Ok, here is the video from this year's Arcadia Rally - Bussin' 2010. My son helped me to get this posted on You Tube. It is broken up into seven video clips. He didn't realize this year's rally was actually 2010 and had already named it 2009, but no biggie. This is the video as I recorded it. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to edit or add music. I tried to minimize the wind noise, but wasn't very successful, so just turn your volume down if it annoys you. One day I'll have a better video camera and will be able to do a better job, but for now, at least you can get a glimpse of what went on.
Bus Rally Arcadia 2009 Part 1 of 7 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X32l-n0cuSY#normal)
Bus Rally Arcadia 2009 Part 2 of 7 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L95qMc6l9ek#normal)
Bus Rally Arcadia 2009 Part 3 of 7 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pARD0TF1zbU#normal)
Bus Rally Arcadia 2009 Part 4 of 7 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0iAupe9sUk#normal)
Bus Rally Arcadia 2009 Part 5 of 7 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pqOhiNzhHQ#normal)
Bus Rally Arcadia 2009 Part 6 of 7 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZo0TRbUrWg#normal)
Bus Rally Arcadia 2009 Part 7 of 7 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQ_YVhn_1b8#normal)
Hey Manny nice job on the videos! Makes me wish I had been there! ;D
;D BK ;D
Thanks BK. I wish you had been there when I was taping, too, then we would have had another nice BUS on this video. Glad I got to meet you, though, and there is always next year...
Manny,
I have truly been replaced. You did an exceptional job on these video's and I am sure everyone got to see their bus on them. I doubt you missed one bus in your documentation. This took a long time to record and produce, I know and appreciate what you did here for us all. These video's are as close to actually being there as you could get. The sound quality was good, no need for any changes, way to original to what is really there when you go.
Thanks again Manny & Darlene. You did good. 8)
Gary
Thanks Manny,especially noteworthy was your attempt at steady cam filming,very nice indeed! :) Great footage! Video lives! ;D
Keep up the good work, I will attempt the same at the Q rally.V
Quote from: van on January 10, 2010, 09:27:42 AM
Thanks Manny,especially noteworthy was your attempt at steady cam filming,very nice indeed! :) Great footage! Video lives! ;D
Keep up the good work, I will attempt the same at the Q rally.V
We're going to hold you to it Van!
Manny did a wonderful job! I had to put my bib on due to all the drooling!
It was nice to see some familiar faces in the crowd, and a few familiar buses too! It's hard to pick out a favorite vid as they were all done very well!
Paul
Nice job. Made me feel "almost " there!
Quote from: Gary LaBombard
Manny,
I have truly been replaced.
Gary
Gary, I doubt it! While Manny did an excellant job, you don't get out of it that easy! ;D (at least until you get that Eagle on the road, then we may excuse you while yer making miles of smiles! ;D)
Quote from: Gary LaBombard
You did an exceptional job on these video's and I am sure everyone got to see their bus on them. I doubt you missed one bus in your documentation.
Gary
Again yes he did an awesome job. But a certain lonely only one of it's kind present "off brand" bus was not shown, while it seems that Eagle's received a little extra attention ;).
Quote from: Gary LaBombard
This took a long time to record and produce, I know and appreciate what you did here for us all. These video's are as close to actually being there as you could get. The sound quality was good, no need for any changes, way to original to what is really there when you go.
Thanks again Manny & Darlene. You did good. 8)
Gary
Yes he did great and yes it was great meeting you too! (but I just gotta rib ya a little for omitting the Eagle's baby brother ;))
;D BK ;D
PS anyone else but me notice all the ones giving Manny attaboys have Eagles too? ;)
(ok so James77MCI8 slipped his post in here while I was typing! ;D)
Gary, you could never be replaced, but I do appreciate your kind words because I know YOU KNOW the time it takes to capture these pics and videos.
BK, like I said earlier, I wish you had been there when I worked on the video. I started on it the morning after we arrived because I knew people would be leaving early and I wanted to capture as many buses as I could. I did pay special attention to the Eagles in my still shots for the Eagle Board (and Gary was kind enough to also post them on this board). My original intention was to catch a pic of each and every bus, but soon after I arrived I was told that there was a photographer on site capturing pictures from this event and I didn't want to duplicate what they were doing.
