I'm trying to make interwebs videos(2nd vid in post 20)

[REDONE]

This is in Gen discussion because it doesn't belong in off-topic. While it's not technically FSJ specific, it's a project I'm working on specifically for the FSJ community. I'm having a heck of a time figuring out how to make videos for a major write up I'm doing and I need input. If you have the stomach, watch my best effort thus far:

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v406/Wagothing/?action=view&current=MyMovie.mp4

If you watched you know what I want to know. If you DIDN'T watch it, please tell me what size should a interwebs video be, and what aspects of welding do you want to see in my rediculously huge write up. It's big. It's too big. I need to know what you want to see so I can cut out what you don't. But before I can even do THAT, I need to know how to make a decent video!

Thanks,

REDONE

[Kuraki]

When we had a professional photographer come in to make a promotional video for our fabrication business, even he couldn't get a very good video of an arc with his crazy expensive "L" glass. It seems like no matter what, the arc always flares.

I think <10 minutes are good internet video lengths. When I'm looking for information online, I don't want to have to sit through 40 minutes of video to get the 2 minutes I was trying to find. If you can limit yourself to small clips of individual tasks, not only does that make searching those tasks easier, it makes them more useful as a resource.

[duncanstives]

No vision system in the world, electronic or biological will have sufficient dynamic range to actually see the arc and still be able to make out the surroundings. The human eye can't and that's why we have autodarkening masks instead of a piece of clear anti-uv glass. Either a very dark opaque filter and tolerate the fact that you can't see the surroundings at all or an auto darkening panel like in a welding mask will be needed. The autodarkening panel would definitely be the coolest option but I'm not sure where to get one... You might be able to somehow strap an extra mask over the camera if you've got one. You will also probably need to manually focus the camera to avoid it deciding the focus on the mask itself.

[Kuraki]

You didn't watch the video huh?

[hookedup50]

I cant help you with the video filming aspect, but what I learned from what I believe was no filter "take" at the end was the positioning of the hand not holding the gun. The filter "takes" I saw nothing but arc. Thats the positive learning part so far IMO.

[shaggywaggy88]

I like your idea. Im currently a half way through my associates degree in welding and I have been force fed welding videos for the last year. I dont think the camera is going to pick up the detail that you would like to capture while the arc is struck. Try doing a dry run without actually welding so you can demonstrate the technique, explain what that specific technique is used for and the common problems associated with it. To prevent all of the question asking make an intro video explaining your welder, what shielding gas you use at what psi, ect. ect. Cover the most basic of basic skills. People that know how to weld and have their own welder wont really get much out of it but Im assuming this is for beginners. My advise is keep it simple and cover the basics. I hope My input will help you out a little and make your video better. Great Idea

[polarfire]

I agree with what Shaggy said, I'm a beginer and if I'm the audience you are going for that would help me. As for the video's, I can't help much but so far I've learned that your wife makes awesome chicken fried steak.

[duncanstives]

You didn't watch the video huh?

I watched it... Not the end though because my browser crashed.

[WHSII]

Hello ReDone,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNe4fo6hxAQ&NR=1

I have watched a lot of mig videos on U tube to learn the basics, after I bought my welder.

This guy has about the best video that I have seen.

He sells videos but still puts them on the net. His web sight is listed on the video.

I would watch it, and contact him, maybe a little praise and a few welding stories and he will share his filming technique.

He said in this video that he got a better camera, looks like he films with out a lens on some, and through a lens for detailed technique shots.

Just a thought.

[FSJ Guy]

The biggest issue I see is exposure. It looks like you're in automatic exposure mode. You need a camera with FULL manual exposure mode and manual focus, preferably one with a mechanical focus, not one of those where you push a button to electronically move the focus one way or another.

What is happening is that the camera is seeing the arc (bright light!) and trying to adjust the exposure for the ENTIRE scene. The REST of the scene is comparatively DARK compared to the arc. This is called dynamic range. Basically, that refers to how bright and dark detail that the sensor can record at once.

With MANUAL exposure, you can set the exposure for the arc, ignoring the rest of the scene. This way, you will be avble to see the arc and the puddle, just like when you look through a welding lens. Using a non-automatic welding lens will help you get the correct exposure without having to use the extreme settings on your camera. (really fast shutter speed or really small lens opening).

If you have one of the newer digital SLRs, they may have a manual exposure video mode.

But manual focus and manual exposure will DEFINITELY help you get what you want.

[REDONE]

Thank you for the responses so far!

FSJ Guy, I shelled out more money on this project than I wanted too by buying this little Flipshare camera and two cheap machines that I thought would be in the budget of any FSJer just to show what they can and can't do, but you make a good point that I haven't adjusted ANY controls on the camera. I'm very very novice at this whole interwebs video thing and I really appriciate the advice and feed back! When I get home tonight I'll play with the camera controls and also try shoving it in my auto hood while I wear the fixed hood to see if it can kinda "trick" the camera.

Polar, you and those in your position are right at the mean of my target audiance. Those who are thinking of learning to weld but haven't because they can't afford a $1000 Miller, and those who've bought a welder and want to know how to use it to it's limitations.

Thanks again for the feedback everyone, keep it coming! Don't forget to include any specific task or aspect of welding you want me cover in the write up. Like kuraki said, I don't want to make you sit through thirty minutes if me drinking beer and blabbing just to show you 2 minutes of what you want to see

[FSJ Guy]

If the camera has a "theatre" mode, you can try that, too. I doubt a Flip-type camera will have a full manual mode, but I could be wrong. The "theatre" mode is designed to NOT overexpose the subject that is under the spotlight at a show.

Exactly what you are trying to do in a welding video.

[thinder]

Nice beer.

YOu could try two cameras. One with a filter and one without, mounted together and filming at the same time. Then superimpose the images over each other. You may have to block the arc in the filterless camera. Im pretty sure you can overlay videos in Windows movie maker.

[Stuka]

I have been making videos for a very long time (http://www.youtube.com/stuka87). So if you have questions of video quality, size, or format to use, feel free to ask me.

Like others said, the dynamic range of your camera just is not there. Really you would need an SLR that shoots video to properly catch the arc. I know with the HD camera I use it lets me adjust some settings, but not to the extent of my SLR.

Unfortunately, there is no cheap way to get this done. If you are using decent video software, you can play with colors/exposure some to get it to be a bit better. But over all it will only be as good as the equipment used :/

[RussellS]

redone if you want you could have one of us thats in washington close to you holding the camra over your shoulder. That seemed like the best viewing angle i had when i was taught how to weld. lol id like to learn how to weld on sheet metal lol i was only taught how to weld on 1/4inch or bigger.

Oh and if you can try not to do the videos with out a welding screen on the camera it can cause us to have the same problem if we look at the arc for any length of time as if we are there in person just so you know.