DIAMONDHEAD VIDEO WRAP-UP and REQUEST FOR HELP

T

thumper

Live Steam, Gardening, Golf, Grand Children and Ro
Good morning.
Well, the Diamondhead International Steamup for 2012 is history and it is time to start planning for next year.
I hope you enjoyed the video.
For those of you who watched the streaming video, there were a total of 31,798 hits on the video. In fact, it was the 9th most popular video for the week. I received many thanks from those who saw old friends and many were able to use the video while talking with family, especially grand children and friends. Every day you could see several waving to the camera.

[style="background-color: #ff0000;"]Now for the HELP

I need to know how to improve the quality of the video, especially when the camera is being moved. For me, seeing just pixels limited the value of what I was trying to do, especially the shots of the flea market and the new locomotives from Aster - I didn't shoot the Accucraft model brought by Ian Pearce because of the pixel problem.
Is there a way, through either better software or hardware to improve the video quality? If you know, please let me know. I will try to make next year's streaming video better.

Thank you in advance for your help.

Regards,
Will
 
Will,
I would say use a higher resolution camera to start with.

Yes, you can get software to 'manipulate' the resolution, but if you film at the highest res possible, then there is less likelyhood of your picture being degraded passing through various software filters, and it saves time not having to use the computer to enhance the image in the first place....
 
I have to agree with Gizzy while the best chefs dont always need the best ingredience you will often end up with a Mc Donalds if you cut corners
i just bought a Panasonic HDC SD90 hi def 3D Video cam and while not the most expensive its certainly the best value for money by a long way i wont bore you with the details im sure you can find them on line but here is a railway related youtube vid i shot with it and if you look at my other recend vids you will see some of a Gig we went to on new years eve filmed in the dark (dont forget to watch in 1080 HD for best quality)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cu2WoJP387s
Im sure on your side of the pond its proberly sold by another name but buy one :thumbup: here they sell for £350 and you can get the 3D lens thrown in if you look around

One other thing you will need a decend editing program (the one that come with the cam is basic at its best) and it has to be one that edits HD (not many do) i bought Cyberlink power director 10 ..£49 from Amazon and its just the ticket
BUT theres always a catch thats is HD video eats memory and uploading something to youtube will take 5 times as long as it does with VHS quality vids (a 5 min HD vid can take 5 hours overnight) it will proberly be a few years before home computers catch up with the Quality and size of HD...It is a pain but the benfits are worth it i hope you will agree

My PC is a quad core dell gaming pc brillent with graffics and it only just copes with HD editing so be warned

Tony
 
Tony/Gary, thanks for the quick response.

Regarding the Diamondhead streaming video, I am hesitant to go the higher resolution video camera route as I leave my computer and the camera out in an open [not to the weather] atrium 24 hrs./day for about 8 days. What you see when you log on the Stickam site when my equipment is on is raw, live video. I do not record all of it, just small things of interest while the live streaming is on.

This year, I tried to record Aster's first public steaming of the new Challenger locomotive and the flea market. Both attempted recordings on the Stickam site were disasters.

The WiFi at the hotel is less than stellar and I'm usually kicked of a couple times a day. I think the WiFi is more of a problem, but I'm willing to try anything within reason.

Currently my camera is a Logitech camera with capability close to that of a built in laptop camera. Shots with the camera in a fixed position seem o.k. and audio is actually too good [ask those who talked about aquaintences within earshot, +/- 40 feet of the microphone].

I have a query in to Stickam; maybe they can help.

Kind regards,
Will
 
Re:DIAMONDHEAD - First Impressions.

Iv'e just returned from my first visit (week) at Diamondhead, and thoroughly enjoyed every single day.
I drove from Florida to Diamondhead (a good 8+ hour drive), so I was hopeing that it would be worth the effort - it most certainly was!!

Highlights of my week - too many to list here, but:
Seeing so many different types and sizes of steam loco's, steam boats, steam road rollers and static steam engines, was fantastic.
The three separate running tracks were used constantly, both day and night - no matter what time I visited the exhibition hall, there was always somebody running something.
I was looked after royally, by Ray Egerton (Canada) who took me under his wing and introduced me to his many friends and other "steamies" Thanks for everything Ray.
Whilst it is true that all the loco's I saw ran well, I have to signal out the new Aster Challenger with a rake of eight coaches, (an absolute dream to watch and listen to), a 'Big Boy' pulling numerous box cars ( I didn't count them, but no doubt someone did), at full "chat".
The Flea Market was worth more than one visit - with both factory fresh and scratchbult 'gems' for sale, at ridiculously low prices.

The Dealers Room ( Model suppliers - not casino), was also well worth a visit - I purchased my first Regner (Wilma) loco, at what I considered an absolute bargin price (even taking into account the cost of shipping to the UK, V.A.T. Customs etc).

With free tea, coffee, and a local Mardi Gra speciallity "King Cake" ( lucious combination of Stroke inducing cream, fruit and other horrifically high calorific ingredients, on 24 hour offer, why would you ever leave the show?
An International event? - most certainly. I met steam fans (and watched them run their loco's) from America, Canada, Brazil, England (only a very few I must add), France and even Peru!! (Apologies for those countries I have not mentioned).

Downsides - Well, if I have to mention any, it's Diamondhead it'self. It is a small town of two hotels, two gas stations, two fast food outlets, one bar, one supermarket, and some dozen small shops. So, if your not there for the "Steaming" you would have to travel to nearby St.Louis (only a 15 minute drive) for any retail therapy.

Will I be there in 2013 - You Betcha!!!!!!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top