Rolling shutter distortion correction

Question

Level 6

9,179 points

Rolling shutter distortion correction

Having just bought a Sony a6300, and mainly making amateur hand-held videos while travelling light (i.e tripods, gimbals etc. out of the question), my first tests confirm that despite the use of a lens with optical image stabilisation I will be fighting rolling shutter distortion effects when shooting 4K even more than in the past with HD on my NEX5N.

Whilst I find the built-in FCP X stabilisation works very well, I have never found the buit-in rolling shutter correction effective at removing the residual ‘wobble’ that sometimes is only too obvious after stabilisation.

A year ago I tried out Core Melt's Lock & Load to see if I could improve some (admittedly very challenging) clips of seals on rocks taken from a rocking boat but was not able to improve on the built in tools so did not buy. However there appear to have been several significant updates to Lock & Load since then but now of course I can’t try out the latest version out without buying.

So I would first like to hear of other's experiences in solving/reducing this problem. Are there other plugins that people have found more effective than the built-in one?

Geoff.

Mac Pro (Late 2013), OS X El Capitan (10.11.4)

Posted on Mar 30, 2016 12:16 PM

Reply

Answer 1

BenB

Level 6

13,198 points

Mar 30, 2016 2:15 PM in response to GeeD

If Lock & Load can't fix it, it can't be fixed. There is some distortion that is beyond fixing. You may be using non-comparable shutter speeds and such when you shoot.

Reply

Answer 2

GeeD Author

Level 6

9,179 points

Mar 30, 2016 2:27 PM in response to BenB

Thanks. Anyone else?

Reply

Answer 3

Russ H

Level 7

22,432 points

Mar 31, 2016 4:28 AM in response to GeeD

You could also try the Rolling Shutter Repair effect in After Effects.

Russ

Reply

Answer 4

GeeD Author

Level 6

9,179 points

Mar 31, 2016 4:30 AM in response to Russ H

Yes, it seems that the Adobe warp stabiliser is pretty good but you have effectively to rent After Effects which is not very attractive for something one may only use every few months.

Looks like I should go with Lock and Load - just wanted to check I wasn't overlooking other recommended options.

Thanks,

Geoff.

Reply

Answer 5

Russ H

Level 7

22,432 points

Mar 31, 2016 4:37 AM in response to GeeD

True. Perhaps you have already done this but if you want to test it, there is a trial AE download.

Russ

Reply

Answer 6

GeeD Author

Level 6

9,179 points

Mar 31, 2016 12:22 PM in response to Russ H

I've bought Lock & Load. I've already got better results than the built in with some clips so it should be worth it. Others are better with the built in (especially inertiacam) setting. The Sony 6300 sensor readout time in 4K has been reported to be 35 mS so at 25 fps the rolling shutter coefficient (readout time / frame interval) is not far off the highest it can be (1). This also explains why the 30 fps setting has to use a somewhat cropped sensor. I've managed to get some just-acceptable hand-held clips at 200mm focal length - pretty severe test.

Geoff.

Reply