JISC Photographic

Angle Conversion

Video recording outdoors?

I would like to shoot wildelife(mostly birds and ducks in flight) in all seasons/lighting conditions from a boat. will the folowing equipment be sufficient to produce a DVD that can be sold. stability ??lighting??

If you are recording from a boat, that is actually the wrong equipment - especially if you are recording migratory birds like ducks geese, and smaller species.

When migratory birds are in their migration patters, they are flying at high altitudes that the HDR-SR11 can not lock onto for solid video - especially in a rocking boat. You will need a professional camera with a long zoom and solid optical stabilization. Most of these setups cost several thousand dollars, but there are several affordable options available.

The HDR-SR11 will never be stable in your proposed setup. The focus is hard to adjust manually on long zoom with consumer cameras. Plus, a 3 watt light doesn't provide enough light for that type of video. If you are trying to film this kind of activity in low-light conditions where you need a camera light, forget it. It won't provide the quality video you need for production. No light will help you in this proposed situation - not even the professional lights. Not to mention, the lights may scare away the birds. A wide-angle lens also won't help either.

If filming underwater, most of these accessories don't apply. This is also an environment where only specific accessories are necessary such as the light and waterproof case, but the light needs to be 100 watt or more so it cuts through the water.

If you will be waiting for the birds to break migratory pattern and come down to lower levels to land or roost, then the equipment you chose will work. The wide-angle lens will help you get a large field or lake full of birds into one shot, but you can also do this by panning. You won't need the light. Also, It is best if you are on solid ground with a very good tripod ($100 or more). You may need to make quick turns with the tripod (as the ducks fly by at 30-50 mph) while maintaining solid video stability. You will also have to limit your filming between daybreak and dusk (after sunrise to before sunset).

The biggest thing you will want to do is move up to the Sony HVR-A1 or another professional camcorder. This camera costs at least $500 more, but you will have that money because you won't need most of the accessories you listed. This is one of the few professional video cameras that is very compact and can be broken down to a form factor similar to the HDR-SR11. The HVR-A1 also one of the rare professional camcorders to include Nightshot infrared capability. This is good if you want to do some short distance shooting in the dark or low-light of sunrise before daybreak - such as recording a host that is explaining the situation.

We have used this camera in similar settings to what you describe here, and its capabilities and quality impresses our clients. Other lower priced professional cameras you might want to look into are the Panasonic DVX100 (SD) and Sony HVR-Z1U - both cameras recorded most of the documentary, reality TV, and other cable TV shows you have been watching for the past decade. Also included in this list are the Sony HDR-FX1 (HD), and the Sony VX2100 (SD) - old popular choices for TV and internet news crews. Your most promising option will be the Canon series of GL1, GL2, XL1, and XL2 cameras which have recorded most of the wildlife videos you see on the Discovery Network; specifically the Animal Planet channel.

Adjust your setup by picking a proper camera out of the list provided. You will spend a little more money, but it will be worth every cent. You won't need a light, but you will definitely need a high capacity battery and professional tripod (both available from Amazon.com). You may not be able to afford the waterproof setups for these cameras, but who needs waterproof setups when filming birds in flight? You might also need to get a bigger, more stable boat, or even better, film from land. It normally costs a lot less to film from land than from water. The biggest advantages to the improved setup we propose is not only better quality video, but also a lot less equipment to haul - just camera, tripod, and small bag of lenses and tape.

Look in your phone book for your local videographers. Visit them to check out their setups and get their advice. You may also be allowed to try out some of their cameras.

Good Luck

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