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How can I lower the resolution on a video I recorded?

Built-in iSight or iPhone 4 for quick video shoot?

  • I have to shoot a quick, five-minute video that's basically a vlog: just me talking into the camera. To film it, I can use either a built-in iSight camera on a 2008 pre-unibody MacBook Pro, or an iPhone 4. Which one would be the better choice? Yeah, I'm aware it's not going to look cinematic with either one, but I want to look as decent as I can within reason. • I'll be recording the audio through a Yeti external microphone, so the audio capture abilities of the device aren't an issue. • I don't have access to any other cameras. • I'll be alone, with no one else to help me set up the shot. (see the iPhone section) iPhone Pros: 2592x1936, 5 megapixel camera; I have a little tripod for it so I won't be just holding it in my hand; more maneuverable in terms of getting it in the right place. Con: I'm guessing most people will be pushing me to use the iPhone, but I'll be shooting alone, and obviously I'll be using the back facing camera, so I'll have quite a bit of blind trial and error making sure the shot is lined up right. Also, the audio will have to be recorded in Audacity on the MacBook, meaning I'll have to merge them later. Not hard, I know, but it's one more hassle and one more potential problem. Finally, I'm worried about a mishap with autofocus, which I wouldn't catch until after filming. (There are apps that let you lock focus, though.) iSight Pros: The big pro is I'll be able to see myself as I record. Also, I'll be able to record audio from the external mic directly into the video itself. Cons: At 1024x768, it has exactly half the resolution of the iPhone. Also, I'm not sure how the quality of the sensor itself stacks up to the iPhone. So, I guess that's everything. I just know I'm going to feel like Rupert Pupkin setting this up. "Ma! Leave me alone, I'm making a movie down here!" And yes, I realize that I could have done a bunch of test shots in the amount of time it took me to write this question.

  • Answer:

    I'll have quite a bit of blind trial and error making sure the shot is lined up right. You could use a mirror...

Ian A.T. at Ask.Metafilter.Com Visit the source

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Why don't you just do some test videos? 30s of practice in front of each and looking at the result would easily tell you which looked better, and would catch any other problems you hadn't considered yet.

ElliotH

For what it's worth, http://www.backstage.com/bso/content_display/news-and-features/e3i65086f6c3760b211a740d7f9e26861fa shot his latest film on an iphone so maybe there's a lot to be said for it?

cazoo

Cons: At 1024x768, it has exactly half the resolution of the iPhoneI think you're mistaken. By the figures you've given there, the total pixels for the iPhone 4 is 5,018,112, and for the iSight 786,432. The iPhone is sharper by a long way. It depends on what you intend to do exactly and whether or not you actually need HD quality video. If it's just you, and you don't rely on props/graphics/charts which might not show well on the low quality iSight then I'd say stick with it as the simplest option. If you need the HD, go for the iPhone.

dougrayrankin

Unless lighting is an issue, I'd go for the iPhone. But why not consider hacking together a http://gizmodo.com/5302556/theres-probably-a-market-for-this-diy-iphone-tripod or tripod attachment? Even with the MBP, it's probably going to require several takes to get it right. The lack of a monitor is probably not going to set you back much. Is there anything stopping you from pointing the MBP at the iPhone so you can at least line up your shot?

Hylas

Shoot, sorry: I meant to edit out the "exactly half" line before I posted because I knew it was laughably wrong. I just forgot.

Ian A.T.

Have you tried it with the macbook? The most important thing is going to be proper lighting, most of the time when I see crappy video, it's because the light levels are way too low, so the gain gets cranked on the sensors, and everything is crappy and grainy. Also, there sure are a lot of pixles bandied about here. The iphone4 takes stills at 5mpixels, but video at 720p (1280×720). Which is exactly the same resolution as the macbook according to the figures above.

defcom1

I would use the iphone because you won't get distracted by the monitor on the laptop. Also the iphone takes very natural audio recordings, surprisingly!

Khazk

iPhone 4 as it shoots in 720p HD. The Macbook does not.

darkgroove

For a better result look into lighting, composition, and background rather than resolution. The results will be far superior if you can help light and compose the scene with a little care.

Hazy Star

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