Recording Live Events

thefilmaddict

thefilmaddict

Veteran
I have to shoot a live event with 2 ex1's. The event will be two hours long. For the first camera, I have 1 32GB sxs card and 1 16GB sxs card. For the second camera I have 2 16GB cards. I am trying to figure out what format to shoot in (to make sure I have enough storage to catch the entire event). It's a dance recital, so I was thinking 30p or 60p to reduce motion blur. Is there a link to a chart that shows how much recording time you get per GB in the various modes (1080 vs 720 and all of the different frame rates and quality)? Also, should I worry about recording an event and having it run from card 1 to card 2? I use the EX1 all the time, but never for such a long live event. I just wat to make sure I don't make any mistakes or run out of media! Thanks!
 
I put in the cards and with the remaining recording time displayed, I got the following information:

Older EX1:
Slot A - 32GB - 112 min
Slot B - 16GB - 55 min

Newer EX1
Slot A - 16GB - 57 min
Slot B - 16GB - 57 min

Why does the newer EX1 get 2 more minutes of recording time on the 16 GB card???

When I switch from 720 24p to 1080 24p, the recording time stays the same. Why? This is a little confusing.
 
thefilmaddict said:
Why does the newer EX1 get 2 more minutes of recording time on the 16 GB card???
Click to expand...

The camera is estimating. If you don't move it a lot, you'll get more time. It's a VBR codec. Maybe the new firmware estimates a bit differently, or more accurately.

thefilmaddict said:
When I switch from 720 24p to 1080 24p, the recording time stays the same. Why? This is a little confusing.
Click to expand...

Recording time stays the same because they are recorded at the same bit rate. Picture size is not a factor. Change over to HDV if you want more time, it records at 25Mbps instead of 35Mbps.
 
Thanks. I think I will shoot at full resolution if I can fit 1.5 hours of live content onto the cards I mentioned above. Will 1.5 hours fit onto 2 16GB cards?
 
thefilmaddict said:
Thanks. I think I will shoot at full resolution if I can fit 1.5 hours of live content onto the cards I mentioned above. Will 1.5 hours fit onto 2 16GB cards?
Click to expand...

I have NEVER gotten less than the initial estimate. Nearly always more. I get about 65 minutes on most recordings. 62 minutes doing high motion. My camera is moving CONSTANTLY when shooting roller derby.
 
So shooting 30p or 60p won't look smoother than shooting 24p with 1/60th shutter? I don't know if I believe that. Panning should look smoother when shooting higher than 24p, no? 24p requires slower moves, correct?
 
Motion blur and smooth motion (or lack of - judder) are two separate things.

Motion blur would be seen with a stationary camera as it is based upon how quickly the frame is exposed. This is shutter speed. You can have a high shutter speed and a low framerate - Saving Private Ryan look. Motion is "frozen" per frame due to the very quick shutter speed.

Framerate is the amount of frames that go by in a second. Higher the framerate the smoother the motion, look and camera movement.

Just a bit of lingo, but it is an important distinction.
 
Right. That's why I think I will shoot 1080 30p instead of 24p (for cleaner pans) and turn the shutter setting to 1/60th (for less motion blur within the frame). Sounds good to you guys for a dance recital?
 
24p, 30p, 60i, 60p are choices depending upon how you want the look of your footage to be. 60i or 60p give the best fluid motion.

Do you want the footage to look live or filmic?
 
I shoot most things at 24p. I hate the video look, but I might need it for a live event with lots of movement. I was thinking 1080 30 p because it is the highest quality you can get using the EX1 (that and 1080 24p).
 
Consider 720 / 60p; It is still HD and you can blend in over and under cranking easily in editing. It also has a smoother look for motion. Carl
 
I went with 720 60p with 1/60th shutter. It looked good. The cards worked perfectly and had no problem with long recording times running over multiple sxs cards. Thanks!
 
Frame rate does not change the card recording time, unless the camera is in overcrank mode or interval record mode. 24, 30 and 60p all write the same datarate when recording in normal modes with audio.
 
60p recording takes up the same space as 30p? If you can slow down 720/60p in post to play smooth slow motion, then isn't it just the same as 720p at 60fps overcrank?
 
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