I did however, shoot each and every bus that was present on Wed. Dec. 30th, for the video.
On the subject of filming,here is an excellent link to making you own steady cam set up. I did the same thing from stuff laying around the garage,except in addition I added foam grips to the grip areas. Real cool to play around with, ground shots are awesome!
Weekend Project: $14 Video Camera Steadicam (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhMYBjdHPeU&feature=related#normal)
and here's another
Make a $30 steadicam (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6Q072tuF7M&feature=related#normal)
Does anybody know who the tan eagle in vid 5 belongs to? I think Tom H. said it was from NC. Would like to ask him a few questioms about the paint.
Ericbsc, the owner of that Eagle is from NC. I had a long talk with him. His name is Arthur. He told me it took him 10 months to paint that Eagle, he did it himself and both sides are identical. This gentleman believe it or not is 70 years old. This Eagle is like a show car - every thing on this Eagle is done to perfection. I'm sure he is going to be at the rally in SC in March, the Arcadia rally was his first trip anywhere.
Quote from: Ericbsc on January 11, 2010, 12:32:01 PM
Does anybody know who the tan eagle in vid 5 belongs to? I think Tom H. said it was from NC. Would like to ask him a few questioms about the paint.
That is Arthur & Aura Griffiths coach. That coach exterior is show car status. They live near Lake Santeetlah, NC. I don't give out contact information without a person's permission. Drop me an email or PM with your contact information and I will forward that to Arthur. Jack
Glad for those of you who are enjoying the video. Thanks for the advice, too Van. My son knows all about those things, in fact he has a degree in Broadcast Programming & Production, but he wasn't there, and neither was his awesome camera. I did try to steady the camera on a pole, but I was walking most of it on very unlevel ground; and the part of the video that seems really shakey, is when I was driving my golf cart AND trying to shoot some footage at the same time, LOL. My wife wanted to help me, but she was back at the bus selling parts so I could fund my brake job :) It's funny because as soon as we arrived and I started to unload my bays with the things I brought to sell, people were all over those items, and that continued throughout the time we were there. I couldn't believe all the stuff I was selling, but I sure am thankful.
Manny,
I just got done viewing all these video's again, for the 4th time by the way of Jack & Paula's rally at Arcadia. You did such a good job that it was as if we were there again. We could not attend this year but these video's are making next year 2011 a priority on our agenda. Between you and I Manny we will try to have photos & Videos of inside and outside of most buses there, at least those that want to have it done. Good grief, lets be sure not to forget Pete. HEHE Pete, hope your doing well.
If you want to relive this 2010 Arcadia Rally through Manny's eyes take an hour to enjoy these videos again.
Gary
Gary, thank you for your kind words, may be we can give it a try at the Eagle rally. I forgot that I tape bussin 2008 I think there was like 140 busses there that year. Maybe I can get my son to help me again to post it. What I need is to hear from all the bus nuts if they want me to posted here it is a lot of work.
Quote from: BusCrazyinFL on January 15, 2010, 05:48:06 PM
Gary, thank you for your kind words, may be we can give it a try at the Eagle rally. I forgot that I tape bussin 2008 I think there was like 140 busses there that year. Maybe I can get my son to help me again to post it. What I need is to hear from all the bus nuts if they want me to posted here it is a lot of work.
Manny,
I of course would not ask you to go out of your way to post them just for me! But since we know there are many "shy & innocent guys" like Cody lurking I will ask you to post them for all of the "shy & innocent guys" ;)
Seriously you know me bus porn, more bus porn! ;)
;D BK ;D
turn the lights down and pass the pop corn (where's my 3-D glasses) ;D ;D ;D
Van, are you going to be taken videos at Quartzsite?
Manny, I like my popcorn with butter and Pepsi to drink! ;D
I sure hope someone takes a video, Bob OTN is doing a bang up job with the pics.
Does Wayne have a camcorder?
Get Van to work it for ya! ::)
Hi Manny, Yes I will they will be limited in length hower, Mpg on my sony DSC ;D ,almost had a good deal on a Canon XL2 but the guy flaked out, sure would have been nice with the steady cam rig I built >:(, O well ;D
Good job Manny!
