Comparison of Camera Shake Compensation Functions
I think I'm getting the hang of filming at the ski resort. If you film while skiing, camera shake is a real problem. You'll definitely want to use the camera shake compensation function. For this next shot I have a secret weapon: I borrowed a special mounting bracket from the engineering staff that lets me shoot with two camcorders at the same time.
The GZ-HM1 comes equipped with OIS, further reinforced by Advanced Image Stabilizer (AIS) for greater wide-angle performance. The AIS works well when shooting while walking. A button switches between three settings: OFF, OIS and OIS with AIS. For this shot I'm going to set one camera to OFF and the other to OIS with AIS. Let's see how it goes.
Taken using the GZ-HM1 with Camera Shake Correction OFF
Taken with the GZ-HM1 using OIS with AIS
Holding the bracket with the two camcorders with both hands made skiing quite tricky, but you can see Eri and the rest of them skiing beautifully down the mountain. The camera shake is really obvious on the video from the camera whose image stabilizer function was set to OFF. I couldn't wear my gloves while filming, so things got pretty cold out there. It was time to warm up and get some lunch.
Actually, there was one more thing to do before entering the cafe for lunch. Secret weapon number 2: A zippered plastic bag - another tip from the engineering staff. If you bring a camcorder straight from the cold outdoors into the warm indoors, condensation can form in the camera, which may cause problems. Putting the camera in a closeable plastic bag prevents it being exposed to the warm air. A zippered bag is great because you can seal it completely and reuse it over and over. This is worth remembering for anyone who takes a digital camera or camcorder with them while skiing.
Filming from a Low Angle Close to the Snow
After a filling lunch of curry and rice it was time to hit the slopes again. But we were missing Eri. I went out to look for her and found her in an unexpected spot...
What is that? A sled with a steering-wheel? Pretty cool.
Apparently, she wanted to take film from a low angle - she's a true Everio Video Hunter! She didn't exactly fly down the sledding slope; there was too much powdered snow to get up much speed. Still, here's the footage we got.
Taken with the GZ-MS230
OK, maybe not such a fantastic shot, but it was a good idea to try. Good job, Eri! Since the sled was so slow, I decided to try the low-angle shot myself, with the camcorder at my feet as I skied. Now this footage is exciting:
Taken with the GZ-HM1
