How to record lightning?

Atomazul 9 Jun 2011 00:05
I was hoping someone could kindly give me some tips on getting a decent video of lighting. I've been experimenting and can't seem to get it right. I don't exactly know how to explain what I mean, so I included what I've gotten so far on youtube. It's like the frames are too slow to capture a clean strike, and I get bands of black and light that look like my video is all screwed up. Do I need specialized equipment?

http://youtu.be/eZr1TBxU5uw

I have a Canon 60D with a 18-200mm lens
I used various settings, all with similar results.
720p/60 fps
125 and 160 exposures
3.5 and 4 f stops.
640,800,1000 iso

Thanks for any insight
gravytime 10 Jun 2011 03:18
It is almost impossible to capture lightning using a progressive scan chip (such as canon HDSLRS) You will have to get an interlaced camera, or keep the lightning fairly small on the screen (way in the distance). If a bright flash lights up significant portions of the sky then almost all bets are off with a progressive CMOS chip. This will explain it better:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolling_shutter
gravytime 10 Jun 2011 13:14
Unfortunately, no, the problem is the exposure time of video versus the length and intensity of the event (lightning flash). Lightning hits quick, and if the chip is halfway thru its progressive scan of the frame when a flash hits, then the top part of the frame will be normal, but the bottom half will be bright. It is a real problem.
vadervideo 10 Jun 2011 15:36
I have been shooting lightning for several years now. Short of getting s super high speed camera, there is really only one way. I have shot with 3CCD, 3CMOS, and of course our favorite HDSLR's - they all do a lousy job unless you get lucky once in a while. The 3CCD was the best when it came to lucky timing. The best way I have found is use an intervalometer and do a sequence of stills. Yes, it takes time. Yes, you have to hope you are aiming in the right place. Yes, and yes and more yes to all the questions you are thinking. But the payoff is great as you get both stills and video potential. Something along the lines of this:
Driving through a flooded street VideomateriaalPowerful lightning strikes from a dashboard cam series 1 - 10 HD-videomateriaalMonsoon storm front wakes up at dusk timelapse - 2 into dusk HD-videomateriaalHD - sequence of powerful lightning strikes over mountains -zoomed in large view HD-videomateriaaldistant thunderbolt with thunder clap VideomateriaalSlomo cloud sheet lightning bursts and flashes - 5 HD-videomateriaalMonsoon over DMAFB Seq 4 Videomateriaalextreme weather slo mo lightning strike hits behind an ocotillo plant HD-videomateriaal4K Cine night monsoon storm flashes behind city time lapse multi cut 4k or 4k+ Resolution2K 30p close Powerful heat lightning storm in the distance lights up  sequence 2 Web Footagelightning flashes over the city by night - 4K Film format 4k or 4k+ Resolutionextreme weather super slo mo cloud lightning strikes and flashes HD-videomateriaal4K UHD powerful dramatic night flashes from monsoon summer storm 4k or 4k+ ResolutionHD ultra slow motion desert mountain daytime lightning strikes 5 HD-videomateriaal2K 30p Traffic in the desert with lightning storm backdrop time lapse p1 Web Footage4K UHD 24p desert night intercloud lightning bursts time lapse 4k or 4k+ ResolutionHD 30p Incoming monsoon storm on the horizon - 5 HD-videomateriaalHD 30p close Subtle magenta colored lightning strikes in the distance 2 HD-videomateriaalPowerful crispy lightning bolts over city - 1 pan left HD-videomateriaal4K Video 24p - Super lightning storm 2010 series 4 4k or 4k+ Resolution2K 30p Night clouds with subtle lightning flashes in time lapse Web FootageVertical - series sunset to night thunderstorm builds itself- 3 - at night HD-videomateriaal4K UHD subtle cumulus thunderheads behind mountains night time lapse 4k or 4k+ ResolutionVertical - monsoon storm 2010 Tucson AZ - 4 dusk sets in clouds build HD-videomateriaalNight power lightning cluster #4 VideomateriaalHD ultra slow motion desert mountain daytime lightning strikes HD-videomateriaal4K 30p - time lapse of a powerful and bright lightning storm Arizona - part 2 4k or 4k+ ResolutionHD 30p Storm arriving at dusk with powerful lightning and rain 5 HD-videomateriaalLightning and thunder for reality 2 Videomateriaalextreme weather super slo mo surreal sheet lightning HD-videomateriaalHD 30p tight - v2-1 Lightning storm over Monument Valley, AZ HD-videomateriaal4K 24p film - Palm tree surrounded by extreme lightning time lapse 4k or 4k+ Resolutionextreme weather sunset storm starts thunderhead lightning into night time lapse HD-videomateriaal4K 30p Late night lightning storm monsoon flashes with traffic in time lapse 4k or 4k+ Resolutionextreme weather slo mo thunderhead cloud lightning sparks 5 HD-videomateriaalFlash flood in the desert seg 2 Videomateriaal4K Film 24p Magenta night lightning storm over city 4k or 4k+ Resolution4K UHD late afternoon monsoon storm builds and lets loose 2 4k or 4k+ ResolutionNight power lightning cluster #3 VideomateriaalDriving right after a strong rain HD-videomateriaalVigorous storm clouds churn dumping heavy rain in heavy winds. Time Lapse HD-videomateriaalextreme weather tel pole silhouette lit