Handheld vs. stabilized (in post)... EX1R

This video shows my first EX1R footage from January 2010. It was shot handheld at different locations while walking around Manhatten (sound is from the built-in mic).

The original (shaky handheld) footage on the left and the stabilized footage on the right.

I used Sony Vegas' "Stabilize media" which came with Sony Vegas Pro 10.

The stabilization software is actually just a special version of ProDAD Mercalli. It is very easy to apply and works very well. It comes free with Sony Vegas.

You will notice that the frames that are unsharp due to the shaking, show up as a slight 'flashing' in the stabilized footage. Extreme shaking like this can be stabilized but the footage doesn't become sharp. This is especially visible in the close-up shot of the Statue of Liberty.

Pans and tilts that are 'uneven' speedwise are fixed so that the pans and tilts look more even. A good example of this is the shot of Ellis Island from Liberty Island (Statue of Liberty). Zooms are also more smooth after stabilization - see the footage from Ground Zero - Zooming out while tilting down...

The software crops the footage in order to stabilize it, so the 'image resolution' is reduced. This is bad for sharpness...

I hope you get an idea of what is possible with the stabilization software in Sony Vegas.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• new
• york
• manhatten
• sony
• pmw-ex1r
• ex1r
• vegas
• pro
• 10
• stabilization
• stabilized
• handheld

[coolcash4live]

Really this software is the first of its kind that I have ever seen working this way. I must say, I love it.

[drewnetwork]

Very nice demonstration.

I've run very preliminary tests of Mercalli in Premiere Pro CS5.5, and very preliminary tests of Adobe's Warp Stabilizer. The very preliminary tests indicate Mercalli delivers more pleasing results. This is "very preliminary."

[Nyx2488]

Wow, I have never thougt that the difference is so huge. Thanks for uploading and the detailed description. Very helpfull.