Filming a motorbike race...
 

Hello everyone

This is my first post so please be gentle...

I am currently working on a 'behind the scenes' documentary on motorbike short circuit racing. Thus far this has all been shot using the 5D at 25fps 1920 x 1080 using L primes and external sound.

I've looked at filming a race but assuming this needs to be shot at 50fps to cope with the speed? This is gonna make the doc look naff when I flick from film look to tv look? I notice the 7D and 60D can both shoot at 29.97fps at 1920 x 1080 but again I assume 29.97fps will be no better at coping with speed!

Any suggestions?

Out of interest is there a standard camera/lens for motorsport racing acquisition?

Unless you would like to do slomo in post, I'd keep it at 25p but rather bump the shutter speed.

I've shot quite a bit at the race track, but never a full race. Here's the closest (literally) I've gotten to the action -- at 00:30" the bike slides by me with only a few inches to spare:


-- peer

i guess I will have to do some tests with different shutter speeds? what do tv shoot racing at?

I doubt they have one standard setup, but I know they use some ridiculous high shutter speeds for their on-board cameras: YouTube - MotoGP OnBoard in 2008 (notice the flying gravel rocks at 1:14")

And yes, it's always good to test shoot & practice. If you got a focus puller, I suggest that the two of you go out in normal city traffic and practice focus pulls on regular cars, shooting wide open (shallow DOF) -- there's a reason why there are professional focus pullers in Hollywood, because this is truly a gnarly art form ;^)

-- peer

but the camera guys at circuits working for tv? what rig they on?

Again, I doubt there's any standard or formula they use. For instance, this is the camera they used at the Laguna Seca leg:

HOLLY **** what is that bad boy!

I would never stop saying "man, these binoculars suck... they won't even clip on my belt."