Hello, it’s Ayako.
They’re JVC’s first Everio with Wi-Fi, and you can use them to monitor anything in real-time from your smartphone or PC. In the “dance” post last time, we talked about “DIRECT MONITORING”, in which your smartphone and Everio are connected to each other directly. This time, I’ll be connecting to a wireless LAN router via Wi-Fi and using “OUTSIDE MONITORING” to monitor and get captures of my cat while I’m gone.

The Everio and smartphone models I used are listed below.
I set the Everio on a tripod and fixed the view angle on the area the cat usually roams through.
You can make the camera zoom in and out by remotely operating it from your smartphone or PC, so the trick is to think about the “wide” side and “tele” side you want to capture when you’re deciding on a view angle, and where to place the camera.

Getting Ready for Outside Monitoring

You can connect Outside Monitoring through the wireless LAN router for your home access point, or over the Internet. Using your smartphone or PC, you can monitor areas and remotely operate the Everio even from the other side of the globe! First, before you do anything else, register your access point (the wireless LAN router) and dynamic DNS (DDNS). (See the manual for detailed instructions on how to do this.)

Touch the Wi-Fi mark on the Everio’s shortcut menu and select “OUTSIDE MONITORING”. Touch “CAMERA NETWORK INFO.” note down the URL (WAN) that displays, then touch “QUIT”. The Everio then goes into standby mode, and your setup is complete!

Live Monitoring a House-Sitting Cat

Now then, I’ll go out and monitor my cat on my smartphone while she’s home alone! First, I activate a dedicated application that I installed beforehand. Next, I input the URL (WAN) I wrote down earlier, and the monitoring screen displays. Let’s take a look!

The cat is curled up on the sofa, fast asleep. Makes it easy to relax and enjoy an outing, doesn’t it? You can capture videos and stills, pause and zoom from the smartphone even while monitoring, so I captured a video of that cute snoozing face. The video was recorded on the Everio unit in high resolution Full HD.

Automatically Forward Captures with Home Detection Monitoring!

In addition to Outside Monitoring, Home Detection Monitoring (DETECT/MAIL) also acts as a distance monitoring function. This function can detect people’s faces and the movements of a subject, capture stills, and automatically send them to the e-mail addresses (up to eight) registered beforehand. For example, if I set the Everio so it monitors my cat’s food dishes, it will let me know by e-mail when she comes to eat her food. The attached stills are 640×360 pixels, a size that’s easy to send over a network. It’s also possible to set up the program so that, when it detects something and shoots stills, it simultaneously records high-resolution video to the Everio.

In order to get started with Home Detection Monitoring, register the following items in advance:
• Access point registration
• Settings for the receiving e-mail accounts
• E-mail address registration

Now to start Home Detection Monitoring:

When the camera picks up movement or a person’s face, the “PHOTO” icon is displayed on the screen; the camera automatically shoots a still then sends it to the selected e-mail address(es). Okay, let’s take a look at Home Detection Monitoring, and at the video sample that was simultaneously recorded on the Everio.

What did you think? Since the Outside Monitoring settings let you use Wi-Fi to connect via an access point, then monitor and operate the Everio remotely over the Internet, we anticipate a wide range of uses. Users can check on their homes while they’re away during the day; fathers overseas on business trips can enjoy their sons’ soccer games in real time. There are all sorts of different situations where this could come in handy. The Everios with Wi-Fi do more than just shoot images: they can keep you connected to distant loved ones and pets. Next time, I’d like to talk about the video e-mail function, which also uses Wi-Fi, and this year’s unique new function that will get adorable images of your pet. Stay tuned!

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We first introduced the Everio with Wi-Fi in our last episode of Everio Video Hunters! We demonstrated monitoring and remote control via a Wi-Fi direct connection, all while capturing some great dance moves. But keep in mind these are not the only functions available using smartphone linking!

