Wildlife Video?

[Markethunter]

Does anyone out there use their camera to film Wildlife/Hunting video?

I have a HV30 and this is what I will be using it for to get started filming. Seems like a worthy subject. This is my first rodeo so I'm on a 1st grade level when it come to this stuff. I've spent a lot of time reading the forums and still have lots of questions.

Everyone has to start somewhere.:hv20-smilie77:

[CycleWriter]

Everyone should start by reading the FAQ and doing some searching. Welcome to the forum.:hv20-smilie77:

[dsclark]

I see some things that I have not seen in a sticky, so I'll bite.
It has been ages since I hunted, but do seem to spend a lot of time in rain forests around central America, so here's my two cents:
1) Get a good bag and apply water repellent. Keep a brand new folded up trash bag in it just in case you find yourself in a monsoon.
2) Get a good wide angle lens.It will bring a bit more light into the cam which I find useful in dense foliage. It will also be useful when breaking down your kill. I almost never use a telephoto lens, I often use a wide angle. I guess I'd rather see the forest than the trees?
3) You need a decent tripod. When you are breaking down that huge elk (the one that you'll share with the rest of us!), you can tape it with the tripod. Sounds grisley, but a good elk is a memorable moment.
4) Vive surround mic (available on ebay) does a good job of capturing forest sounds.
5) Polarizer filter- I love what it does for colors, but it is a must if you find yourself on a lake.
6) Alcohol wipes- I get them at the casino for free. These are good for cleaning, real good for uh, getting the blood off your hands so it doesn't end up on the HV30!
Happy hunting and may the refrigerator in the garage be stuffed with meat!
p.s- I apologize if I offended any vegans!:)

[jordanService]

p.s- I apologize if I offended any vegans!

That made me lol.

[Markethunter]

Thanks for the reply! I am a waterfowl hunter so I am obviously going to be doing a lot of hunting over water. I will look into getting a good Polarizer for the camera.

I bought the HV30 because it was HD,MiniDV, small, in my price range and looked like you could upgrade it some. I wanted MiniDV so that I could take a bunch of film this coming season and then go back and work on the editing, etc. next spring and summer and easily organize all my video along the way.

So far I've got, extra batteries, a 43mm UV filter and 43mm Lense Hood and the DM-50 Mic. I got that mic because it didn't require another battery. Hope it was a good choice.

I am trying to decide on whether I should go with a monopod or get some sort of shoulder mounted rig to help steady the shots. I have rock solid hands, where I got them I don't know, but I can hold the camera pretty steady. But figured I would need something so my arm wouldn't get tired of holding it.

And then of course I am trying to work out learning how to use the camera on fast flying birds and what settings I need to use. No ducks down my way yet. Winter isn't here, but I have some video of some eagles that are slower birds and it turned out ok with everything just set to auto, but I've got some vid of a Kingfisher that was hanging around our blind and he was a fast little bugger and that's not so good.

I'm a little worried I'll screw something up settings wise when I go back and try and edit it, as in I won't be able to or something....because I haven't tried that yet and don't know what I'm doing.:hv20-smilie87:

It's pretty typical of me to try and do something hard like film stuff flying....right out of the gate with this thing. So far it's been fun. Looking forward to learning a lot.....

[antman]

Practise makes perfect my friend. Im not a hunter, but have nothing against people that do.(brothers a big hunter and fisherman) He wants to do some vids for educational purposes( hunter safety, stuff like that) Any ways your on the right track. Its essential to learn how to and when to lock the exposure to eliminale gain. Which will lessen your pic quality. good hunting!!

[jet]

Watching the japs slaughtering whales last night made me sick, oh well the rate animals are going extinct there will soon be nothing left for the hunting ---- to hunt .Themseves ? .
As long as the filthy subject comes on a camcorder site somone has to give the other picture most are afraid of the hunting bullys,
They are probobly reigious as well,im am not .
http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=42142

[Woody Sanford]

jet, I have the utmost respect for your opinion and wouldn't attempt to sway you from it. With that said, I design broadheads for a living. I got into video several years ago for educating consumers on our product (for the benefit of wildlife as well) and to promote my views of responsible hunting and hunter education, which probly puts me on some common ground with jet.

Markethunter, for the last few years I've been using more expensive higher end cameras and a week ago broke down and got myself a HV40 for a back up camera. Its a lot to carry two larger cameras around. What I have found is the HV is in a lot of ways, better suited to outdoor filming, especially when action is involved or you are filming yourself. The quality of the video from the HV is simply awesome and from what I have edited from a HV30 isn't lacking from the 40 unless your into native 24p.

