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I have a hard time making out the action when editing basketball in split/trim modes in SD because the detail goes out the window. I have to look at raw footage to see what's happening and hope I can find a detail of motion that can be cut on. Guess the lesson here is, do it in HD. Does split/trim mode have better detail in HD?

When shooting fast live action sports and the lighting is good, simply inrease your shutter speed. Your stills when using trim will be crisper. Of course, when increasing the shutter speed, this effects DOF as well as exposure so try to find the best shutter speed. Outdoors, even 500 does well for soccer and fast action sports.

videojim wrote:I have a hard time making out the action when editing basketball in split/trim modes in SD because the detail goes out the window. I have to look at raw footage to see what's happening and hope I can find a detail of motion that can be cut on. Guess the lesson here is, do it in HD. Does split/trim mode have better detail in HD?

well, there are two problems with that. 1) My still digital wouldn't give me any level at all with 1/125, or even 1/100. There wasn't enough light for that fast a shutter speed. 2) Not sure this camcorder gives me the option of adjusting the shutter. I understand about a faster shutter speed freezing the action. This is an indoor gym event, so the light was not there for fast shutter action.

Which HD camera do you own? Which STILL camer as well?

.Some SLR type STILL digital cameras have excellent ISO settings where grain is not an issue.

. HD: If it is a consumer and even a prosumer HD camera, check for a SPORTS MODE. However, there is no adjustment of shutter speed and the user is at the mercy of the auto-function of the SPORTS MODE.

.However, you may have an internal shutter control in the menu at which time you can try to adjust the shutter speed.

.Using a pro-style camera allows for adjustment of the shutter via an external shutter wheel in MOST pro cameras as well as iris control on the lens.

You are correct in regards to lighting. The less light available the more GRAIN in the picture when a faster shutter is used.. This true, more so, with HD CAMERAS which tend to be less light sensitive-but this will change in the near future.

videojim wrote:well, there are two problems with that. 1) My still digital wouldn't give me any level at all with 1/125, or even 1/100. There wasn't enough light for that fast a shutter speed. 2) Not sure this camcorder gives me the option of adjusting the shutter. I understand about a faster shutter speed freezing the action. This is an indoor gym event, so the light was not there for fast shutter action.

I shoot and edit all sports on the renommee. I shoot with the sony vx2100. I have no problem what so ever seeing the details in the split function. I personally do not like the new feature where you see the 2 windows for spliting. I uncheck that option and use my monitor for previewing.
Another key to seeing the detail is how you framed the shot. I am going to assume you know the game of Bball and how to shoot it properly. In other words, you weren't to wide, allowing un-needed extra space around the players. If you know the game well enough and can anticipate what is going to happen, this allows you to get in a bit tighter without the fear of lossing the ball from the frame.

That's an old war wound with me. 33 years ago I was shooting the UT Lady Vols games in the early days, when Pat was still just Pat Head. NO one ever told me a thing about shooting the game. I just looked at what was going on in live coverage of b-ball games on TV. Plus, at men's home games that were televised, I got to watch inside the production trailer to see what the directors were doing. What I learned there was "follow the ball". I shot tight enough to cover the action, but loose enough to follow it wherever it went. I just had a ready hand to zoom out when the ball got passed. What I did there was watch the body english to see where the muscles, arms, head and hands were moving. It got interesting, but it was always fun. It is just that with this consumer cam I have now, the action is very broken up in split/trim mode, and I don't have a shutter adjustment. I was just wondering if this gets easier in Hi-def. Seems it would have to, because the resolution is higher. You have a good idea there, tho. You said you don't break it down to small screens. That's sure to make a difference. Thanks for that!