Using an Everio with Wi-Fi linked to a smartphone, you can also record the GPS location data to video and stills, as well as transfer the video you captured with the Everio to your smartphone—right then and there! Since it automatically formats video to sizes that are optimal for Web sharing, you can send video by email or easily upload to social networking sites like YouTube. Of course, the Full HD video you captured is still stored in the Everio as high definition data, so once you get home you can either edit the video or simply watch it in high definition. With the Everio with Wi-Fi and a smartphone, you can take advantage of both features!

GPS Recording with Smartphone Link

Now, lets start by taking GPS recording for a spin. By directly linking a smartphone to the Everio, you can use the smartphone’s GPS function to embed location data on the video you’ve captured. This is a function that you can definitely make use of on a trip! Whether it’s video or stills, you’ll be able to know where it was captured at a glance. If you use Everio MediaBrowser 4—the software packaged with the Everio—to read the data, it will synchronize with Google Earth and appear on the map.

[1] Keep the smartphone GPS function switched ON.

[2] As we did in part 1, set up using the DIRECT MONITORING setting.

[3] From the SET screen on the smartphone app, select LOC INFO TRANS INT*.

* LOC INFO TRANS INT – LOCATION INFORMATION TRANSFER INTERVAL

[4] Return to the MONITOR screen and press the REC button to start capturing.
The GPS mark appears on both the smartphone and Everio screens.
(If you touch CAMERA OPERATION on the Everio screen, you can control it with the main unit controls.)

Starting with setting up GPS, check out this video of Everio MediaBrowser 4 synchronized with Google Earth.

Transferring Video to your Smartphone and Easy YouTube Uploading!

Do you want to share the video you captured right away, and right where you captured it? Using smartphone linking, you can easily transfer video and stills and upload them to YouTube from your smartphone.

Transferring video and stills is so simple. From the smartphone app screen directly linked to the Everio, select either the “Video Index Screen” or the “Still Image Index Screen”. You will then be able to see a thumbnail list of all the video recorded on the Everio. After setting the length of the video you want to send, touch to select the video file from the list and start transferring!

The transferred video is in MP4 format at a data size of 640×360 pixels, so it’s optimal for Web sharing. Once transferred to your smartphone, you can watch the video or upload to your YouTube account by pressing the “Share” button (compatible with Android only*). Please take a look at how it’s done.
* With iPhone, after transferring the data to your iPhone, go to the “CAMERA” or “PHOTO” menu and select the data to watch or share as you like.

● Sample of Video Transferred to a Smartphone

Dance Moves in a Video Captured with Multiple Cameras

We will now introduce some dance moves captured in a video using multiple cameras, using two smartphones each linked to an Everio with Wi-Fi. After combining the footage using Everio MediaBrowser 4, I added some background music! It turned out to be a pretty dynamic video worth watching.

The new Everio with Wi-Fi is a camcorder that can capture high definition videos without compromise, and by linking it to a smartphone, it gives you superior real-time features and sharing functions as well. A wide range of shooting styles are right at your fingertips. Just by using the smartphone linking feature introduced here, you can see that there are so many things you can do with it! I hope you all have fun exploring the Wi-Fi functions.

♦ Special thanks to: Dancer Kanami
♦ BoomBlaster/Kaboom: http://kaboom.jvc.com/

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JVC’s first Everio with Wi-Fi, the GZ-EX/VX/GX series was announced in January of this year. With the Wi-Fi connection, the new Everio is able to provide a number of shooting methods never before available with conventional camcorders. The Everio Video Hunters! will, as the first part of this Wi-Fi series, focus on the smartphone linking function. Not only can the Wi-Fi Everio be controlled remotely from a distance via Wi-Fi (using a smartphone installed with a special application), it can also record using the GPS function on your smartphone to embed location data, transfer videos and stills to the smartphone, as well as upload and share content to YouTube with ease. For this piece, we’ve tested and introduced all of these functions while capturing a dance using a multi-camera style. This street scene was captured with the added help of the popular JVC BoomBlaster / Kaboom audio gear!