by sheet lightning slo mo 1 HD-videomateriaalLightning and thunder for reality 1 Videomateriaalnight monsoon storm flashes behind city time lapse seq 1 HD-videomateriaalextreme weather palm tree silhouette gets lit by lightning slo mo 9 HD-videomateriaalPowerful lightning strikes from a dashboard cam series 2 - 2 HD-videomateriaalDashCam - Intense lightning while driving at night in Moab Desert UT - 3 HD-videomateriaal4K UHD lightning storm cell vacuum monsoon weather powerful strikes time lapse 4k or 4k+ ResolutionHD 30p Night traffic with lightning on horizon time lapse HD-videomateriaalSunset and lightning HD-videomateriaalPowerful lighting storm approaches -progressive HD-videomateriaalsuper slo mo powerful sunset lightning strike 1 HD-videomateriaalSuper lightning monsoon storm in time lapse -  part 3 HD-videomateriaalSlomo cloud sheet lightning bursts and flashes - 12 HD-videomateriaal4K 30p - Night time curtain of rain over a city in time lapse with lightning 4k or 4k+ Resolutionextreme weather palm tree silhouette gets lit by lightning slo mo 4 HD-videomateriaal4K 30p - Palm tree surrounded by extreme lightning time lapse 4k or 4k+ Resolution2K VIDEO Monsoon 2010 - City horizon light up with lightning - 1 Web Footage2K 24p Dramatic sunset colored sky day to night powerful lightning time lapse Web FootageHD 24p large thunderhead flashes behind palm tree tight time lapse HD-videomateriaalLightning strikes and flashes on a mountain range part-1 HD-videomateriaalSuper slomo dramatic daytime monssoon lightning strike 5 HD-videomateriaalHD wide lightning storm clouds flashing subtle intense time lapse 4 HD-videomateriaalsuper slo mo curly lightning branch and final strike  HD-videomateriaalHD Night storm sublte lightning on the horizon HD-videomateriaalsuper slo mo dry lightning flashes and strikes in fast sequence HD-videomateriaal4K UHD driving into a monsoon storm time lapse 4k or 4k+ ResolutionHD 24p thunderhead and overcast monsoon at dusk with lighting wide time lapse HD-videomateriaalHD 30p wide - Palm tree surrounded by extreme lightning time lapse HD-videomateriaal2K Video 30p Subtle magenta colored lightning strikes in the distance Web Footage2K Film 24p - Super lightning storm 2010 series 2 Web Footagesuper slomo sheet lightning flashes and branches 3 HD-videomateriaalSheet lightning in blue while driving VideomateriaalLightning strike series - 3 HD-videomateriaal4KUHD fisheye lightning storm time lapse abstract intense powerful 2 4k or 4k+ Resolutionsuper slomo sheet lightning flashes and branches 8 HD-videomateriaalextreme weather dusk sunset lightning storm time lapse HD-videomateriaal2K 30p Incoming monsoon storm on the horizon - 2 Web Footage4K UHD vehicle shot lighting strikes during storm real time 4k or 4k+ Resolution4K 30p Incoming monsoon storm on the horizon - 3 4k or 4k+ Resolution2K 30p Storm arriving at dusk with powerful lightning and rain 1 Web Footagesuper slo mo night time sheet lightning in the clouds HD-videomateriaalLightning strikes and flashes on a mountain range part-2 HD-videomateriaalLightning Monsoon 2010 - City horizon lights up - 5 wide panorama HD-videomateriaal2K Film 24p - Mountain silhouettes show as lightning strikes - 2 Web Footageultra slow motion lightning strikes scientific research HD-videomateriaalSuper lightning strike in slow motion - 4 - slow fizzle HD-videomateriaalHD 30p - time lapse of a powerful and bright lightning storm Arizona - part 2 HD-videomateriaalSlomo cloud sheet lightning bursts and flashes - 4 HD-videomateriaal2K Film 24p - Night time traffic at intersection subtle lightning Web Footage4K Video 30p - Super lightning storm 2010 series 1 4k or 4k+ ResolutionDesert monsoon lightning storm slow motion - 3 HD-videomateriaal4K UHD intense powerful lightning striking thunderhead approaches time lapse 4k or 4k+ ResolutionComposite of strong ocean storm 1 - with lightning strike HD-videomateriaalMonsoon Sept 2009 Tucson, AZ - 3 HD-videomateriaalsuper slomo multiple day time lightning strikes over desert landscape HD-videomateriaal4K UHD colorful lightning storm over mountains time lapse 4k or 4k+ ResolutionSuper slomo dramatic daytime monssoon lightning strike 6 HD-videomateriaalLightning Monsoon 2010 - City horizon lights up - 2 zoom out HD-videomateriaalHD tight shot dramatic sunset lightning storm powerful close strike time lapse HD-videomateriaal
Atomazul 10 Jun 2011 15:41
Thank you for the insight. I wish it was just a settings issue and not a camera issue, but what you're saying and the link you provided make perfect sense. Oh well.
Atomazul 10 Jun 2011 15:48
Thanks vader, I wanted to get an intervalometer anyways, so that gives me another usage option to justify it. This also explains why the majority of lightning videos here seem to be animations or time-lapses.
zygistudio 10 Jun 2011 16:14
And one important thing vadervideo forgotten to mention: you must live in the place where you can see the lighting strikes often :) In Finland where I live there are only few days with few strikes / year. According to the weather forecasting the next strike will be on Wednesday next week.
Zygis
vadervideo 14 Jun 2011 03:57
They don't make high speed 2K and 4K cams yet.. but there are some nice HD ones for about 100K - Go look at http://www.visionresearch.com/ Phantoms -