Camcorder - Filming the TV

[Ragorn]

So I know there are people out there with camera knowledge. I'm trying to film Caitlin's playful baby antics, and one of the things I want to do is catch her watching TV. However, whenever I try to film the TV picture, I get a very sharp line of light/dark contrast in the middle of the picture. To the camera, the bottom half of the TV picture looks MUCH darker than the top half. This effect is not visible to the naked eye, it's only observable when I record the TV screen (or when using the digital viewfinder on the camera).

Any tips on how to fix this kind of thing? I'm using a Canon ZR500 in SUPAR E-Z-MODE because I am camera dumb.

[Gormal]

<insert home movie porn joke here>

[Arilin Nydelahar]

So I know there are people out there with camera knowledge. I'm trying to film Caitlin's playful baby antics, and one of the things I want to do is catch her watching TV. However, whenever I try to film the TV picture, I get a very sharp line of light/dark contrast in the middle of the picture. To the camera, the bottom half of the TV picture looks MUCH darker than the top half. This effect is not visible to the naked eye, it's only observable when I record the TV screen (or when using the digital viewfinder on the camera).

Any tips on how to fix this kind of thing? I'm using a Canon ZR500 in SUPAR E-Z-MODE because I am camera dumb.

That's an issue with any filming of TV's, PC Monitors, etc. It's just the refresh rate of the TV that we normally don't see. I don't know how to fix the issue though sadly, I jus tknow what the issue is :P

[Ragorn]

<insert>

Yeah, I'm trying to film my own home porn, thus creating INFINITE RECURSIVE PORN.

[Demuladon]

Changing the shutter speed from 1/60 secconds to 1/15 or 1/8 may help reduce the aliasing (ie. the shutter is open longer and the TV rastering is blurred out).

Check your camera manual for shutter speed adjustment. You may be knackered though, since some smaller camera's don't allow much flexibility with things like shutter speed.

[Sarell]

Shutter speed will work but there will always be disparity unless your shutter speed exactly matches the refresh cycle of your CRT.......... but it will be much more satisfying to buy yourself a new plasma TV which will also film fine and possibly make the subject more animated! LCD film fine aswell.

[Ragorn]

Assuming that buying a new tv is out of the question ;)

[moritheil]

Assuming that buying a new tv is out of the question ;)

Ah yes, money: the cause of, and solution to, so many of life's problems. :P