Best way for video cameras?

[blm07]

Is there any tips on recording dark rides, the only thing I could think is turning on the light of my camera during the whole ride, has anyone tried it? :animwink: I think you could do it on snow white or a ride where you can go on by yourself. Maybe spaceship earth if no one else was around.

 

[raven]

Not only would that ruin the expierience for the other riders, but you wouldn't capture the essence of the show. If you turn on your light it will light up things that can't normally be seen or even ruin an effect for the camera.

I tried a setting on my camera for low light situations. This worked the best. Also, if your camera has the feature, turn it to manual focus. The auto focus takes too much time trying to find what is the subject when you move throughout the ride making it blurry. One more thing, you will notice that when you watch your video later that there will be so much noise. This is because your camera picks up everything. Our ears can focus in on one thing but the camera will pick up other people's voices, machine noises, wheels, and overlapping soundtracks.

My Haunted Mansion video was hard to hear because the Host voice is coming from behind your head and the microphone was in front of me picking up all sorts of noises.

Rave º0º

 

[blm07]

I have a option on my camera called fog it seems to make everything brighter, and I have yet to read the manual to find out about manual focus, I have noticed that it does get out of focus.

 

[s25843]

Definatley Manual Focus, It Helped Me on RnR(but I have a professional Camera) also to get rid of SOME of the Background noise, if your camera supports it, and if you can afford it, Pick up a $70 Gun Microphone

 

[Fievel]

Sony camcorders have "nightshot" (infrared) which allow you to see even in the darkest of areas wihtout having to use a light that can be seen

I wouldn't recommend using external lighting...not only will you get strange looks, you might get other people angry, as certain things are supposed to remain in the dark, but you might cause the ride to get stopped so they can get you to shut of the ride or make an overhead announcement to you (yes I have seen this done)

 

[raven]

A Warning about the "Night Shot" feature.

This is an infered light that is on the camera causing you to film in complete darkness.

Some of the rides and attractions use infered beams and cameras already. You may find out that if you try to use this feature, the ride may stop and a CM may appear by your side. This feature screws up their servailance system and some effects as well as setting off alarms which are triggered by an infered beam.

My suggestion is not to use this feature, not only will you get in trouble, but the outcome of the video will be green in color and you will see very weired things.

Raven º0º

 

[tinkrbel]

blm07 thanks for asking this !!!! and thanks all for the great ideas .. I have tried zooming in ..that has helped but you lose the entire scene .. so now I know to try the manaul focus!!