Thank you Kyle glad you are enjoying the videos. I will be calling you the locks came in a few days ago, have sold any US stamps yet LOL. ;)
Can't seem to be able to afford to stock the machine. Sure looks good just sitting there tho. Brings back nice memories of great people. ;D
Manny,
I thought I would tell you I just bought a new Sony camcorder, 60 gig. hard drive plus it can use a sdr card or something like that they call it. I plan to make a steady rest I saw on your original post to steady the camera some, it makes a lot of sence to try anyhow. Now I gots to find time to learn how to run the camcorder. Between us we will be able to wet anyone's pallet for bus rallies now. Sure hope to see you guys at Santee in March for John & Tarra's Eaglesinternational East coast rally. Now if I could just convince those other two amigo's to show up.
Gary
That's great Gary! I'm hoping to get a better one maybe this year (I keep putting out hints). So learn yours and then you can teach me ;D I want to get one that works with a chip, too. What model is yours? You can't go wrong with a Sony.
I'm still hoping we'll make it to SC in March. Hope things are well with you and the family. Take care, Manny
Manny,
My camcorder (Red in color) has a 60 gig hard drive I plan to use for video's at this time only. You can record up to 45 hours for gods sake on this thing. It also has a chip you can get in various sizes, 2,4,or 8 gig. I plan to use the chip for still photos to keep them separate from downloading the videos and getting all mixed up. You now know how that can be. Here is one website you can go look at to get all the information on it. I got mine at Wallmart, ($245) on sale.
here is the site:
http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=8198552921665738346 (http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=8198552921665738346)
I still have not turned it on yet though. Oh, it's digital or I guess all the new one's are now. It is very light to hold and very small, amazing, 60 zoom lenz I believe also.
Hope this helps.
Gary
Manny and anyone else interested in steadycam for camcorder.
Note: view this video on Youtube for full screen effect, I submitted this video at 5:50 PM and the clarity of the video may not be fully processed for a little while. View video again later this evening about 7PM EST. Just advising that is to appreciate how good this fixture works.
I made a video today of a steadycam I made per the instructions posted by Matt Chapman on youtube and thanks to (VAN) here on our bb'd with his posted information he found on youtube about how to make it. I tested the steadycam fixture and recorded it using my new Sony Camera. I only know how to turn the camera on and record this moment, I have not tried to do anything else with it right out of the box.
I do know that this invention works good for me and wanted to post my results for you to consider if you take and make lots of video's with a camcorder.
Here is some tips I already learned today of what to do and not to do so far.
1) Learn how to use camera before making video's!!
2) Fabricate steadycam fixture using Matt Chapman instructions.
3) Do not try to zoom out your video camera to full capacity using steadycam fixture, you will still get shaky etc. and the camera becomes very sensitive to movement.
I do plan to make some kind of neck strap for mine to minimize the weight factor and attach it to the middle of my steadycam fixture. I do not know if this will hamper the good results of the smooth running of the camera as you video. I will let you know maybe tomorrow or soon anyhow. I used a 2 1/2 lb weight I purchased from a sports authority store.
This camera is real sensitive to picking up voices also as you can see it picks up my breathing when moving, I sound like a 65 year old man. I am a 65 year old man or nearly anyhow. I believe I can turn off the voice pick up when at rallies after videoing for some length of time I surely will not be able to control my heavy breathing. Well , these are all things we can work on individually.
"Gary Lee" Video test of Matt Chapman's Steadicam Fixture.wmv (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3CTIByw2ds#normal)
I hope this helps you out Manny for your videoing pleasure.
Gary
Gary, I have officially started my wish list for next Christmas, and one of these new video cameras is at the top, well, maybe just below a few things for the bus, LOL. Looks great! Thanks for the video clip. It seems I've started something with the video-taping of our buses, huh? You should document some of the work you've done on your bus with your new camera. I'd sure love to see it! Hope things are well with you. Take Care. Manny
WOW.. If I Wouldnt Have Seen It I Might Not Believe It.
Really Works Good Gary.
I Have Never Done Much Video. (Hands Shaking To Much) But NOW There Is Hope After All.
