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Stills from 4K video - a tip
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Sep 19, 2018 20:09:55   #
a6k Loc: Detroit & Sanibel
 
The details here apply to my Sony cameras, RX10 IV and a6500 but what I'm going to tell you should apply to any 4K video.

First I tried it in-camera, again, based on what is on the Gary Friedman book on the RX10 IV. It does work and is handy if you don't have a computer but unless I'm just not following his instructions correctly, the size of the JPG from a 4K frame is less than 3MB, not 17 as he describes.

I went back to using VLC which is an open source, any-platform video program. With that you can take a "snapshot" of a given frame and use its settings to decide on output format - JPG, PNG or even TIF. I'm not sure the huge increase in file size is worth it but the TIF is quite large -about 17MB in my case. More importantly, it can be edited with post processors such as CaptureOne. So can any format, but IMHO the best results come from the best starting point.

BTW, notwithstanding SONY's dire warnings, I copy the "clip" from the SD card to my SSD for further work. I have played video directly to a large screen TV when I travel (using HDMI) and it works quite well even though the TV is usually only 1080. It's a nice feature and doesn't need a computer at all.

The SONY feature that allows you to capture stills while filming a video only works, as far as I can determine, when using normal HD, not 4K.

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Sep 19, 2018 20:57:58   #
Rongnongno Loc: FL
 
I do not see a tip here...

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Sep 19, 2018 21:26:54   #
dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida
 
a6k wrote:
IN PART: The details here apply to my Sony cameras, RX10 IV and a6500 but what I'm going to tell you should apply to any 4K video. ... I went back to using VLC which is an open source, any-platform video program. With that, you can take a "snapshot" of a given frame and use its settings to decide on output format - JPG, PNG or even TIF.


I became interested in the one-inch sensor amazing family of cameras and selected the Panasonic TZ100 [other names all the same] This month Camera Club Assignment is "Competition Sport." OK one of the things like your Sony is taking a video and do a snapshot. Easy huh... NOT. I was going to find a converter from MP4 to JPEG. Then you said use VLC a $0 program.... but worth millions. VLC has been my go-to for years.

For Window, I opened VLC first then imported the MP4 file. Next, in the VLC video, I stopped the video and then tweaked to find the frame. Then the drumroll moment... pressed Shift>S for snapshot. Then faster than the eye can see ... now you see it now you don't... is where the TIF snapshot is hidden. After many repetitions, I gathered it was in... C:/users/dpullum/pictures YEA Thank you A6K, a snapshot with the Pickle Ball leaving the paddle... an action-shot. The file was a TIF, opened cropped and then saved as a JPEG. Reference: https://wiki.videolan.org/VLC_HowTo/Take_a_snapshot/

What the heck is Pickleball? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pickleball

SNAPSHOT VIA MP4 VIDEO PANASONIC TZ100
SNAPSHOT VIA MP4 VIDEO PANASONIC TZ100...
(Download)

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Sep 20, 2018 07:03:15   #
WJShaheen Loc: Gold Canyon, AZ
 
a6k wrote:
The details here apply to my Sony cameras, RX10 IV and a6500 but what I'm going to tell you should apply to any 4K video.

First I tried it in-camera, again, based on what is on the Gary Friedman book on the RX10 IV. It does work and is handy if you don't have a computer but unless I'm just not following his instructions correctly, the size of the JPG from a 4K frame is less than 3MB, not 17 as he describes.

I went back to using VLC which is an open source, any-platform video program. With that you can take a "snapshot" of a given frame and use its settings to decide on output format - JPG, PNG or even TIF. I'm not sure the huge increase in file size is worth it but the TIF is quite large -about 17MB in my case. More importantly, it can be edited with post processors such as CaptureOne. So can any format, but IMHO the best results come from the best starting point.

