Headcam users

[Vikeonabike]

Does anyone know of any FREE software that enables you to enhance footage. My very basic headcam doesn't always pick up numberplates, which gets a little frustrating at times!
Vike

 

[BSRU]

When I had a Veho Muvi camera I tried lots for software to improve number plate reading but unfortunately I came to the conclusion I needed a better camera hence the purchase of my first ContourHD 1080p.
There probably is software they may help in some cases but I am sure it is very expensive and buying a better camera was a "cheaper" option.

 

[Peteaud]

You cant polish a turd.

I have a cheap headam, no software that i know will make the footage any better, especialy free.

You need better definition so best bet is another cam. I know, they are expensive. I am looking at a go pro at the moment, but the cost....................

 

[BSRU]

You cant polish a turd.

I have a cheap headam, no software that i know will make the footage any better, especialy free.

You need better definition so best bet is another cam. I know, they are expensive. I am looking at a go pro at the moment, but the cost....................

Try buying from JensonUSA, the dollar price is the pound price, that is $300 in the US and £300 in the UK.

 

[jonny jeez]

Nope...It always makes me giggle me when shows like CSI and 24 ask their tech teams to "enhance area 6" and like magic they are presented with a HD image of area 6...just like that.

enhanced images never look like that and are only ever "filled" in by computer software that guesses what an image should look like.

So unless you work at the pentagon, then you need a better cam Vike.

But beware, from my experience, some HD cams (Go pro in particular) require "Special Software" just to review the footage (standard Windows media/Windows movie maker is not up to the job...unless you are running windows 7 or possibly late release vista...or are McSavvy), let alone edit it.

there are free options available but they are clumsy

 

[GrasB]

Does anyone know of any FREE software that enables you to enhance footage. My very basic headcam doesn't always pick up numberplates, which gets a little frustrating at times!
Vike

If it's compression destroyed detail you've not got a chance in hell, it tends to destroy all data detail, if it's that the detail signal is very weak then it's possible but depends how 'raw' the footage is.

I work with a group who pull data out of 'images' (the images they work with aren't what you or I would call an image but they are image processing) with a noise to signal ratio (yes, that is the right way round) in excess of 10:1 but even they couldn't pull a plate number out from 18 frames worth of over-compressed mpeg4 CCTV footage. The fundamental data isn't there to start with.

 

[BentMikey]

This is why most of us call out numberplates, as even the very good cameras can miss the necessary detail if light is low or movement speed is high.

 

[arallsopp]

You can get surprisingly good results with windows media player if you go into enhancements and playspeed settings. Single frame advance will let you choose the best candidate frames, video settings will let you push brightness, contrast, saturation, etc. When you've got the frame you want, print screen it and paste it into your image editor of choice.

That's helped me out a few times.

Andy.

 

[Matthew_T]

I use Windows MovieMaker for editing. When I get my Contour HD, I will probably still use it unless I come across anything better.

 

[HLaB]

What platform are you using Vike? I like the free Windows Live Moviemaker on XP, it lets you zoom into Number Plates and you can change the contrast, etc to try and enhance. That said I've not used my cam for a while, its pretty pants: bulky, poor in below optimum light (thats nearly every moment of the day up here), sound quality poor, etc, etc. The ATC mount is snapped anyway.

 

[Matthew_T]

What platform are you using Vike? I like the free Windows Live Moviemaker on XP, it lets you zoom into Number Plates and you can change the contrast, etc to try and enhance. That said I've not used my cam for a while, its pretty pants: bulky, poor in below optimum light (thats nearly every moment of the day up here), sound quality poor, etc, etc. The ATC mount is snapped anyway.

Mine snapped as well. Was it the ring around the metal? Mine snapped as I was adjusting it (tightened it too much).

 

[HLaB]

Mine snapped as well. Was it the ring around the metal? Mine snapped as I was adjusting it (tightened it too much).

The ring is fine, iirc it was one of the two feet that you squeeze or the quick release that snapped on mine.

 

[Matthew_T]

The ring is fine, iirc it was one of the two feet that you squeeze or the quick release that snapped on mine.

I see. Pretty easy to do I imagine.

 

[HLaB]

I see. Pretty easy to do I imagine.

I' had been using it pretty regularly for my master's project and luckily it happened the day after I handed it in.

 

[Matthew_T]

I' had been using it pretty regularly for my master's project and luckily it happened the day after I handed it in.

WOW! Lucky sod. Mine broke just as I had set off for a ride. I was moving it on its mount when I tightened it too much and the plastic snapped. I had to stop with my camera in my hand and find the bit of it that I had lost.
I then had to use 2 rolls of selotape to fix it.