For this Wi-Fi Everio shoot, I used two camcorders. The first was from the GZ-VX Series, which despite their slim and stylish bodies, are equipped with a bright F1.2 lens for superior resolution. The other camera I chose was from the easy-to-use GZ-EX Series, which offers Full HD resolution. Each of the two Everios were set on tripods and connected to my smartphone for remote control.

Start by Installing the Everio App on your Smartphone!

To use smartphone linking, you must first install the “Everio sync.” app on your phone! The application can be installed via the URL [http://www.jvc.net/everio-2012s/] or by scanning the code below using your smartphone to access the site.

* Free app available for Android phones/tablets, iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. This application supports OS2.1 or later for Android, and iOS4 or later for iPhone/iPod touch/iPad, however does not constitute a guarantee that all devices using those operating systems can use these application features. For system requirements for Wi-Fi functions, please check visit the JVC website.

Direct Monitoring and Remote Recording Challenge!

OK, now it’s time to set up the Everio and smartphone linking via Wi-Fi!
The connection can be made with either of the following two methods:

For this shoot, I used the DIRECT MONITORING setting, which connects directly without a wireless LAN router. Select the Direct Monitor Shortcut Menu on the unit, then check the SSID and PASS shown on the camera’s screen. After you add the smartphone to connect directly, the Wi-Fi symbol appears to show the connection is complete. When you start the smartphone “Everio sync.” app it will automatically begin searching for the camcorder and then the monitor screen will appear!
* If your Android model has WPS, you can connect easily using the WPS button.

From the monitor screen, you will be able to record, stop and zoom by remote control, all while monitoring the images being captured with Everio. This monitoring can be done not only with a smartphone, but also using a tablet or PC with a Wi-Fi connection. With a PC, monitoring can be done using a larger screen with higher resolution, so video quality can be checked as well. Here you can take a look at the actual use of remote control.

Simultaneous Remote Recording with Two Smartphones

Using two cameras, the Everio at screen right captured the whole body movement while the other Everio was set at screen left to capture close up shots. I captured this video simultaneously, controlling each camera via smartphone. As I was able to remotely control two cameras while monitoring them both on two smartphones, this allowed me to capture video from two different angles at the same time. This was a lot of fun – I’m excited to see how it turns out!

So how did the multi-camera style movie that we captured this time turn out? In our next episode, we will show you how to transfer video and stills to your smartphone, how to use geotagging, as well as how to upload images to YouTube. We hope you’re looking forward to our next episode!

♦ Special thanks to: Dancer Kanami
♦ BoomBlaster/Kaboom: http://kaboom.jvc.com/

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Hello, it’s Ayako.
This is my second post from beautiful Minami-Boso, where spring’s arrived a bit early.
This time, I’ll be concentrating on the ocean, and I hope to capture all sorts of things with the GZ-E10.

First, from the area near the coast at Shirahama-cho, I used the Optical 40x Zoom to focus on Nojimazaki Lighthouse. The lighthouse is a white, octagonal tower located at the southernmost tip of Chiba Prefecture. It’s possible to climb a set of stairs to the top, and when I shot using the zoom, I captured some tourists doing just that!

Gazing out over the ocean, I spotted some fishing boats. The abundant marine life at Minami-Boso is nurtured by the Kuroshio Current, and the fishing is good. These boats didn’t move like the ones I usually saw. When, out of curiosity, I captured them with Time-Lapse REC, it turned into a really interesting video. I wasn’t sure which interval settings I wanted to use, so I shot at intervals of one, two and five seconds, and then compared the results. I caught a rather dramatic video at the one-second interval setting, with two boats passing each other beyond seabirds perched on the coastal rocks. The scene shot at two-second intervals shows a fishing boat braving rough waves.

Minami-Boso is also famous as a great place for a drive, thanks to the coastal road overlooking the Pacific. I started capturing video from the car, then I saw some seagulls flying, so I stopped the car and shot by hand again, too.

