Flickering video, a common issue when filming with action cameras, can ruin otherwise great footage. This frustrating phenomenon often appears as rapid changes in brightness, making your videos look unprofessional and distracting. Understanding the causes of flickering and learning how to address them is key to capturing smooth, high-quality video with your action camera. We’ll explore several techniques to fix flickering video on your action camera, from adjusting settings to post-processing methods.
🔍 Understanding Video Flickering
Video flickering, also known as temporal aliasing, usually occurs when the camera’s frame rate interacts with artificial lighting. Most artificial lights, like fluorescent and LED bulbs, don’t emit a constant stream of light. Instead, they rapidly cycle on and off, typically at a frequency of 50Hz or 60Hz, depending on your region’s power grid. This rapid cycling is usually invisible to the human eye, but a camera can capture it, resulting in the perceived flickering.
Another factor contributing to flickering is the rolling shutter effect, common in many action cameras. A rolling shutter doesn’t capture the entire image at once. It scans the scene line by line, either horizontally or vertically. This can cause distortion and flickering, especially when filming fast-moving objects or under rapidly changing lighting conditions.
⚡ Adjusting Camera Settings to Prevent Flickering
One of the most effective ways to prevent flickering is by adjusting your action camera’s settings. Here are some key adjustments to consider:
🔌 Anti-Flicker Setting
Many action cameras have an anti-flicker setting, often labeled as “50Hz” or “60Hz.” This setting synchronizes the camera’s frame rate with the frequency of the local power grid. Setting it correctly can significantly reduce or eliminate flickering caused by artificial lights.
- ➡ If you are in a region with a 50Hz power grid (e.g., Europe, Asia), set the anti-flicker setting to 50Hz.
- ➡ If you are in a region with a 60Hz power grid (e.g., North America), set it to 60Hz.
- ➡ If you’re unsure, experiment with both settings to see which one produces the best result.
📅 Shutter Speed
Shutter speed plays a crucial role in how your camera captures light. A faster shutter speed can exacerbate flickering issues, while a slower shutter speed can help to minimize them. The general rule is to use a shutter speed that is a multiple of the power grid frequency.
- ➡ For a 50Hz power grid, try using a shutter speed of 1/50th of a second or slower.
- ➡ For a 60Hz power grid, try using a shutter speed of 1/60th of a second or slower.
- ➡ Experiment to find the optimal shutter speed for your specific lighting conditions.
🏕 Frame Rate
Frame rate, measured in frames per second (fps), affects the smoothness of your video. While higher frame rates can create smoother slow-motion effects, they can also increase the likelihood of flickering. Consider using a frame rate that is compatible with your shutter speed and the power grid frequency.
- ➡ If you are shooting in a 50Hz region, consider using frame rates like 25fps or 50fps.
- ➡ If you are shooting in a 60Hz region, consider using frame rates like 30fps or 60fps.
- ➡ Avoid using frame rates that are not multiples or divisors of the power grid frequency, as this can increase flickering.
🔦 Aperture
Aperture controls the amount of light that enters the camera lens. While aperture doesn’t directly cause flickering, it can affect the overall brightness of your video. Adjusting the aperture can help to compensate for changes in lighting conditions and minimize the appearance of flickering.
- ➡ Use a wider aperture (lower f-number) to allow more light into the camera, which can be helpful in low-light situations.
- ➡ Use a narrower aperture (higher f-number) to reduce the amount of light entering the camera, which can be helpful in bright conditions.
- ➡ Be mindful of the depth of field when adjusting the aperture. A wider aperture will result in a shallower depth of field, while a narrower aperture will result in a greater depth of field.
🌍 Natural Light
Whenever possible, film in natural light. Sunlight doesn’t flicker, so it eliminates the primary cause of video flickering. If you must film indoors, try to position yourself near a window to maximize the amount of natural light.
🔧 Post-Processing Techniques to Reduce Flickering
Even with careful camera settings, some flickering may still be present in your video. Fortunately, several post-processing techniques can help to reduce or eliminate flickering during video editing.