BTW, notwithstanding SONY's dire warnings, I copy the "clip" from the SD card to my SSD for further work. I have played video directly to a large screen TV when I travel (using HDMI) and it works quite well even though the TV is usually only 1080. It's a nice feature and doesn't need a computer at all.

Just tried it (VLC) and it works as described. Thanks for the tip. (With that you can take a "snapshot"...)


The SONY feature that allows you to capture stills while filming a video only works, as far as I can determine, when using normal HD, not 4K.
The details here apply to my Sony cameras, RX10 IV... (show quote)

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Sep 20, 2018 08:05:55   #
ToBoldlyGo Loc: London U.K.
 
If we are talking about capturing images from 4K video, I transfer the video to my iPad and take screen caps. They seem to be full resolution. Works very well and is fast. They also stand up well to editing in my experience.

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Sep 20, 2018 08:40:11   #
blackest Loc: Ireland
 
ToBoldlyGo wrote:
If we are talking about capturing images from 4K video, I transfer the video to my iPad and take screen caps. They seem to be full resolution. Works very well and is fast. They also stand up well to editing in my experience.


A 4k screen should be around 3840 × 2160 in resolution.

The iPad comes in a number of resolutions
https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/documentation/DeviceInformation/Reference/iOSDeviceCompatibility/Displays/Displays.html

But none appear to be as high as that so you may be losing some resolution.

On the other hand the retina display is around the std 300 dpi that most aim to print at. e.g 8 by 10 would be (2400 x 3000 at 300 dpi) so at normal viewing distance for that size image the resolution should be fine, at larger sizes the viewing distance increases so the resolution can be less and still look good.

I guess what i'm saying is the screen grab will have some loss of detail but in practice it's not visible loss of detail for human eyes anyway.

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Sep 20, 2018 09:50:01   #
a6k Loc: Detroit & Sanibel
 
I suppose that I could have also pointed out that this and perhaps many other cameras allow shutter priority during video which means very good action freezing stills.

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Sep 20, 2018 10:12:15   #
dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida
 
WJShaheen did not make a comment, but I think what he was saying that the subject was Sony RX10 IV and a6500. Yes, well true, but once a camera, whatever the make or model, takes a 4K photo the procedure is the same. I believe that was the a5k subject... "how to make a still" Title of this thread.... "Stills from 4K video - a tip"

a5k did not give detail of how-2 and from his "tip" I went from there and captured an image. Now I know how and so do others.

WJShaheen, Am I wrong regarding the meaning of your comment; if so what was the meaning?

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Sep 20, 2018 10:39:01   #
WJShaheen Loc: Gold Canyon, AZ
 
dpullum wrote:
WJShaheen did not make a comment, but I think what he was saying that the subject was Sony RX10 IV and a6500. Yes, well true, but once a camera, whatever the make or model, takes a 4K photo the procedure is the same. I believe that was the a5k subject... "how to make a still" Title of this thread.... "Stills from 4K video - a tip"

a5k did not give detail of how-2 and from his "tip" I went from there and captured an image. Now I know how and so do others.

WJShaheen, Am I wrong regarding the meaning of your comment; if so what was the meaning?
WJShaheen did not make a comment, but I think what... (show quote)


Oops. My bad - hit enter too son.

I was responding to the post saying the "I do not see a tip here...".

My response to that was that I found "I went back to using VLC which is an open source, any-platform video program. With that you can take a 'snapshot' ..." to be a useful tip.
I'm a long time VLC user and have overlooked that option. Thanks for the tip.

Will in AZ

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Sep 20, 2018 11:52:44   #
Architect1776 Loc: In my mind
 
a6k wrote:
The details here apply to my Sony cameras, RX10 IV and a6500 but what I'm going to tell you should apply to any 4K video.

First I tried it in-camera, again, based on what is on the Gary Friedman book on the RX10 IV. It does work and is handy if you don't have a computer but unless I'm just not following his instructions correctly, the size of the JPG from a 4K frame is less than 3MB, not 17 as he describes.

