Kodak Zi8 digital camera help

painless · Post by **painless** » Fri May 28, 2010 3:16 pm

Just got a new camera and tried it out in the airplane today. Its a Kodak Zi8. Battery died on me before I could review the video, so I took a look at home.

Quality of the picture and audio (plugged in from my intercom) was great until I started the engine. Then the video started jumping around, mostly like a top to bottom compression and then release of the video. Audio was unaffected. Made sure that my mount was secure when I installed it. It is the same arrangement I used for an older, heavier camera. Also didn't notice any change when I slid the canopy closed.

I shot the video on the 720p setting. The camera also has 1080p, 720p/60fps, and WVGA settings and I am wondering if any of those would cure the problem. I used the 720p because the book says its best for viewing on a computer and sharing on youtube.

Any help would be appreciated.

Post by **Spike** » Sat May 29, 2010 6:57 pm

Where is it mounted and where is it looking?

Spike

painless · Post by **painless** » Sat May 29, 2010 10:19 pm

Spike, it's mounted on the f 605 bulkhead which is just behind the seats in my 6A. Quite securely I might add. It is looking forward, right through the prop arch. Do you think it is some sort of strobe effect??

I should also mention that I noticed a very slight distortion of the video when I put my flaps (electric) back up before engine startup.

Post by **Spike** » Sun May 30, 2010 6:04 am

Looking through the prop would most likely cause something like you are describing. The frame speeds and prop rpm could be interacting. Its akin to taking video/film of a TV screen where you catch the refresh.

If the flaps are causing problems you might want to clean up the power powering the device. I'm not an A/V expert but that is where I would start.

Spike

painless · Post by **painless** » Sun May 30, 2010 7:13 am

Do you mean cleaning up power to the camera? It was running on it's own battery.

Post by **Spike** » Tue Jun 01, 2010 9:16 am

Wow, then I am at a loss about the flap issue. You could try it again after removing the audio source interconnect. That might tell you something.

painless · Post by **painless** » Tue Jun 01, 2010 11:07 am

Yeah, I thought I would try that, as well as other video settings. Now I just have to get some time to get out there and fly again!