Question on shooting a computer screen
 

I need to shoot some action that appear on a computer screen. What is the best way to film without getting flickering and clear sharp footage.

I’m shootong with a sony DRC-VX2100


Thanks, Ron

Hi Ron,

I think it's a question of getting your shutter speed to match the frame rate on the computer - I find 1/60th usually works for me...so experiment.

If you shoot a flat panel, (LCD screen) you won't have the flicker/ black bars that you get when shooting a CRT monitor.

Or if the graphics card has an S-video out, you can record directly from that.

I've used this very inexpensive software before on a Mac:

Ambrosia Software, Inc. -- utilities/snapzprox

It allows you to achieve perfect quality with no degradation as you get from shooting a screen. Presumably there is a PC version or something similar.

Thanks, I’ II try with your suggestions.

Ron

Try to set the computer's monitor refresh rate to 60Hz, too.

Sorry to be a pest, I know there are plenty of suggestions already, and if you have access to the display settings of the computer the 60hz method should be easiest, but you may benefit from the BBC guide on this very subject:

BBC Training & Development > DV Usage Guides - Online course details

Scroll down and click "Open guide 3" next to Shooting Computer Monitors for techniques specific to this particular family of Sony cameras. The one listed for the VX2000 should be the same for the 2100. Takes some fiddling, but I've gotten it to work, and I imagine it could come in handy.

I've also found that setting the refresh rate on the monitor significantly higher than the cameras framerate works very well. I use 100hz, when available, on a 30fps frame rate. Then you dont have to tweak the camera just right... the monitor does all the work for you. Turn the brightness way down on the monitor and it will show up well without screwing your exposure.

I suppose other refresh rates would work for other fps's. I've never tried with anything but 30fps.

--Andy P

Be careful with that though, if you set the refresh rate too high you could actually do damage to the monitor.