Thanks You For Your Time Showing All Of Us How Well That Works.
JOHN
Nice
Manny,
I am again posting this reply, Don't ask!!! I lost the reply somewhere in space!!
I will condense Now what I had already lost or written just a few minutes ago. I do plan to document on video's now my conversion progress, I hope not to discourage anyone from making conversion plans or repairs but to encourage them to know that no matter how bad a bus frame can be it can be repaird or reinforced for more safety.
I do believe when I get done with mine that my family will be as safe as they can be every since we all have seen what happened to our good friend Dan Mcmurphy from FL. I know my bus could never had taken a head on collision (per these photos) such as Dan's did and I hope with all my reinforcement to the front end I can minimize any front end impact which I hope to never experience.
My bus was bad as you can see and I am glad to be taking the extra time to repair etc. for many future years of enjoyment for our family. I just hope I live long enough to enjoy it also!! Good grief what a lot of work but it is coming together.
Manny, I know you will enjoy this camera as I have and will, even right out of the box!!
I won't bore any of you with a longer post but do hope you will not send me any hate mail for posting these photos. Any bus with this amoung of age as mine, (1973) has to have some issues similar, anybus!!
Gary
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Thanks Gary.
Stop playing with the camera & get to work on your bus. The sooner you finish yours, the sooner you'll be able to work on mine ;D
Kyle,
Did you ever complete your bathroom at home yet?? Just checking.
the weather is too nasty this week to work on bus, man you talk about a lot of rain water in the past few weeks.
Gary
Manny, and everyone that loves to video tape important functions.
Take a look at this video, it looks like anyone with a little time on their hands can do this, This is my plan "B" to work on during these darn rainy days. Hope you enjoy and consider doing this. I will let you know of my results, as usual.
Gary
DIY Merlin Steadicam Camera stabilizer with test footage (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohuHNZySHQE#normal)
Hello Manny and anyone else interested.
Well I have made this fixture per internet instructions, I have balanced the fixture with the steadycam fixture attached to my camera and the results are. This fixture does not work per the internet post using their instructions.
I had to machine out parts of my fixture for the bearing to fit etc. and to not bore you, there is way, way to much movement in this fixture to have the patience to control. I walked, jumped etc. to test it, tried to run and all that stuff that sounds so wonderful I thought I would be able to do & found out it still does not work as expected. Do not waste your time, to much machining involved not discussed in instructional video's to make it and then find out it does not work. Simplicity is ALWAYS best!!
The wind makes the camera rotate, you have to have a finger control to control the movement of the camera or it will continue to rotate & tip and wobble and every darn thing you can imagine. My test was outside in the real world and not in front of a mirror inside. It took 2 full days to make and assemble, after finding some of the parts, disassembling and maching parts cannibalized off a brand new tripod per the internet instructions. I was able to machine these parts but most everyone does not have this capability to do and I do not recommend wasting your time.
I am going back to my original design using the piping assembled together (video above posted on Feb. 5 by inventor) but will try to replace the steel pipe with plastic tubing to lighten the fixture up from long lengthy holding periods of filming. The secret I believe is to have the exact same size or near weight on the bottom of the fixture as what your camera weighs. I will again assemble & test this and let you know of my results. I want this done by the time I go to Santee Eagles International rally in March. I have to also work on the Eagle in between.
Here is a finished photo of my finished fixture,that does not work as expected.
NOTE: I edited this original post as I made harsh comments which I should not had done and am sorry. Some of you may have read them, too late now. But I was frustrated at that time.
(https://busconversionmagazine.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi629.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fuu19%2Fbusconverter101%2FDSCF2371.jpg&hash=942d51a48cb73ec38dbfc487135a5e86ae4bca87)
Gary
Gary,
Bummer your results weren't better. . . .
Don't give up on this just yet, put it on the back burner for a bit. You never know when inspiration will strike. ;D
If inertia is what helps stabilize the camera, maybe the added weight needs to be further away from the camera?
You might want to play with the location of the ballast weight in order to move the effective center of mass of the assembly relative to the handle.
Good luck with it!