With the Advanced Image Stabilizer correcting for camera shake, you can follow your subject without worrying about a thing. If you’re worried about camera shake, I recommend taking low angle shots looking down into the LCD monitor. Support the camera in the palm of your hand and press both elbows against your body.

Spring is just around the corner! Finding traces of the new season in the landscape makes capturing even more fun. The GZ-E10 is compact, which means it fits easily into women’s smaller hands, and even into handbags. I saw lots of groups of women enjoying day trips during my shoot. I also recommend Everio for those who want to capture precious memories of trips in high-resolution video. See you next time!

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Hello, it’s Ayako.
Winter in Japan this year was harsh, cold and long, and by now we can hardly wait for spring. The streets of Tokyo are as dreary as ever, but flowers in pastel pinks and yellows line florists’ windows. When I asked around, I learned that you can already pick flowers at Minami-Boso in Chiba, about two and a half hours by car from the center of Tokyo. I grabbed the Everio GZ-E10 and set off to capture spring vistas a bit ahead of schedule!

Minami-Boso takes advantage of its mild climate to cultivate flowers. The general flower season begins in May or thereabouts, but here you can enjoy picking flowers in January. Since you can capture flowers with the blue sea in the background, it’s also the perfect spot for a location shoot. This time, I traveled along the Boso Flower Line, which runs from Chikura to Shirahama. I plan to snap all sorts of flower- and ocean-themed shots and enjoy the drive!

Every year, the Everios keep on evolving. The GZ-E10 model uses a high performance F1.8 KONICA MINOLTA HD LENS, and although it’s an entry-level model, you can feel JVC’s meticulous attention to high resolution. In this season, changes in the weather are drastic, but I left everything to Intelligent AUTO and concentrated on getting beautiful high-resolution captures.

Capturing Flower Fields against the Ocean!

It wasn’t long before I arrived at Shiramazu Flower Field. There was a little wind, but the weather was terrific. Beyond the outdoor flower fields, the vast ocean spread as far as the eye could see. It was a stunning location. I wanted to capture the wonderful relationship between the flowers and the ocean, so I set up a tripod and panned as I shot; I shot the field mustard growing by the side of the road from the “tele” side’s shortest distance, about a meter, with the ocean several hundred meters behind it. I tried blurring the ocean in the background to capture the yellow flowers swaying in the wind more vividly.

Next I took some low-angle captures. By fixing the tripod so that it was on eye level with the flowers, the flowers’ presence in the shot was emphasized. Clouds did cover the sun at times; as you’d expect, flowers are at their most vivid and colorful in sunlight, so timing is important. Some scenes turned out backlit due to where I was standing, but Intelligent AUTO corrected for that, and the captures came out nicely. In bloom: stock and snapdragons, poppies and garden marigolds. Incredibly colorful!

Last, I tried some telemacro capturing. With the telemacro switched on in the manual settings, you can get as close as 50cm to your subject with the telemacro and shoot from there. (On the “wide” side, as close as 5cm.) It created a beautiful blurred effect, and the freshness of the flowers came through in the shot. I used the zoom to shoot the scene with the bees, with the telemacro turned off. The bees are also hard at work carrying nectar in preparation for spring.

This post focused on flowers, and the next will focus on the ocean. I’ll capture in various styles for that one, too. Keep an eye out for the next post!

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Every year, when the new Everios are released, I want to grab one and go take some test shots right away! This is Toshi, and I’m back from test-driving the new models. This time I’ll be using the Everio GZ-E10 in a test session, focusing on its video-capturing capabilities, and on how good the basic craftsmanship is in these new Everios.

Although the GZ-E10 is an entry-class model, you can use it to capture in high resolution Full HD. It also comes with Intelligent AUTO and the Advanced Image Stabilizer, and its basic functions have been taken up a notch. Its distinguishing features are its 40x optical zoom and 200x digital zoom.

All right, let’s get started. I’m going to go hunting in a world I’d always overlooked before: speck world. I’ll be taking aim at subjects that are truly no more than specks in these wide, detailed, Full HD landscapes.

