Why is my Canon T3i video so choppy?

[Jettilton]

Hello,

Have taken video @1080 and also at 720p, but when video is played with Apple Aperture or Imovie, results are choppy. Audio file not choppy, only video. Does not stop when played, just not fluid or smooth, and you can detect the jerkiness of the video. Have also imported video from my Canon SX 130IS, and the video from it is NOT choppy!

What do I need to do to convert it so that it can be watched without choppiness?
Currently have an Imac with a 1.83 Ghz Intel core duo, 2 Gig RAM, running snow leopard 10.6.7. Is it my Imac?

Frustrating because videos from Canon S95 and SX130 run fine, but freakin' dslr video doesn't!

Any help would be appreciated.

Jet

[soymilk]

What was your shutter speed? You want to use a ss of about twice your framerate. For example, if shooting in 24p then around 50-60 shutter speed.

Best thing to do is to use manual mode, set your ss to about 50, adjust your aperture for correct dof, and use iso to control your exposure. Try to stay around base iso. If shooting outside, use ND filters to further lower your exposure if it's too bright out.

[tukaniray]

There are a number of things that could be making this happen.

I agree with Trung, on going manual and setting your SS (shutter speed).

Things to think about is, what Codec the camera records too and if iMovie or whatever software you are using can read it. You also should understand that DSLR cameras are not exactly Video cameras. They are made for taking photos. So, all of it's chips capability is geared towards Still Photography.

With the higher end models of the DSLR world, they have created much more smoother video, but still not as good as dedicated ENG camcorder for the field.

The consumer P&S models are slammed with all of the basics and the reason the video look "cleaner" is because it is compressed to size that the little camera can take and play back. DSLRs the manufacturers are trying to give it more umph in video and hard to do in the cost of the entry level DSLRs.

Your computer is fine. You may have a few hiccups but I don't see anything that could slow it down besides having to many major softwares open and not having enough space to render the video.

-Ray-

[Jake]

Originally Posted by Jettilton

....
Currently have an Imac with a 1.83 Ghz Intel core duo, 2 Gig RAM, running snow leopard 10.6.7. Is it my Imac?



....

It could be your computer. I know DSLR footage plays back like crap on our older macs and heck, even the newer PC it plays back choppy.
Does it play smoothly from the camera when you view it there?

[JohnT]

My 5DMkII manual states that a shutter speed that's too high can result in choppiness as well, especially when recording moving objects.

[tukaniray]

Originally Posted by Jake

It could be your computer. I know DSLR footage plays back like crap on our older macs and heck, even the newer PC it plays back choppy.
Does it play smoothly from the camera when you view it there?

I disagree ... I have used my wife's 20" Intel Core Duo (the one right after the PowerPC Chip was changed to Intels) and edited in Final Cut Pro Full HD Res footage from the standard Pro-Sumer Sony and Canon cameras of that time (Sony FX and Canon HDXL).

No jittery issues with the other software closed.

I believe it falls on the settings of the camera. ...

A thought ... in the editing software ... is your timeline set to 60 or 24? Does the software Down-convert the HD 24f to HD 30p?

I know that in Final Cut Pro, if you bring in sources that have been recorded at different frame rates that one of them will become jittery. Happens all the time when I edit footage from NTSC and PAL on the same timeline.

-Ray-

[Jake]

Originally Posted by tukaniray

I disagree ... I have used my wife's 20" Intel Core Duo (the one right after the PowerPC Chip was changed to Intels) and edited in Final Cut Pro Full HD Res footage from the standard Pro-Sumer Sony and Canon cameras of that time (Sony FX and Canon HDXL).

No jittery issues with the other software closed.

....

Are those DSLR's?
Lots of people have playback issues with DSLR's footage when using older computers. Heck, even Final Cut Pro doesn't like DSLR footage from what I've heard. Most people end up transcoding it first.

You could be 100% right about it being a camera setting problem, but I've personally had trouble with DSLR footage playing back choppy on older computers, that's why I mentioned it.

[tukaniray]

No those are not. DSLRs came out a couple of years after the first Intel Macs were released.

I have learned about DSLR footage having issues ... but the new Avid / FCP have the ability to read the DSLR footage very well. Codec issues are pretty much fixed on those pieces of software. I can't speak for iMovie or any of that like ... haven't really played with iMovie or jumped off FCP / Avid for years.

So, then yes ... your theory that its the software hindering his quality and speed could be true.

-Ray-

[soymilk]

Best way to fig out if it's your computer, is to plug the camera to the tv via hdmi. Playback from the camera to tv. If the footage is still choppy then it's the footage. If it's smooth then it's your computer.

[tukaniray]

Though that's a good test for the footage ... I wouldn't use that to come to a conclusion that the OP has Computer issues.

I am leaning more towards it's software. I wouldn't doubt that the camera will play back fine straight from the camera to the TV. It is in it's medium and shouldn't have a problem playing back from it's own source.

-Ray-

[soymilk]

Playing it thru the tv will show if it was choppy due to high shutter speed. But if the tv has 120hz or 240hz mode those should be turned off. 60hz should be used to demo the footage. It won't show if theres a problem with the footage if it's hardware/software. But it'll point the op in the right direction.

On a side note, on my older iMac (first gen aluminum) playback from my camera was very choppy when using VLC. VLC is a highly regarded video player. It wasn't until I installed iLife'11 that things got better. Try uploading a short clip to vimeo or YouTube for us to check out. So it could well be a software issue. Core2duo CPUs have built in decoders for h.264 codec. Also, make sure all your computer updates are current.

[spluloacle]

What kind of SD card are you using in it? I read in my T1i manual you have to use a class 10 card or higher for it to be quick enough reading to take video. Have you looked at that?

And yes I know you are talking about a T3i

[luis_relampago]

I work with HDSLR video and mac's on a daily bases and my question is: are you trying to play the clips straight from the sd card? or are you importing the clips to your HD and then play them?
for editing hdslr footage is best to convert the footage to apple proress codec you can use different procedures like compressor, final cut or mpeg streamclip(free software) to obtain this.
after that is super easy to edit the footage.

[jbizo]

Just got the t3i and had the same problem. Here are 2 settings that I changed which seemed to fix it.
Set res to 1920 x1080 24fps
Set quality to 8.0m

[groovyone]

Does your comp have an independant video card? That helps mine do AVCHD with now issues.