Videoing and night footage?

L

LakeFork

New member
I just recently bought a Canon XA 20 to film some coyote hunts with (both day and night). I was just curious if anyone else had any experience with a similar type camera and if so what settings you guys are using or what tips you may have to get clean footage. This camera has a IR recording option and some people have mentioned using an IR light along with a spotlight to help brighten things up. Does anyone have any experience using IR lights while filming?
 
Originally Posted By: LakeForkI just recently bought a Canon XA 20 to film some coyote hunts with (both day and night). I was just curious if anyone else had any experience with a similar type camera and if so what settings you guys are using or what tips you may have to get clean footage. This camera has a IR recording option and some people have mentioned using an IR light along with a spotlight to help brighten things up. Does anyone have any experience using IR lights while filming?

I would first test your camera's sensitivity to IR light. Do you have any type of IR light you can use? If it is anything like a digital night vision scope it will be most sensitive to an 850nm IR light and will need a lot of it. If you aren't worried about spooking the yotes and are only turning the lights on a few seconds before the shot using a spotlight would be easier and produce a better image.

The best night time coyote hunting video footage I've seen has been from Carnivore Night Crew. Might want to check them out for ideas on the best way to shoot.
http://www.carnivoretv.com/crew.html
 
I just got a cannon XA10 and use the mic holder to hold the IR egaltech t100 c2 it works well out to say 25 yards, but I also got the adapter for my PVS14 and run a 3x mag on it and can see pretty clearly out to 200 yards +.

filmed a bobcat the other night it was some great footage, had the camera on the spot at about 175 yards and was scanning with the thermal, found the heat source went to the camera, got lined up gave a few squeaks and the eyes lit up, hit record and watch for 2-3 minutes as I worked a hand call.

got home to find I was recording already and had turned it off instead of on!!!!!!!!

going tonight to some new ground brother on the gun I"ll be on the camera, very tuff to do both at night
 
Originally Posted By: the impactzone

last night stalk to 25 yards

Nice - pistol range, huh?
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What is nice about using that videocam setup is that the unit autofocuses through the PVS-14 when the PVS-14 is set on infinity with the objective lens.

I got a Matbock Taiser aperture lens system for my PVS-14 video setup and it works great for making a huge depth of field, ie keeping closeups in focus with distant objects.

http://tnvc.com/shop/matbock-tarsier-eclipse-nvg-focus-enhancer/

Also, these little Princeton Tec IR lights are very handy when filming within 100 feet or so, no washout and lights everything up perfect.

http://tnvc.com/shop/princeton-tec-switch-rail/

Both of these accessories really help out when filming at night!
 


coyote at 100 yards little fuzzy do to my moving the camera and the coyote moving, this camera has and option that can be turned on when the viewing screen is open that allows you to target a subject and it will follow it and keep it in focus, but I tend to use the view finder instead to keep the backwash down on my face.

soon I will upload some vid

note: funny after reviewing the nights footage I found another coyote's eyes that we never saw in the brush line in the back, may go to the torch pro on the long distance stands and tighten the beam up a little
 
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Originally Posted By: the impactzonethanks HTRN57 I say PVS14 but its really your MX160 Alpha tube



Well they pretty much use the same tubes (L3 or ITT). Kevin
 
Your camera should autofocus through the PVS-14, however the depth of field is going to depend on the apeature and the shutter speed will affect the brightness. Looks like you have the shutter speed set pretty good but maybe work on the apeature.

Also, before you even attach the PVS-14 to the camera, take it out and focus the objective on the stars for a precise long range focus and adjust the diopter to about zero on the ocular. Then see how the camera functions with the PVS-14 setup right to begin with.
 
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