• Joined: December 27, 2008

Topic: HD or SD?

Hi folks,
I'm kicking off a production for the TOY contest, and I'm getting all of my equipment together. I have a Sony Handycam that I've always used for animating, and it's great. Only problem is, it's SD. So I'm wondering, has pretty much everyone switched over to HD as far as brickfilms go? I know HD looks better than SD, but do you think it's really that big of an issue right now?

I am planning on getting a Canon T2i DSLR for some live-action videos, but I'm afraid to use it for animating as I don't want to wear out the shutter. Are there any good programs out there for the Canon Rebels that capture frames without using the shutter? I've heard of programs like that, but I don't know of any that are good for animating (ie, they don't have onion skinning and the like). I'm on a Mac, but I also run Windows 7 through Bootcamp, so whatever software should be fine with me.

Anyway, if you have any good suggestions about whether or not I should just stick with SD or if I should consider switching over to HD world, I'd love to hear them.

Thanks,

-ht

  • Joined: January 10, 2009

Re: HD or SD?

LOL no way buddy! I don't think you should worry about HD mini/smile you could stick with Sony Handycam unless you're dissatisfied with it.

Leo's World's Website

  • Joined: December 26, 2008

Re: HD or SD?

There isn't really much debate over HD or SD. Going HD really depends on how much free space you have on your computer; HD files require a lot more HD space, probably. I personally have never shot at anything higher than 800x600, even though my Quickcam 9000 can go twice that resolution. Still, if you can do it, and want to, I'd say go for it.

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Littlebrick's Website

  • Joined: December 27, 2008

Re: HD or SD?

Well, like I said, I'm planning on switching to HD for live-action, so I'm aware of the harddrive space it requires, but again, I don't want to wear out the shutter of my T2i. I guess I'll probably be sticking with the Sony.

Littlebrick, do you like your QC9000? I always thought it didn't have manual controls, making it difficult to animate in.

-ht

  • Location: Cary, NC
  • Joined: September 14, 2009

Re: HD or SD?

The Quickcam Pro 9000 has manual controls and it is the camera I animate with. I am able to make my films in HD with it. I usually film in Full HD or 2k because I can and it does not take all that more effort. I think that SD is fine but HD is better. One problem for Quickcam Pro 9000 for you is that the Mac version of it does not have manual control like it's Windows counterpart.

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AquaMorph's Website

  • Joined: December 27, 2008

Re: HD or SD?

Thanks for the info, Aquamorph. I was unaware that the 9000 had manual controls. I might look into getting that one eventually since animating in Windows isn't a problem for me. I think for my TOY entry I'll just stick with SD because of the deadline.

-ht

  • Joined: December 26, 2008

Re: HD or SD?

High Tower! Glad to see you again! mini/bigsmile

I actually just recently came into the possession of a Canon T2i and am eager to use it for stop motion, so I'm also curious to know if there's a way of capturing with it without using the shutter (though would that perhaps cost me the ability to shoot in true HD?). I capture with Dragon Stop Motion, and I'm still pretty new to the program so I don't know all of its various functions just yet, so if there's something that I can do, I'd love to know.

If not, are Canon shutters capable of being repaired or replaced for relatively cheap?

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MindGame's Website

  • Location: UK
  • Joined: January 24, 2009

Re: HD or SD?

Aside from wearing out the shutter, isn't there a known problem with the way modern apertures work? There's something on the Stop Motion Pro site about it but I don't know how old that information is. Basically, the aperture is wide open while you're composing your shot and it's only when you press the shutter release that it closes down to whatever your f-stop setting is. There's a slight variation in sizes that you don't see when you're taking regular pictures, but which causes some flicker when you string them together at 15fps.

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0ldScratch's Website

  • Joined: January 6, 2009

Re: HD or SD?

There are also problems for how long the mirror system works. It can wear out and there is a warranty on cameras for how many photos you can take before it runs out.

welp
Formerly LegoDudez
  • Location: New Jersey
  • Joined: August 16, 2010

Re: HD or SD?

This is an interesting thread!

I have a Sony Handycam, but its HD, I started brickfilming with it, and I am having a great time with it, I don't have to worry about people telling me my quality is bad. Now I only have to worry about story, effects, and animation. So I recommend HD, or at least use your Canon, and replace the shutter (if its cheap).

Brickfilmer a decade ago, now looking to relive the glory days mini/smile

DerTarchin's Website

  • Joined: December 27, 2008

Re: HD or SD?

Mindgame, thanks for the welcome! It's so great to be back.

I wish I had answers for you about the T2i... There's some software that I remember reading about that takes pictures with a DSLR camera from your computer by capturing the images from the live-feed from the camera. I'm not sure, but I think I read that in a Macworld issue a while back. It was some sort of time lapse program, so again, it might not work well for animation purposes. This information may be useless to you (depending on whether or not you use a Mac), because I can't remember if the software was for Mac only, or if it was for Windows as well.

Just out of curiosity, what camera do you animate with, Mindgame? Your film, "Stranger than Fishin'", looked fantastic.

OldScratch, that was another issue I was concerned with. Although I believe my brother has an adapter for an old Canon SLR lens. I might try using that if I get the T2i...

-ht

  • Location: Britain (last time I checked)
  • Joined: April 15, 2010

Re: HD or SD?

I have a HD camcorder.

Two problems that I am facing:

1. Using it in a frame capturing software reduces the HD quality and makes it really bad.

2. Camera bumps, you will have to get a remote.

And that's why I use the QCP9000 for animating mini/smile

mod edit: Ohai there Mod, you alright?
http://www.bricklink.com/store.asp?p=DWStorm
^^^^Check out my bricklink store ^^^^
  • Joined: January 10, 2009

Re: HD or SD?

DW|Storm wrote:

I have a HD camcorder.

Two problems that I am facing:

1. Using it in a frame capturing software reduces the HD quality and makes it really bad.

2. Camera bumps, you will have to get a remote.

And that's why I use the QCP9000 for animating mini/smile


Camera bumps are what I hate the most too.... I prefer animating with Webcams even if that means there ain't gonna be no HD.

Leo's World's Website

  • Location: These United States of America
  • Joined: November 16, 2010

Re: HD or SD?

DW|Storm wrote:

I have a HD camcorder.

Two problems that I am facing:

1. Using it in a frame capturing software reduces the HD quality and makes it really bad.

2. Camera bumps, you will have to get a remote.

And that's why I use the QCP9000 for animating mini/smile

I used to use a camcorder as well, it had great quality. However the fire wire port failed eventually. The HD C910 I use works quite well.

RedBrick1/LegoTrain587 | EXPANSE | A Brickfilm

RedBrick1's Website

  • Location: Britain (last time I checked)
  • Joined: April 15, 2010

Re: HD or SD?

RedBrick1 wrote:
DW|Storm wrote:

I have a HD camcorder.

Two problems that I am facing:

1. Using it in a frame capturing software reduces the HD quality and makes it really bad.

2. Camera bumps, you will have to get a remote.

And that's why I use the QCP9000 for animating mini/smile

I used to use a camcorder as well, it had great quality. However the fire wire port failed eventually. The HD C910 I use works quite well.

LOL, you have the same problem as me! Maybe I should get this Q910...Is it worth it? Like, are they the same basically?

mod edit: Ohai there Mod, you alright?
http://www.bricklink.com/store.asp?p=DWStorm
^^^^Check out my bricklink store ^^^^