Youtube's HD video quality is great!

[Romy Ocon]

I've started to collate the bird videos I've captured with the 5D2 + 400 - 1600 mm lenses. Here's sharing the first series, comprised of 8 species many of which are endemic to our islands. I'm pleasantly surprised that Youtube's transcoding algorithm resulted into much better HD video quality (VQ) than what I get with other video hosts.

I converted the 4:45 video to 720p (QT H.264) with a bit rate of 8Kbps, and this resulted into a 336 MB file that took me 4 hours to upload using my DSL 384 Kbps connection. I reckon this is transcoded by Youtube to about 20-30 MB file for posting, and the quality of the reduced size is still great. It does struggle a bit with the Purple Heron scene when the countless rice stalks are swaying in the wind. In all other scenes though, the VQ is very decent.

Here's a small version of the video, try to watch the HD version if you have a fast connection.



HD link:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=sx8IzbouVME


To satisfy my curiosity, I also rendered a QT H.264 1080p version and I used 45Kbps bit rate for this. The resulting file is a whooping 1.5 GB for 4 min:45 sec of footage! I watched this in my H-IPS 1920x1200 wide gamut monitor, and it's amazing to see the feather detail in such magnification. ;D

[Neon Rosell II]

Wow!! That youtube HDV upload is awesome. I might start using youtube again to upload HDV. Thanks Ka Mastah!!

[Adri Constantino]

Great video Romy! I noticed even in the bird movie world, there are "extras." I like the "extra" brown shrike and also the scaly-breasted munia!

Great documentation especially the Purple Swamphen!

Adri

[Romy Ocon]

Oct 24, 2009 14:38:30 GMT Neon Rosell II said:

Wow!! That youtube HDV upload is awesome. I might start using youtube again to upload HDV. Thanks Ka Mastah!!

Right partner, to my eyes Youtube's HD VQ is much better than XR and Vimeo's free account hosting.

Oct 24, 2009 14:43:43 GMT Adri Constantino said:

Great video Romy! I noticed even in the bird movie world, there are "extras." I like the "extra" brown shrike and also the scaly-breasted munia!

Great documentation especially the Purple Swamphen!

Adri

Thanks, Adri.... so you noticed the extras too. ;D The Brown Shrike's call and tail wagging was a scene stealer indeed!

[Edu Lorenzo Jr]

Thank you for the alert Mastah!

All I need now is a good tripod so my videos are not so nauseating anymore.

[Romy Ocon]

Yes, Edu.... a tripod is a must for bird filming.


Second series with flight shots is now uploaded.

FEATURED BIRDS - 7 species (in order of appearance):

[9] Striated Grassbird (Megalurus palustris forbesi, endemic race)
[10] Collared Kingfisher (Todiramphus chloris, resident)
[11] Blue-tailed Bee-eater (Merops philippinus, resident)
[12] Pied Fantail (Rhipidura javanica nigritorquis, endemic race)
[13] Philippine Duck (Anas luzonica, endemic)
[14] Pied Bushchat (Saxicola caprata caprata, endemic race, female)
[15] Garganey (Anas querquedula, migrant)

Gear used were a Canon 5D2 + 700 - 1600 mm lenses + Sennheiser MKE 400 mic.




HD link:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4hi11L6ohE

[Neon Rosell II]

Very nice and excellently edited Ka Mastah!! Wow we are to expect more as the bird count is just 15..wooohooo!! ;D

[Edu Lorenzo Jr]

I LOOOOOVE the bee-eater landing on the perch!!!!!!

[Toto Gamboa]

Terrific work once again Mastah!

[Romy Ocon]

Thanks, Neon, Edu and Toto.... that edit for the second series took the most part of my day yesterday, plus about 4 hours more in uploading time. HD Video is tough to capture and edit, but oh boy, it's way more fun for me than stills.

[Ralf Nabong]

Great video series Ka Mastah!

Top notch capture, editing and presentation!

[Ely Teehankee]

I watched both sets of video for the first time today. The videos are beautiful. I think you should consider going to UP and video the "Love Dance" of the Java Sparrow. I have never seen any bird do this kind of ritual and it will be a treasure to have if you can catch it on video. Very well done Romy. Mabuhay.