It appears you have done a fabulous job on copying the steadicam from the youtube video and although the original tuber admits his design is a little wobbly, it appears as though it's rather steady considering. After looking at his, and then yours, I noticed that he has 3 sets of ballast where as you only use 2. Would 3 sets make any difference in the way yours works compared to the way it does with using only 2? Again, nice job!
Ace
Hi Kyle,
I just don't have the patience to work on the fly at a rally trying to keep this new contraption working and in balance and be comfortable with, Soooooooo, I took 30 minutes and made another one, out of 3/4 PVC pipe with a 2 1/2 lb weight on the bottom of it. I used the PVC pipe in hope I could lighten the fixture and still get satisfactory results I could live with. Heck, I am not a professional and who cares if I can photograph pubic hair on a mosquito's tecticles at 50 yards while running. LOL
Any how I wanted to make something that anyone interested could make in a short time span, not to have any machining, only a drill motor, 1/4" drill, hack saw, screwdriver and 7/16 wrench to tighten up 1/4 inch bolts to the counter balance and top for the camera. You will also need some all purpose pvc cement after testing to assemble the finished tested product.
Here is my video of how my 30 minute manufacture , $4.oo steadycam really works. I am not frustrated any longer. That second confusing worthless steadycam fixture I made with all the adjustments etc. come close to finding itself in a 100 ft. tall pine tree. Now I will use it for a plastic horse shoe the kids can play with etc.
Here is video's of my findings, I am just about done with this project. Good I bet to most of you. Manny, see what you made me do??
Gary
(https://busconversionmagazine.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi629.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fuu19%2Fbusconverter101%2FTest%25203%2520PVC%2520steadycam%2520fixture%2Fth_20100209025220.jpg&hash=382512c99d6a1b51d39ad31d176ac0948dc756c2) (http://s629.photobucket.com/albums/uu19/busconverter101/Test%203%20PVC%20steadycam%20fixture/?action=view¤t=20100209025220.flv)
(https://busconversionmagazine.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi629.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fuu19%2Fbusconverter101%2FTest%25203%2520PVC%2520steadycam%2520fixture%2Fth_20100209025945.jpg&hash=1871ee80639935cf1b7def7a6ef86a305b65fd31) (http://s629.photobucket.com/albums/uu19/busconverter101/Test%203%20PVC%20steadycam%20fixture/?action=view¤t=20100209025945.flv)
Ace,
I made my fixture exactly like the video on you tube, It just does not work. I eliminated the center ballast and was finally able to level the camera front to back and side to side. With the center ballast, the camera hung down no matter what, would of had great photos from the top of that pine tree.
I just posted the video's I made but now have a glitch and on my post there is double post of the video's on the information I provided. Click on the ones with the arrows in the photo?? Don't ask, I am going to have a beer.
Gary
Gary,
Take the one that doesn't work to the rally anyway. You can watch others struggle with it for a laugh while you enjoy a cold one ;)
Who knows, someone may find the trick that works. . . .
Later
Kyle,
I elect you to try, let me video it though as you do OK? Will bring to rally, promise.
Gary
Wow! Gary I'm impress you really have taken time to make this steady cam work. My son was telling me that what the movie people use it cost over 10,000 dollars, but theirs is mounted on their body. Keep up the good work and I like those pics you took of your Eagle.
Gary You Da Man. Thanks for tasking the time and doing the work so we all can see and benefit. A comment on the fixture that did not work for you. It appears that you have the ninety at the bottom and he has it at the top. This makes the bottom end on yours further forward also the bottom weight on his is on the end. Small differences but may make the thing work better since we are talking about balance and inertia. I like your third effort with PVC. Rod
Quote from: Gary LaBombard on February 09, 2010, 02:56:41 PM
Kyle,
I elect you to try, let me video it though as you do OK? Will bring to rally, promise.
Gary
I don't take pictures or do anything else productive. . . . . I'm too busy talking to do anything else. ;D
I guess someone else will get the honor of testing your steady cam holder . . . ::)
Yes Kyle and I am your no 1 helper
uncle ned
I've always heard that if you are good at something, stick with it. 8)
If practice makes perfect, I'm working on perfection ;D
Looking forward to seeing you at an upcoming rally!
I am planning on being there. Just hope I don't have as much trouble getting there as before.
