffic, etc....

Trusses or light rails would be different but it would be hard to get to the camera

You've got some valid points here. It all depends on the actual circumstances at the venue.

E.g. at one show last year I had exclusive access to some handrail on a catwalk (on the upper floor of the venue). You can also use some dampening material (such as mouse pads) between your clamp and the handrail do reduce vibration issues.

At another show, the venue manager allowed me to mount the video camera to the light rail (at about 3.50m - 4m above floor level). My SONY camcorder has a remote control, so zooming in / out was no issue. [Of course, panning won't work in such a situation]
Title: Re: Vibrations and light issue
Post by: in2blues on January 04, 2017, 07:41:54 AM
I ordered these but they cover the area in front of mic. I don't have separate plug for external mic. so adding external mic. is not an option. Thinking of drilling out bottom section of cover to see if this helps but might be more work then its worth.

 :banging head: :banging head:
I will be video taping a show soon and could use some advice.
1. It is a old movie theater and people walking cause vibrations. What is the best thing to put under camcorder legs to help with the vibrations.

2. I have done some video taping before of bands.
Is there a adjustment that can be made to help with the glow from the spotlights? (Sony HDR-CX130)

Thanks

(1) Is there any possibility to clamp your camcorder to a seat / table / rail / truss? Otherwise weigh down your tripod (e.g. use some sandbags or water bottles).
(2) Use a suitable lens hood (+adapter ring). Use manual settings for focus and aperture.

EDIT (2016-12-10):
I just had a quick look at the 37-58 mm step up adapter and the 58mm wide-angle lens hood* I use with my Sony HDR-CX550 camcorder:

They're identical to these items on amazon.com:
https://www.amazon.com/Goja-Accessory-MagicFiber-Microfiber-Cleaning/dp/B00BFWCPDC/ref=sr_1_3?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1481361701&sr=1-3&keywords=step+up+ring+adapter+37-58
https://www.amazon.com/FOTGA-Screw-Mount-Metal-Pentax/dp/B009GFYCIQ/ref=sr_1_2?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1481361840&sr=1-2&keywords=lens+hood+58+mm+wide-angle

*I had to use that combination in order to avoid vignetting effects.

Some pics attached...
Title: Re: Vibrations and light issue
Post by: phil_er_up on January 12, 2017, 01:41:57 PM
Have used vibrapods and they can be effective and are small and light and do not cost much and easy to carry in the rig bag. They fit well with my tripod legs on the mic stand. You can gaffe tape over each leg and vibrapods so you don't lose them.  You can buy them in different weight ranges. 

Again it depends if it is wood/concrete floor etc...

http://vibrapod.com/vibrapod.htm