Since you are new to the whole thing the first thing you need to do is search the heck out of this site and start bookmarking things, you will need to come back to them. Search settings, DIY add-ons, things that may not seem to be of value to you yet can save you rear down the road, so bookmark like crazy, it will make it easier to find later when your pulling your hair out.

Next you need to get out there and use what the camera has and then mess with settings on your own. Speak into the mic to record what you are doing for settings so you will know what the differences are when viewing during edit and on the TV. When you start to find what you like you won't have to backtrack anything.

I never really cared for eating duck or hunting them but two days ago spent half the day filming some wood ducks in a creek, crawling through coon poop without hesitation and filming wildlife has become very meaningful and rewarding to me. Anyway back to the subject.

The wide angle lens is a must especially for what you are doing or you will have a ton of camera movement to keep on the action. The one dificulty in filming wildlife is that they are incharge not you so don't worry about keeping the action centered and keep your camera movements slow and easy or you will make you audience motion sick.

A good fluid head tripod is a must outdoors for keeping camera motion pleasant, shall we say but I would also look into the DIY Steady Cam info on this site, I use one some but on flying ducks it could be worth its weight in gold.

Your going to have a lot of background noise and animal chatter, so you don't need the best mic but a good one. I've used the DM 50 quite a bit on GL2's and its proved a good mic for outdoors, I'm currently experimenting with the Azden SMX-10. Going with a battery powered mic to reduce the load on the camera batt for long trips. So far so good but get a good windscreen.

I've got the funny feeling the HV 40 is going to become my primary camera for outdoors. There is a lot to be said for the manuverability of a smaller camera and for filming in the woods. I know the masses are moving toward HD in droves but the SD quality of the HV30-40 is a whole new level. I think SD has really benefited from the HD components in these cameras. I prefer to edit in SD for the much faster workflow and I'm an After Effects junky as well and with all the other things in life I have to do, I actually get more time in to edit and mess with things when rendering and previewing is so fast. I'll probly hold on to SD like my Dad does his 8 track tapes.

Just for basic outdoor filming, switch to program instead of auto. Use TV mode in low light then switch to Cine mode as soon as light lets you. You will have transitions from low light to decent light and some tweeking of color correction you audience won't notice or care. Learn to set a custom white balance for the different weather you will be in to keep colors looking good. That should get you going and give you a reference to go by and judge manipulating settings.

There are tons of things that could be said for filming outdoors but you are going to have to jump in and get your feet wet, literally to understand what these guys on this site are talking about. I though I knew quite a bit about video cameras but have been doing nothing but getting fat by lurking around this site for the last week sitting on my butt. I wouldn't be as far along or as capable with the HV40 without it though and it would still just be in the box as a back up and I wouldn't have the advantages I now do. So thanks to all on this site for your contributions.

Woody

[jet]

Well i do get worked up and helping catching organised dog fighting a few years back and seeing their film,plus some of the stuff i have seen on line like bow and arrow and crossbow hunters laughing as they prepared to finish off deer and bear that they had only wounded with their loathsome weapons is a sickening site.All the things you told him have been mentioned many times and could have the same meaning with any outdoor use, agree the HVS are great little cams in most respects.

[Woody Sanford]

You'd be suprised at how many things I'd agree with you on jet and not just how great the HV's are.

[Markethunter]

Woody thanks for the rely. I am sure I will have a lot more technical questions as I move forward.....:hv20-smilie112:

And I think I am going to go ahead and pick up the wide angle lense. I am sure that will help a lot..... especially in the tight quarters of a duck blind. I planned on using one for interviews, etc. but was wondering if it would be good for general use and I can see what you are saying about trying to keep the camera fluid and not purely on the subject. I watched some videos I have purchased.......I see where wide Angle is going to help.

I don't want to degrade this post into a post about opinions on hunting, so all I will say is look at the facts when it comes to conservation. Whether you enjoy it or not...without the $$ support going to conservation from hunters the world outside might be a very different place. Whether you hunt, film, watch or enjoy feeding them at the park......If anyone is interested in facts about the programs and $$ spent on preserving wetlands and waterfowl habitat to ensure future generations will be able to enjoy one of our most precious natural resources......check out....http://www.ducks.org