Maybe if I don't see Cody and the real BK before I wont' have any problem getting there.
And if i come from the east instead of the west it will help.
ned
Gee ned and to think me and BK resisted the urge to be sitting there with red suits on when you woke up lol. Hey, gary, when your ready to do the interior give me a yell, but I gotta tell you that 2x12's for reinforcement to hold the sink may be a bit much lol.
Might not have been the days that I spent with BK and Cody that was the problem, maybe it was all that artery stopping food from eating at the tossed roll place. But boy was it good .
uncle ned
I know, we'll blame libby lol.
Cody I don't think I can really blame anyone. It was a great week before visiting with a great bunch.
Look forward to seeing every one at kyles and getting a lot of gossip " infomation gathering" done.
ned
Ned,
Looking forward to a mosquito free environment after your arrival! ;D
What day are you planning to arrive- I need to make sure I get to park close, 'cause I don't want to be late for Wilma's cooking. 8)
Quote from: cody on February 10, 2010, 08:52:28 AM
Gee ned and to think me and BK resisted the urge to be sitting there with red suits on when you woke up lol. Hey, gary, when your ready to do the interior give me a yell, but I gotta tell you that 2x12's for reinforcement to hold the sink may be a bit much lol.
Ya Cody see the gratitude some folks show for waking up to see 2 little angels sitting by their bed when they wake up? ;) (we still love ya Uncle Ned! ;D)
Cody I think the 2"X12"s under the sink will be fine! And I also believe the 4"X8"s for the walls will be perfect along with the 1/2" thick stainless steel skins! ;)
;D BK ;D (the politically incorrect busnut! ;) )
Ok, Ok everybody, here is the very last, I promise at least this week information on steadycam stuff. The one I made yesterday worked ok but my wife pointed out, (I hate when they do that and are right, but she was). What she was right at was she saw at Target a single pole called the (camcorder Monopod). What it is is one single adjustable length of rod that has a pointed pivot on the bottom of the leg that can be secured to the ground for support.
The legs of it are retractable from 5ft. 5 inch down to 21 inches!!!! Very light, might experiment a LITTLE later on with this but I went to Target as she suggested and bought this contraption knowing it would not work. Right!! Well I am very satisfied with it, and am letting you all know as an amateur I am satisfied and will scrap all other fixtures etc, Simple, you bet it is!! I said simplicity is best and here you go.
you want to video at, attach your camera securely, extend only two of the 3 extI am enclosing a Video for you to see it, for the cost it is not worth trying to reinvent. $15 cost for goodness sake and no problems with figuring out how to collapse it down etc. Here is what I do recommend if you get one, and you will like using it much more than free hand and it requires so little storage room in your conversion.
suggestions for this monopod:
1) Listen to your wife at times, you may save yourself a lot of grief down the road. God I hate it when she's right.
2) when you reach a rally or what ever that you want to video tape extend down two of the monopod leg extensions only.
3) The reason for extending only 2 leg extensions is to prevent you kicking the monopod leg as you walk and having the two leg extensions down of the monopod down is sufficient height to use as a more stable fixture to take long range video shots etc. as you will see in my video.
4) Using only 2 extensions of the monopod, hold the monopod and camera assembled in your left or right hand in the horizontal position. Find the exact center of the monopod with the camera attached. Make a mental note this location, slide the foam hand hold fixture on the main body of the monopod and slide it down to center where you believe dead center balance of this monopod is with the camera attached. Fine tun it up or down slowly to find true center of balance. This is important and now the center will permanently located and using only two of the extensions extended of the monopod down, you are ready to go at any time.
when you video tape as long as I or Manny do, you get tired and controlling the weight is important. Rather than spend thousands for a body support fixture, I would rather spend $14.99 and get satisfactory results that would satisfy me.
I am all done, all done fabricating, testing etc. This will work good for you all and you will have better control of your camera. My Sony has a 60 zoom lens. I do not believe this is necessary as at full extension of the zoom the camera is real sensitive to movement, it is shaky etc. I believe a 40 zoom would be great but what do I know. I always get bigger, at most things. Hehe.