🎦 Flicker Removal Filters
Many video editing software programs offer dedicated flicker removal filters. These filters analyze the video and automatically adjust the brightness of individual frames to smooth out the flickering. Popular options include:
- ➡ Adobe Premiere Pro: Includes a “Flicker Removal” effect.
- ➡ DaVinci Resolve: Offers a “Deflicker” effect within its color correction tools.
- ➡ Filmora: Provides a “Flicker Removal” tool.
These filters often have adjustable parameters, allowing you to fine-tune the flicker reduction to achieve the best results.
🎨 Manual Brightness Adjustments
If automatic flicker removal filters don’t provide satisfactory results, you can manually adjust the brightness of individual frames. This is a more time-consuming process, but it can provide greater control over the final result.
- ➡ Use a video editing program that allows you to adjust the brightness of individual frames or sections of your video.
- ➡ Identify the frames that are flickering and adjust their brightness to match the surrounding frames.
- ➡ Use keyframes to create smooth transitions between brightness levels.
💻 Using Plugins
Several third-party plugins are designed specifically to reduce or eliminate video flickering. These plugins often offer more advanced features and algorithms than the built-in flicker removal tools in video editing software.
- ➡ RE:Vision Effects DE:Flicker: A popular plugin for reducing various types of flickering.
- ➡ Flicker Free: Another dedicated flicker removal plugin.
Consider using these plugins if you frequently encounter flickering issues in your videos.
📜 Stabilizing the Footage
Sometimes, what appears to be flickering is actually caused by camera shake. Stabilizing your footage can help to smooth out the video and reduce the perceived flickering. Most video editing programs offer stabilization tools.
- ➡ Use the stabilization tool in your video editing program to reduce camera shake.
- ➡ Be careful not to over-stabilize the footage, as this can result in unnatural-looking motion.
💡 Additional Tips for Avoiding Flickering
Beyond adjusting camera settings and using post-processing techniques, here are some additional tips to help you avoid flickering in your action camera videos:
- ➡ Use high-quality lighting: If you must film indoors, invest in high-quality LED lights that are designed to minimize flickering.
- ➡ Avoid filming under fluorescent lights: Fluorescent lights are more prone to flickering than other types of lighting.
- ➡ Test your settings: Before filming an important event, test your camera settings under the specific lighting conditions to ensure that you are not experiencing flickering.
- ➡ Use a neutral density (ND) filter: An ND filter can help to reduce the amount of light entering the camera, allowing you to use a slower shutter speed without overexposing the image. This can help to minimize flickering.
❓ FAQ
❓ Why does my action camera video flicker under artificial light?
Flickering occurs because the camera’s frame rate interacts with the cycling of artificial lights (e.g., fluorescent, LED). These lights rapidly turn on and off, and the camera can capture this, resulting in flickering.
❓ What is the anti-flicker setting on my action camera, and how do I use it?
The anti-flicker setting synchronizes your camera’s frame rate with the frequency of the local power grid (50Hz or 60Hz). Set it to 50Hz in regions with a 50Hz power grid (Europe, Asia) and 60Hz in regions with a 60Hz power grid (North America).
❓ How does shutter speed affect video flickering?
Faster shutter speeds can worsen flickering, while slower shutter speeds can minimize it. Use a shutter speed that is a multiple of the power grid frequency (e.g., 1/50th of a second for 50Hz, 1/60th of a second for 60Hz).
❓ Can I fix flickering in post-processing?
Yes, several post-processing techniques can reduce or eliminate flickering. Use flicker removal filters in video editing software, manually adjust brightness, or use third-party plugins designed for flicker reduction.
❓ Is it better to film in natural light to avoid flickering?
Yes, filming in natural light is ideal because sunlight doesn’t flicker, eliminating the primary cause of video flickering. If you must film indoors, maximize natural light by positioning yourself near a window.