I went back to using VLC which is an open source, any-platform video program. With that you can take a "snapshot" of a given frame and use its settings to decide on output format - JPG, PNG or even TIF. I'm not sure the huge increase in file size is worth it but the TIF is quite large -about 17MB in my case. More importantly, it can be edited with post processors such as CaptureOne. So can any format, but IMHO the best results come from the best starting point.

BTW, notwithstanding SONY's dire warnings, I copy the "clip" from the SD card to my SSD for further work. I have played video directly to a large screen TV when I travel (using HDMI) and it works quite well even though the TV is usually only 1080. It's a nice feature and doesn't need a computer at all.

The SONY feature that allows you to capture stills while filming a video only works, as far as I can determine, when using normal HD, not 4K.
The details here apply to my Sony cameras, RX10 IV... (show quote)


Interesting
Is VLC the actual product or the abbreviation.
Thank you for the information.

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Sep 20, 2018 12:07:52   #
jlocke Loc: Austin, TX
 
"VLC is a free and open source cross-platform multimedia player and framework that plays most multimedia files as well as DVDs, Audio CDs, VCDs, and various streaming protocols."

It may be found here... VLC media player

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Sep 20, 2018 12:08:46   #
Architect1776 Loc: In my mind
 
jlocke wrote:
"VLC is a free and open source cross-platform multimedia player and framework that plays most multimedia files as well as DVDs, Audio CDs, VCDs, and various streaming protocols."

It may be found here... VLC media player


Thx

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Sep 20, 2018 12:11:29   #
dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida
 
WJShaheen wrote:
Oops. ... said in part ... I'm a long time VLC user and have overlooked that option.

Same here, I was searching for a program to do the trick and there it was "hiding in plain sight."
These cameras, Panasonic and Sony 1" sensor type are not my Aunt Sally"s camera they are highly complex and give a "lota of learnin' to do." Presently I am learning as the need forces me ! ! no wonder the manual is 400+ pages long and the book I have, "Photographe"s Guide to Panasonic ZS100/TZ100" which is 200pages. The joke is, I was only after the better quality of the one-inch sensor in a pocket compact body, instead, I got an advanced sports car.

Both the Sony and Panasonic are excellent. The Panasonic for that era had a longer reach Sony slight edge on image quality. Cost is another factor.... Panasonic TZ100 has dropped since the introduction of the TZ200. I paid a tad less than $500.

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Sep 20, 2018 13:47:50   #
ToBoldlyGo Loc: London U.K.
 
blackest wrote:
A 4k screen should be around 3840 × 2160 in resolution.

The iPad comes in a number of resolutions
https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/documentation/DeviceInformation/Reference/iOSDeviceCompatibility/Displays/Displays.html

But none appear to be as high as that so you may be losing some resolution.

On the other hand the retina display is around the std 300 dpi that most aim to print at. e.g 8 by 10 would be (2400 x 3000 at 300 dpi) so at normal viewing distance for that size image the resolution should be fine, at larger sizes the viewing distance increases so the resolution can be less and still look good.

I guess what i'm saying is the screen grab will have some loss of detail but in practice it's not visible loss of detail for human eyes anyway.
A 4k screen should be around 3840 × 2160 in resolu... (show quote)


You may be correct, common sense tells me that you must be. As a workaround, if loss of detail is an issue, don't forget to crop before taking the still. You can always crop differently and choose a favourite after.

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Sep 20, 2018 14:13:46   #
a6k Loc: Detroit & Sanibel
 
ToBoldlyGo wrote:
You may be correct, common sense tells me that you must be. As a workaround, if loss of detail is an issue, don't forget to crop before taking the still. You can always crop differently and choose a favourite after.

This sounds backwards to me because it's not a screen print but a frame capture. Once a frame has been captured and output as a jpg/png/tif then it can be edited. If upsizing is needed, try CaptureOne. If you are fortunate enough to have a Sony, it's free.

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