60 would probably be alright with a tripod but how many use a tripod and why would you want something distorted at that distance anyhow. The only thing I can think of I would want to video at that distance would be a shuttle launch at Cape Canaveral.
Well here is video, I will post on two other boards as well.
Gary.
[IMG]http://i6 (http://s629.photobucket.com/albums/uu19/busconverter101/?action=view¤t=finalmonopodvideocamerafixture_0001.flv)
Manny,
Well that nice Sony Video Camera, 60 gig. hd I bought about 15 days ago went back to Target Store today. The camera works really good, picks up sound etc. and is clear as a bell. The problem for ME, was using the download softwear in my computer after. None of my programs for editing etc. of my video's would work easily with the Sony camera softwear for downloading etc. I made a couple of video's that are processed good enough for the bb'ds so far but man it was not easy to do. If you do not do it daily you can sure forget how to manipulate your programs to talk to Sony.
Today I was trying to download videos I had taken today of the front end of my bus to get used to doing this now in the future instead of still photo's and the Sony Camcorder recorded real good. I was able to view it real good in my computer but trying to post it to photobucket after making a video was a real treat. I want you to know that I have made over 40 videos so far for youtube and webshots with my old camera and had no problems. It was a Sony too by the way, but over 15 years old or there bouts.
The salesperson at Target today agreed that Sony is the most difficult softwear to work with for amateurs Like Me, and agreed I should get a less complicated softwear recognized camera that is user friendly and so I did. With the salesperson's help It was a choice between a Cannon or JVC and I choose the JVC Everios, model (GZ-MS120) from Sam's Club for ($228). The sales person at target suggested this for me but target only had a display model and none in the back for sale?? The camera is on charge this moment. I have 90 days to return if it does not work as I need or it is too difficult to use etc. I am not a real techy nerd by any means, simplicity is always, always best for me. I do not like in any way hi-tech challenges that can take a lot of time to figure out how to (manipulate) or what ever it is you have to do electronic wise. I still have a old VCR, about 20 years old I would guess, it is still flashing 12:oo.
I am just making you aware of this Manny if you do not like hi-tech challenges on your own because you indicated you wanted to get a camera similar to my Sony I had bought. I will definitely give you more information hopefully by tomorrow on the JVC etc. Be sure to research with other Sony Camera owners to the validity of my information before making up your mind to purchase or not a Sony.
I know lots of you with more intelligence than I would like to conquer this as a challenge, me I am tired of challenges after fighting with Rust for 7 years and trying to figure out how to remove it and prevent it in the future.
Now this is only intended for those of you whom may be like me, I have several book for (HOW TO FOR DUMMIES). and they sure help me get where I want to be.
Until Later on the JVC test,
Gary
OK, OK, here I am again, I believe breaking my promise above but technically not really as this information is intended for camcorder use.
This information will probably as usual quite lengthy so If I bore you as probably usual just go on to another subject. To begin with that new camera I bought from Sam's in exchange for the Sonny I first bought had to be replaced also!!! I know, but this is what happened. I bought this camera (JVC-GZ0MS120), brought it home, read about 60 pages of their stupid instruction book while the camera charged up. Man I was excited and anxious, got rid of the troublesome Sony etc. and got another one cheaper at that. Well, That didn't work out so good. I took about 20 minutes of video outside in our only snow storm this year as it was pretty. Well I did all I was supposed to and tried using the JVC softwear to edit etc. but that did not work out too well. This softwear that comes with cameras is basic and you have to get other to work right.
I am getting ahead of myself here. Anyhow, I downloaded my video into my computer and tried to make a quick video just to check out what in hell I am doing. Well the video was grainy and I was disappointed and tried to figure out what was wrong as the video was not sharp and clear like expected. I just knew these new cameras were all High Definition. WRONG!! I got pissed and more pissed, what is wrong with my new camera and as I studied it I did not see in the directions or on the camera any word (Digital, or High Definition)!! For gods sake I got snookered again with all my excitement. I did it myself but remember, I never said I was the sharpest knife in my mama's kitchen.
So after packing up everything, I went back with my tailbone between my legs. Asked for a refund as Sam's did not have a High Def. Camera to view or buy!!?? Good Grief.
