camcorder jerky video

[cjb]

I am currently testing alternate minidv camcorders to replace my Canon Hi8, which has optical stabalisation.
I have tried a Panasonic GS180 3CCD, which gave superb closeups and colour, but absolutely terrible picture stabalisation on hand held, even with electronic stabalistaion on.
So I swapped that for a Canon450, which I have had 2 days and I am going thru all the auto and manual options.
It may not have the colour impact of the 180 but is far more stable. I am also glad that it doesn't suffer from motor noise pickup, as suggested by reviews.
BUT, I have noticed on both cameras that on a pan shot the video jerks ,as if taking small still pics rather than a smooth motion.
I have experimented with stabalistion on and off, with auto focus and manual focus. I find this very annoying and wonder if anyone else has noticed this and knows the answer.
Is it something digital cameras do rather than my Hi8, or is it the electronic stabalisation, in which case I might buy a new set of heads for my Hi8 and keep it another 7 yrs!!
Many thanks for any informed input.

UPDATE 5.11.06
Many thanks to those who offered an answer to my problem. It seems I may have found the answer, which may help anyone else with a similar set of circumstances.
I have been using the DV input for the first time on my ancient ( 2yr old ) Toshiba DR1 DVD recorder to compile my camcorder footage.
To repeat, until my recent purchase of the Panasonic 180 and canon 450, I have used the Svideo input for my Canon Hi8 with no problems. The DR1 has been recently rejecting discs regularly and so I have just purchased a LG RH177 DVD recorder.
I spent the last day specially recording a test tape with all possible recording options and with rapid and slow pans, to highlight the jerky video.
I connected my 450 up to the DV input on the LG and ran thru the new recording... and was somewhat surprised to find no jerkiness whatever.
By coincidence, I had recorded on the same tape which contained my first recording and so I re-recorded that also.
... and found that now I had a perfectly jitter free recording on that also.
So it would seem that the DV input on the Tosh was to blame, but why it only occurred on the images that contained movement is a puzzle.
It might be a different electrical or bitrate discrepancy but for anyone experiencing similar problems then it would be worth trying another recorder.

[rickyt]

I recently filmed an event with my Panasonic and was alarmed when seeing the final result on DVD that the panned shots were jerky .I know I have the DIS [digital image stableiser] on and this was the only conclusion I could come to. I havn't tried filming with the DIS off yet. The close pan and zoom shots were good , it was only the distant panning that was effected .Still , off putting when viewing the DVD.
I dont think it has anything to do with the heads though .I could be wrong .

[redsox_mark]

That is odd.. it should be smooth.

The only thing I've seen like that is when shooting from a tripod with stabilisation on.. if you pan very slowly the stabilisation can try to fight against you and stabilise the picture.. then when it realises you really want to move the camcorder it jumps a bit. The solution to that is turn stabilisation off on a tripod.. but you say you've tried it both ways.

Was it poor light and using a low shutter speed?

[cjb]

Originally Posted by redsox_mark

That is odd.. it should be smooth.

The only thing I've seen like that is when shooting from a tripod with stabilisation on.. if you pan very slowly the stabilisation can try to fight against you and stabilise the picture.. then when it realises you really want to move the camcorder it jumps a bit. The solution to that is turn stabilisation off on a tripod.. but you say you've tried it both ways.

Was it poor light and using a low shutter speed?

Thanks for your reply. I have now spent some time experimenting with this as it has now become a real issue for me. Today was a very bright blue sky/sunshine day. I went thru every combination of auto/manual effects as well as stabalisation on/off and auto/manual focus. As mentioned by another reply, it does seem to be on distant pan rather than closeup, but I have also noticed it when zooming forward/back. I can't believe this is a normal effect, so wots the answer ??

[MarkE19]

A good explination on how optical & electronic Image Stabilisation works can be found in This thread. With this little bit of information you may be able to work around the short comings.

HTH,
Mark.

[cjb]

Originally Posted by MarkE19

A good explination on how optical & electronic Image Stabilisation works can be found in This thread. With this little bit of information you may be able to work around the short comings.

HTH,
Mark.

OK , thanks, I read that... but I get this even when everyfing is switched OFF. So is it the way the image is scanned on the CHIP ??? It might be more noticeable when vertical images are panned ..but why does my old Hi8 not show this. I need to talk to an expert or even a specialist... or someone down the pub.

[cjb]

see my update and it may help you also. cjb