New Video - Lionel's UP "City of Denver" F3 ABBA with matching aluminum Passenger Cars

Really, really nice, Don!

Always enjoy your videos!

KD

Awesome!

great video Don.  Layout is fantastic.  I really like for ford Bronco.  A question for camera experts, what causes a moving train to lose focus while the rest of the video does not?  Or is it just my poor eyesight? Keep up the good work.

Another superlative video, well done and I had to watch it a second time

Another fantastic video Don! Thanks for sharing.

@wb47 posted:

great video Don.  Layout is fantastic.  I really like for ford Bronco.  A question for camera experts, what causes a moving train to lose focus while the rest of the video does not?  Or is it just my poor eyesight? Keep up the good work.

That is a good question. My dedicated video camera is a Sony ZV -E10. For moving trains, I use the auto focus feature and most of the time the rolling trains all stay in focus. I also try to shot with a higher “f stop” to get the greatest depth of field. That is why the background is usually in focus.

Here is the problem. The cars all reflect light differently. Based on that, the camera is constantly trying to find the right exposure based on the available light. The lens will move in and out just a fraction as the cars roll by and this causes the brief moments of “in and out” focus. The problem compounds itself with white color trains, like piggybacks on flatcars and shiny silver painted passenger equipment like some of the MTH Santa Fe cars.

I try to compensate with additional lighting but unfortunately when I built my layout, I built it before my interest in video production started. So I need to supplement with portable studio lighting. This helps but also produces unwanted shadows.

BOTTOM LINE, you cannot have it both ways. What you see is how the camera is working, it is not your eyes. Believe me, I am working with an old set too.

Hope that helps.

Don

Thanks everybody for all the positive comments.

Don

@3rail, Donald, this is an amazing video, not only is the UP ABBA diesels pulling the beautiful City of Denver passenger train, the other two freight trains running along with the passenger train, sometimes above, sometimes below, is a cool contrasting view. (Do you have the matching StationSounds car) Your track work is flawless, no wobbling, no issues whatsoever, just smooth running trains. The UP triple unit diesel train is neat with the camouflage diesel included, cool idea, and of course the Atlas O Rio Grande GP7’s pulling a colorful freight train is icing on the cake. Great layout, well designed. Thank you for sharing your video and modeling talent with us. Wow. Happy Railroading Everyone

@leapinlarry posted:

@3rail, Donald, this is an amazing video, not only is the UP ABBA diesels pulling the beautiful City of Denver passenger train, the other two freight trains running along with the passenger train, sometimes above, sometimes below, is a cool contrasting view. (Do you have the matching StationSounds car) Your track work is flawless, no wobbling, no issues whatsoever, just smooth running trains. The UP triple unit diesel train is neat with the camouflage diesel included, cool idea, and of course the Atlas O Rio Grande GP7’s pulling a colorful freight train is icing on the cake. Great layout, well designed. Thank you for sharing your video and modeling talent with us. Wow. Happy Railroading Everyone

My pleasure. Thanks Larry for the kind words. Yes, I have the Station Sounds car, this time, I had the sounds turned off. I think it was the 3rd to last car in the consist.

Donald