You’ll remember the place from a previous blog post on night views: the area around Rainbow Bridge at Odaiba on Tokyo Bay.

My objectives: to zoom in on Rainbow Bridge and downtown Tokyo from the area around Odaiba, and, conversely, to zoom in on the Tokyo Bay waterfront from the Rainbow Bridge footpath! I used the 40x optical and 200x digital zooms to capture all sorts of things.

40x Zoom: Rainbow Bridge from Odaiba

Lots of black-headed gulls live in the ocean at Odaiba. Near Rainbow Bridge, there were people feeding them! When I zoomed out, it was startling to see how small they actually were: really no more than specks. I also captured the cars on the Rainbow Bridge highway.

Testing the Zoom with the Zoom MIC Function

The highest magnification for digital zoom can be set at two levels: at 80x, and at 200x. I compared the 40x optical zoom and the 200x digital zoom. You can find black-faced gulls that are too small even to qualify as specks, and then zoom in until you can see the looks on their faces.

Plus, this year, JVC put a Zoom MIC function on the entry-class model, too! The zoom mic function works in tandem with the camera’s zoom, changing its directivity. When you zoom in on a subject, the directivity is sharpened and focuses forward, letting you clearly pick up the sounds around the gull.
In this video, at the end of the 200x zoom segment, I even managed to catch the sound of the black-faced gull leaving a “present”! Definitely pay attention to the sound. You’ll be amazed!

This shoot was supposed to be specifically for test purposes, but I was floored by the power in the 40x zoom. I ended up capturing all sorts of random things. The excellent picture quality of the zoom, grounded in detailed Full HD images, let me get completely absorbed in hunting.
In addition, when you operate the zoom lever on top of the camera unit, there’s a moderate amount of resistance that makes it easier to exert fine control on the zoom. I thought that was really great.

We plan to keep right on exploring the new Everios’ capabilities, so watch this space.

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Hello! It’s Sakura, and I’m home visiting my parents in Fukui. First up from the Everio Video Hunters! this year: snowscapes from Fukui, shot with the new Everio GZ-E200. Fukui prefecture is about two hours from Tokyo by plane and is bordered by the Sea of Japan. People say it’s the best prefecture in Japan for health, longevity and livability. There wasn’t that much snow yet in comparison to last winter, but I went out for a leisurely walk in the brisk morning air with the GZ-E200, capturing as I went!

The GZ-E200 model is capable of Full HD recording at 1920×1080, and it’s mounted with a Back-illuminated CMOS Sensor which allows you take bright, clean captures even in dim situations. Even though it’s a compact entry-class model, it’s a good, reliable camera with the full array of basic functions.

Rambling and Capturing!

Even though there wasn’t a whole lot of snow, things don’t get much chillier than a winter morning. Still, the world feels so good first thing in the morning! Everio in hand, I drank in the cold, clear air to my heart’s content. I was holding the camera the whole time I captured, but the Advanced Image Stabilizer did a great job minimizing camera shake. The scenery was magical: lightly covered with snow, still shrouded in mist. It was hard to look away.

The Hokuriku region faces the Sea of Japan. In winter, with the added influence of the cold air rolling down from Siberia, the weather is very changeable. One minute it’s sunny, and the next minute clouds have rolled in, thunder rumbles, and snow begins to fall. The weather keeps doing that all day long. So of course, while I was on my walk, I started to hear rumbling, and then snowflakes began drifting down… When I looked across the road, the distant mountains were bathed in bright sunlight, even though where I was, the clouds were thick and it was snowing. It was such a strange sight. The GZ-E200 has a 40x Optical Zoom, so I tried for a shot of those faraway mountains.

Last year, there was a tough little camellia blossoming in the midst of that fierce cold.
I saw it this year, too, blooming and beautiful. I’m so delighted!

I put together a digest of the snowscape videos I took on my walk. Please take a look.