Well we left and headed for Best Buy, AGAIN. On the way my wife suggested we go to HHGREDD dept. store and as usual I figured what does she know, they only sell stoves etc. WRONG!! She was right again after I turned around to go to that store to prove I was right!! HEHE She still laughs when I screw up knowing it all. Well as soon as we went in the store we spotted cameras, lots of them and the one I returned to Sam's that cost $218 was on sale at HHGREGG for $145. It was not digital remember though.
We looked at all the camera and settled again on JVC as they just look good. This time we made sure they were HD or Digital on the camera. We saw one that really hit us with the price as it normally sells for $599.99 and was on sale for $379. How come?? Well the salesperson let us know under his breath that the new 2010 models were coming out in mid March and would cost about $100 more than the one in our hand at it's regular price. So it will be about $700 for a newer camera and this was on sale to clear out stock
We took a shot at it and have been very very pleased so far, my first video using new softwear also is now on youtube and I will post that here shortly. I played with the camera and the JVC softwear but even the newer better camera has sucky softwear to use. I decided to go get something I needed as my computer would show great clear videos like I wanted but downloading them on to youtube made the videos look like heat waves etc. and were not clear at all and pissed me off. Well, the program I used to make a video, Microsoft Movie maker did not recognize (HD or Digital) junk or what ever.
I went to Best Buy and one of those young knowitalls let me now what I needed that little twerp!! It was a she but she knew her stuff. She had me get the program (Pinnacle Studio HD, 14). Now I had to learn how to use ANOTHER program with my camera. But to my credit, I was able to figure out how to make a simple video with a very few edits needed so far but this program has a lot you can do. It is probably the beginner version as there is many different upgrades offered but this works good for us older folks, right now anyhow.
I am so darn pleased with my camera and knowing how to make my softwear work well with it and wanted to pass this on to anyone like MANNY wanting a new camera this Xmas to see about a JVC or similar camera and be sure to get one that is labeled (High Definition, HD) you will not be satisfied with analog anymore, believe me.
I have a little bad news concerning me, I need another back surgery to be done on March 25, 2010 and will be laid up AGAIN for over 3 months this time as this surgery is more serious. My back is getting worse per day that passes and I have scheduled my surgery so that I can attend the rallies at Santee and at Palmetto cove with the SouthEast Busnuts in April. I am not sure what use I will be but I plan to be there. I am really disappointed again to endure this but do not know what else to do. I hate losing nearly 6 months all together on the Eagle and most of it in the nice weather but I got no choice.
what I plan to do in that time is convert many of my webshots files into videos and practice with my new camera and get the softwear simplified for me to use. I will document this softwear in my simplified version to assist any one needing this information or to encourage newbies to think of getting this softwear and to save them grief my information may help them. I will not cover every aspect of this softwear but you will be light years ahead if I make it easier to understand as you know what it is like to learn from these useless manuals you get with it.
I will post this with information that is trying to be gathered for busnuts to download in an earlier post and be documented to this bb'd and others interested.
Anyhow this is the dilemma concerning my purchase of 3 camcorders and I hope I have assisted you in keeping in mind, Listen to your wife, take your time and research on the web for information from disgrunted buyers of products before purchasing. I got to listen to my own advise here!!!!!
Anyhow here is the video which is on youtube and I may have to post the web link for you to see but will try to also post directly on this bb'd the actual video. Good luck to you all, sorry for the lengthy post, can you imagine me being on like for 3 months starting the end of March, Phew!!!
Note the movie is still processing at 5:30 PM, wait till after 6PM to view to see the quality, I hope of this camera and video.
Gotta go to a meeting now. Sorry for length os post as usual.
I just went to check on this link above and it does not look as clear as It should but it is not done processing yet either my window said. I will check later this evening when we get back. Hope it looks good here. Need to go.
Gary
"Gary Lee 1945 JVC Camcorder Test, (GZ-HD300) and use of Pinnacle 14 Studio HD softwear.mpg (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCYNDOA0Vik#normal)
The above video has been resubmitted as the original would not load properly, I used AOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Anyhow it works now so you can click on it.
Sorry for any inconvenience.
Gary
For those new bus nuts - this is just a taste of what you can expect at the Arcadia Rally (a little teaser). Hope to see you there!