Can we share our peep fight with the world?

March 21, 2008 10:18 AM

How can we film an epic peeps battle (in a microwave)? The problems are it's too dark, and the camera wants to autofocus on the grid on the microwave door instead of the peeps.

The equipment: microwave and Sony Handycam. This is in an office. (And it's for work -- it's not slacking off!) We have access to editing equipment, the standard office stuff, probably some lighting equipment. Do we just need to shine a light into the microwave?

posted by Airhen to media & arts (4 comments total)

Does your camera have a manual focus mode?
posted by odinsdream at 10:24 AM on March 21, 2008

This is not my personal project. I just want to know how.
posted by Airhen at 11:02 AM on March 21, 2008

Well, I'm not sure which model of Sony Handycam you're working with, but it almost certainly has a manual focus mode. The product page you linked to had a "Specifications" section for each model, and that should tell you what your focus options are. Check the manual if you still have it, or just fiddle around with the buttons and menus until you find a way to change the focus setting from Auto to Manual. Then focus that sucker wherever you want.

You might have to do some trial-and-error to figure out the lighting. The first thing I would try is just changing the exposure settings on the camera (also probably hidden in some kind of pull-down menu). Dim or turn off the lights in the surrounding room so the outside of the microwave doesn't get super overexposed, and then open the aperture way the hell up to let in as much light as possible.

Alternately, you could try shining a strong, focused beam of light through glass in the microwave door. Not sure how that will look but it's worth a try.

Do you have a tripod or some kind of surface to rest the camera on? Shaky handheld footage will kill you every time.
posted by Mender at 11:14 AM on March 21, 2008

Regarding the focus...its because you are TOO close to the microwave. Move back and zoom in, you shouldn't have that problem.
posted by hal_c_on at 12:19 PM on March 21, 2008