This year’s Everios also come equipped with the Intelligent AUTO function, which automatically selects the most appropriate settings for a situation when you shoot. I managed to capture the delicate beauty of the snow country just as I saw it, both in the flat, dull landscape still hung with morning mist, and in landscapes with bold contrast like those distant, sunlit clouds and mountains seen from under gloomy cloudcover!

Capturing Fierce Snow Flurries!

On the last day of my visit, we had a heavy snowfall. The snow just kept coming down—I wanted to watch it all day long. It looked like it was going to be deep…
Right away, I grabbed my Everio and started capturing. Snow that drifts softly down, sparse sprinkles of snow, snow so heavy it’s almost blinding – I managed to capture lots of different types! I compiled them all into another video; take a look.

Everio Video Hunters, 2012! Ready, Set, Go!

The Everio Video Hunters have managed to start the year off on the right foot again. We’re going to bring you lots more of the new Everios, including videos testing their functions and videos taken in all sorts of situations. We hope you’ll stick with us this year, too!

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The new Everio lineup was introduced just this month at the 2012 International CES.
A stream of information is being released; have you taken a look yet?

The 2012 Everios are loaded with functions we’d love to recommend, above and beyond the GZ-EX/VX/GX series’ Wi-Fi function mentioned in the previous post. All models are capable of 1920×1080 Full HD AVCHD recording, and are able to capture bright, high-definition images even in low-light situations, thanks to the use of the Back-illuminated CMOS Sensor. On top of that, they’re packed with features like high-ratio zoom and powerful camera shake compensation as well as unique functions to make capturing more fun like Time-Lapse REC. In this post, we’ll reveal the advantages of the lineups for each series.

GZ-E/EX Series

Equipped with Optical 40x Zoom! A compact entry-class model that lets absolutely anyone enjoy high-resolution recording with ease.

GZ-V/VX Series

A design so slim and stylish you’ll want to take it everywhere with you.
A high-performance model with an F1.2 bright lens, capable of handling both high-speed video recording and high-speed continuous stills.

GZ-GX Series

Capable of AVCHD progressive recording, with a 29.5mm wide-angle lens.
A highly expandable, high-end model for serious enthusiasts.

With the Everios, after some high-resolution capturing, you can have fun editing and processing your images with the provided software, Everio MediaBrowser 4 / 4 BE. You won’t be able to take your eyes off these powered-up Everios in 2012! The Everio Video Hunters! will be showing you the unique features of these new Everios one after another, so stay tuned.

For more information on the 2012 Everio Lineup

http://everio.jvc.com/index.html

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Once a year, the International CES gathers the newest technology from around the world and exhibits hot new products in the field of electronics. In 2012, it was held from January 10 through 13 in Las Vegas. At the show, JVC’s imaging division introduced the Wi-Fi equipped Everios*, the GZ-EX/VX/GX series, as the key models for 2012! The Wi-Fi functions in this line make innovative shooting styles a reality.

The CES Venue

These camcorders are the first Everios to be equipped with Wi-Fi. Naturally, their high resolution recording, high zoom ratio, and basic video camera performance are all very impressive; in addition, by realizing wireless connections with smartphones and tablets, they’re now loaded with communications functions not found in conventional models. They are expected to fulfill new shooting needs as next-generation camcorders.

Everio, now with Wi-Fi

Adding Wi-Fi has brought even more fun to the Everio world, opening up new ways to capture.
First, take a look at this video, which demonstrates the Wi-Fi features!

Thanks to the new Wi-Fi function, past concepts of video cameras have been revolutionized in a variety of shooting situations. Up until now, the main role of camcorders has been to preserve visual content as memories of the past. Now, however, Wi-Fi provides immediacy, and the network connectivity formed by coordination with smartphones and tablets facilitates capturing that is not limited by time and space. For example, with Live Monitoring, a father on an overseas business trip can enjoy his son’s soccer match in real time through his PC, while the memories are simultaneously preserved as high-resolution images on the Everio unit. Recorded images can also be transferred to the smartphone there and then, and immediately uploaded to YouTube or facebook to easily share with people around the world!

