Best recommended settings photo/video

[bobdenar]

Hi all,

I thought it would be interesting if everybody could share their positive experience on the best settings they recommend (night /day, photo/ videp, etc...(and not always talk about problems!) so that we all benefit from each other. I have had my C4 for only a week, so I'm not ready yet, but i will post ASAP after some tests (i'm on holidays for 2 weeks).
There's a few pros among us that I'm sure could start posting.

Cheers

[Lee Smith]

For photographs I leave my C1 in maximum resolution mode 3.2MP - but for the C5 it may only be necessary to leave the photo setting at 5MP even though it can interpolate upto 10MP (IIRC?). 5MP is more than ample for A4 (and A3) prints where you aren't going to gain any extra detail from the 10MP interpolation but will also eat up the card quicker!!

On the video side of things it gets a tad more tricky!
Even though I live in the UK and we use PAL tv systems(25fps) I actually set my camera to NTSC because it records 30fps. This results in more frames per seconds hence better perceived picture quality - but once again will eat up the memory card ever so slightly quicker but I think its worth it for the extra quality!
This also has a benefit further down the dvd movie making side of things where it is also better (and more accurate) to create home DVDs in the NTSC standard rather than PAL!
Once again we are getting more fps (frames per seconds) broadcast from a NTSC DVD disk compared to a PAL DVD disk and so will achieve a better picture quality. Also there will be no frames lost as there is with a PAL DVD disk.
One frame is lost every second from a PAL DVD due to the difference in DVD fps and tv output fps. ie 24 fps vs 25 fps. This results in the PAL DVD playing back 4% quicker than the equivalent NTSC version!!!

You might find this page quite interesting reading aswell:- www.michaeldvd.com.au/Articles/PALvsNTSC/PALvsNTSC.asp

The following table illustrates the common aspect ratios presented on DVD along with the total active pixels presented in each possible DVD format. I have highlighted the best formats in green.
Aspect Ratio 4x3 PAL 16x9 enhanced PAL 4x3 NTSC 16x9 enhanced NTSC
1.33:1 720 x 576 = 414,720 538 x 576 = 309,888 720 x 480 = 345,600 538 x 480 = 258,240
1.66:1 720 x 461 = 331,920 671 x 576 = 386,496 720 x 384 = 276,480 671 x 480 = 322,080
1.78:1 720 x 430 = 309,600 720 x 576 = 414,720 720 x 358 = 257,760 720 x 480 = 345,600
1.85:1 720 x 414 = 298,080 720 x 554 = 398,880 720 x 345 = 248,400 720 x 461 = 331,920
2.35:1 720 x 326 = 234,720 720 x 436 = 313,920 720 x 271 = 195,120 720 x 363 = 261,360


Key Best Second Best Third Best Worst

Lee
www.xacti.co.uk

[bobdenar]

Thanks Lee for the help your giving us on this forum.

Today I did a big goof by extracting with MP4camtoAvi, because I used the "source audio" setting instead of "lame mp3 HIGH QUALITY". The file worked on the PC so I discarded the native MP4 file, only to find my Home DVD player would not read it !!
Would you know any solution to amend this mistake ?

Cheers

[Lee Smith]

All is not lost and you should be able to recover the file from your hardisk and/or memory card.

There are loads of file recovery apps out there but if you need me to send you one (that i know works and is very good at what it does) give me an email at [e-mail] and i'll try and sort you out.

I am assuming that you burnt the video file in a suitable dvd authoring bit of software that would have converted the pics and sound into dvd standard files anyway? If so it may just be that the dvd player doesnt like the brand of dvd disk, the speed it was burnt at or the application it was burnt with.
I also have come across a similar problem with my dvd player where it only accepts (and plays) dvd's that are lower than 8 speed. I can burn a 16 speed disk and it plays fine on the pc dvd rom drive - but when i try on the dvd player it doesnt recognise the disk!
Also when I burn a dvd in Magix (rather than Ulead or Nero) the dvd will play the disk but there is no audio on the output from the dvd player - even though i can hear it on the pc's dvd rom drive!

Its a mine field out there! You just gotta find what works well once and remember to use those applications and settings again!

PS I always retain the original MP4 files, just incase, and back them all up onto DVD-R's. I have wanted to use certain files again later down the line and found it extremely useful. They are only small and its simple to do with nero.

Hope al this helps!

Lee
www.xati.co.uk

[manmikey]

I have a C5 which I am very happy with. I have two 1Gb SD cards and 3 batteries for the camera (all bought of e-bay!)

For photos I use the 5mp setting, (10mp with interpolation is unnessasary for my purposes) I use all the automatic settings and the pictures are great.

For Video I use the maximum SHQ setting which records about 40mins of video on a 1Gb SD card. I usually lock the focus on something middle distance to avoid the (sometimes) intrusive autofocus motors and the (again sometimes) slow autofocus.
I use the wind noise reduction filter when shooting outside which works well. I have had mixed results with the image stabiliser and have yet to decide if it is a benefit.
With video I have found the software used on the PC can make or break the quality of my final movies on DVD, the info on this site has been valuable. I save all my raw Xacti files on to DVD discs as a back up before I start editing them for my cheesy movies.

I love the qudos of this camera, it provokes the same "I can't believe it" reaction where ever you go! great!
Mike