DSLR camera for live, continuous uncompressed HD video over HDMI

[markaren1]

Hello All,

Just to close this thread, the Nikon D5100 firmware has been hacked to enable clean HDMI video out (see https://nikonhacker.com/)

At NZ$500, this unit is a few years out of date, but is still quite a serviceable DSLR, and the-price-is-right.

Just to summarize, a promise of:
- Clear HD video over HDMI
- Only a firmware update (no hardware changes)
- Useful DSLR
- Less than NZ$500

Still need to make these updates to my unit, but so far, everything seems to be right on the money.

With regards from NZ,
Mark Atherton
ZL3JVX, KE6LVK etc.

[G4GUO]

Mark,
I have been looking for a DSLR that can also be used for DATV so helpful information.
It is a shame the website seems so slow.

- Charles

[markaren1]

Thanks Charles,

How are you going to go about HDMI capture ?

Any recommendations for low cost options ??

-Mark

[G4GUO]

I already have a couple of HDMI capture devices which I have used with a Camcorder.

Blackmagic Decklink Mini recorder PCI card
https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/uk/pro ... ink/models

and a much more expensive Magewell device
http://www.magewell.com/usb-capture-hdmi

The Magewell has the advantage that it can do internal hardware format conversion, it appears as a webcam to a PC
and is USB3. The Decklink only outputs the format the camera produces. Both are supported by vMix/DATV-Express.
However to use the Decklink with vMix you will need to buy a basic vMix HD licence. With the Magewell you can
select a none HD format so can still use the free version of vMix. Also the Magewell does de-interlacing of a 1080i
picture so looks better.

A Google shows other HDMI capture devices but I have not tried them.

On eBay there appear to be two types of USB3 HDMI capture devices, one for around £75 which requires drivers
to be installed and seems to be less flexible. The other for around £100 which is driver-less and looks like a Magewell clone.
I have not tried either of these.

- Charles

[G4GUO]

Situation is ..

I bought a used D5100 on eBay and updated the firmware with a patched version.
It works fine except every few seconds the picture freezes on the HDMI output.
The camera's own display doesn't just the HDMI.

I selected the clear display patch and the fixed 1080i patch.

I displayed the HDMI using vMix and captured with a Blackmagic Decklink mini recorder.

I will do some further investigations later.

720P does not freeze but it has a black border around it. All in all I think my used
Cannon Legria HFS30 is better for this application.

- Charles

[markaren1]

Blast, that is annoying.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssTBtBBmMK0&t=54s appear to be using a modified D5100 with some success.

I have an email address for Simeon Pilgrim if you get stuck (although the developers forum might be a better place to report issues).

Let me know if I can help.

-Mark

[G4GUO]

Hello Mark,

I have not had an opportunity to try all the options yet.
I think there is an option to disable the timeout (which I have not applied yet).
I looked at that 2014 video and I believe they were using the 720P mode
when they did the comparison which does work (albeit with a black border).

I have not been able to try the Magewell capture device on the camera as
I can't find the right USB3 lead for it at the moment that might remove the freezing.

I will scan the forum and see if anyone else has had a similar freeze occur.

- Charles

Follow up.
I looked on the forum and someone else had exactly the same problem as me but no one replied to the query.
Also the last patch file was > 2 years ago so it looks as if Simeon has lost interest in the project.

[G4GUO]

I thought it might be a problem with my capture devices but my domestic TV behaves
in exactly the same way, a freeze every few seconds when in 1920x1080i mode.

Plugged my Cannon camcoder in also at 1920x1080i and no freezes (plus I get audio).

So it looks like the Nikon 5100 is only usable at 1280x720p and that the Nikon hacker
project has run out of steam.

- Charles

[markaren1]

Charles,

Can your Canon HFS30 be used as just a video camera, without recording, or closing down after some time-out period ?

-Mark

[G4GUO]

Hello Mark,

Yes you don't need to be recording to output over the HDMI mini connector,
the HDMI is clean and after 12 hours has not timed out. It will timeout
if you are using batteries but I am using the mains adapter.

The format is 1080i50 some of their more modern cameras do 1080p25.
The touch screen display controls are a bit unresponsive and there is a bit of
a knack in using them but after you have configured the camera you
shouldn't need to use them again.

I suspect all the Canon Legria cameras have similar firmware.

I bought mine used from a YouTuber, he had only had the camera for a month!

- Charles