Everio Wi-Fi features

Everio has once again introduced innovations in camcorder use, focusing on the valuable connections between people. We hope you’ll pick one up and see for yourself how amazing they are! The Everio Video Hunters! will also be trying out new shooting situations that put the Wi-Fi to work, so stay tuned!

* Available models/features differ by region.
** Free app available for Android phones/tablets, iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. This application supports OS2.1 or later for Android, and iOS4 or later for iPhone/iPod touch/iPad; however, this does not constitute a guarantee that all devices using those operating systems can use these application features.

For more information on the 2012 Everio Lineup

http://everio.jvc.com/index.html

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Picking up from where I left off in the last post, I’ll be bringing you the night scenery of Yokohama with the high-sensitivity GZ-HM860 and GZ-HM650 Everios. This time, I’ll try something a bit more challenging. I’ll use a slow shutter speed and focusing in to create variations on the night view images. For the finale, I’ll even shoot a video of city lights from a car!

Unique Effects with Slow Shutter Speed and Focusing In!

First, I tried to create a streaming “light tracks” effect by using a slow shutter speed.
Using a slow shutter speed lengthens the exposure time, so captures come out brighter; however, that slower speed makes it very easy to pick up camera shake. This time, I put the camera shake to work, using it to create an effect instead. When you set the shutter speed to 1/3 and zoom in or out in one movement, the lights stream out in rays; it’s really neat! Then, if you pan in one motion, the lights in the image stream sideways as though you’re warping. When I did this in town, in places where there were lots of cars and foot traffic, the images were filled with the flowing movements of passersby and the lights of the cars, and it gave them a vaguely dreamlike feel.

Next, I used focusing in to manually blur the beginning of the shot for a unique transition effect. I set the Everio to use auto focus, then held my hand up close to the lens, letting it focus on my hand. Then I just whisked my hand out of the frame, making the camera lose focus, and began to capture! That way, the video started out blurred and gradually came into focus. It felt as though the beauty of the lights came through even better this way than with the normal night view capture.

Through clever use of effects, you can create impressive images that could easily be scenes from a television drama!

Attempting a Time-Lapse REC Video of Night Scenery from a Car!

Then, for the finale, I shot a video of the city lights from a car! To capture, I fixed the Everios firmly to the car’s dashboard.

First I used the GZ-HM860 and shot a Time-Lapse video, using one-second intervals.
I used Night Mode in Manual, and I fixed the focus. When capturing video from vehicles, the surrounding scenery changes at terrific speed; the focus has a tendency to become unstable, such as settling on the windshield, so you really need to fix it! It’s easy to do: first, go into Manual Mode and set it to “auto focus” to let the camera automatically adjust the focus, then return to “manual focus” to lock the focus.
The 29.5 mm wide-angle lens captured the night scenery around the car perfectly, and I got a clear video that’s bursting with power and the feeling of speed.
I also used the Everio MediaBrowser 3 BE to add background music!

Night View Video Shot from Car Heading for Tokyo Tower

When we got close to Tokyo Tower, near the city center, I used the GZ-HM650, set at normal speed, to capture a video of the city lights from the car. As with the GZ-HM860, I fixed the focus in Manual before I started capturing. We were heading straight for Tokyo Tower, and the video caught the approach beautifully!
I used jazz as the background music this time, to play up the atmospheric city lights.

All right: including the previous post on “It’s the Best Time of Year for Capturing Night Views!”, I’ve used two posts to introduce several mini-techniques. I hope you’ve enjoyed them.
When you see night views, you often want to capture both the sight and the emotions you feel when you look at it so you can take them all home with you. However, I’m sure many people have had the experience of not being able to capture quite the way they’d like.
I think you can preserve the scenes and atmosphere you want to capture more attractively by using different modes for different situations, and by adding effects to enhance them. I hope you’ll all try your hands at capturing night views, too!

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