<p>Even better is to use a HDMI capture device like a Blackmagic Intensity. Plug the iPad (or any tablet with HDMI output) into it and away you go. Perfect screen capture.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-03-14T01:49:40.633Z
Yeah, the problem is that you lose the finger (um, that doesn't sound right). It's a reasonable suggestion, though, but the units are $200...
Dan Rosenstark
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-03-14T05:13:56.260Z
The finger isn't that important, is it? If anything, the finger/hand gets in the way of seeing what's on the screen. Plus the quality of a capture via HDMI will look perfect, 1:1 copy - where as you've found with a video camera, there's so many variables that can change the quality.
Anthony Agius
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-06-07T00:18:59.243Z
the finger is pretty important for demoing, otherwise I'd use the iPad Simulator, which is beyond perfect (though hard to pinch and zoom)
Dan Rosenstark
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-03-13T22:01:29.507Z
2012-03-13T22:01:29.507Z
Anthony Agius
<p>From what I recall </p>

<ul>
<li>The room should be dark, so the tablet is the light source.</li>
<li>Experiment with the brightness, but usually low is the way to go.</li>
<li>Camera doesn't need to be extremely close, but the more zoom you use the more obvious vibrations will be.</li>
<li>Put the DSLR in manual focus and adjust it so the tablet is just slightly out of focus - this will remove the moire effect.</li>
<li>You want a short depth of field. This is achieved with a lower F-Stop (larger aperture opening).</li>
</ul>

<p>I attended a session by <a href="http://www.pocketpixels.com/" rel="nofollow">Hendrik Kueck</a> (creator of <a href="http://www.pocketpixels.com/ColorSplash.html" rel="nofollow">Color Splash</a>) at <a href="http://360iDev.com" rel="nofollow">360iDev</a> on this topic specifically. It was called "<em>Effectively using videos to explain and market your app</em>". You can <a href="http://360idev.com/session-videos#360idevaustin2010" rel="nofollow">buy that video online</a> for $3.50. It goes into a lot more detail and explains everything really well (and may even correct me on a couple points.) It is a deal at 10x that price.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-03-08T19:11:58.400Z
Wow, great stuff, thanks! I will definitely check out the video and go through all of your advice carefully.
Dan Rosenstark
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-03-08T19:18:24.603Z
Also I just added a link as a comment to my question a friend sent me...
Dan Rosenstark
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-03-08T19:20:05.227Z
@Yar: I was just reading that article. Looks to have some good information too. I am going to be shooting similar video here soon, so am researching this again too.
Jim McKeeth
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-03-08T19:47:01.650Z
a friend has also suggested I try a "softening filter" and "UV filter", i.e., hardware. Thoughts?
Dan Rosenstark
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-03-08T20:05:36.763Z
@Yar: I haven't tried. Get that video by Hendrik and I bet he has his email address in it and you could email him. He does a fabulous job on his videos.
Jim McKeeth
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-03-14T01:53:36.777Z
After lots of testing and fiddling with a T2i, I actually got better results with my Sony DSC-WX5. Batteries are cheap and it does AVCHD, but it just contains less artifacts the the Digital Reflex. Weird. Anyway: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bRIa7y4tLM Not 100% pro, of course... anyway, iPad upside down, some ambient light, a nice distance away, and brightness at 50%. It's a 1-minute video only... Still exploring though...
Dan Rosenstark
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-03-08T19:06:13.963Z
2012-03-08T19:19:05.790Z
2012-03-08T19:19:05.790Z
Jim McKeeth
<p>I have been making some movies of my iPad for promotional videos and they all range from bad to worse in terms of video quality. I have used compact cameras and camcorders with pretty similar results. </p>

<p>Most of the stuff I shoot is AVCHD 1920x1080 at 30fps. The camera is positioned to take in the whole screen of the iPad and little (or nothing) else.</p>

<p>The other day I borrowed a Canon REBEL T2i, thinking that the results were going to be fantastic. They were not. There is a weird strobey effect (NO idea why that would appear <em>more</em> with this camera shooting 30fps than with any other one), and the clarity is not great. In fact, it may look better with a $250 Sony pocket camera I have.</p>

<p>Which got me to thinking: I really haven't the slightest idea what I'm doing. </p>

<ul>
<li>Should the room be dark or light? Or should there be light coming from some specific direction?</li>
<li>Should the iPad's brightness be high, medium or low?</li>
<li>Should the camera be as close to the iPad as possible, while still being able to get focus, or a few feet away?</li>
<li>Since the DSLR has SO many manual settings, what adjustments should I be trying to make?</li>
<li>Since the DSLR has interchangeable lenses, what kind of lens is really appropriate for this sort of thing?</li>
</ul>

<p>I could go on, but I really don't even know the questions to ask. A bit of guidance or orientation or some links to read (that are not 400-page books, unless they are titled "How to Make a Video of a Tablet") would be appreciated. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-03-08T19:14:06.807Z
http://viewstream.com/blog/index.php/2011/12/how-to-record-an-ipad-screen/
Dan Rosenstark
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-03-12T18:46:56.033Z
Related: http://avp.stackexchange.com/questions/3065/how-do-i-record-a-computer-monitor-without-banding-flickering-with-a-canon-t2i-5
Dan Rosenstark
<video><ipad>
How to make a video of an iPad (or other tablet) screen
Dan Rosenstark
# How to make a video of an iPad (or other tablet) screen

(Asked by: username_0 on 2012-03-08)

I have been making some movies of my iPad for promotional videos and they all range from bad to worse in terms of video quality. I have used compact cameras and camcorders with pretty similar results.

Most of the stuff I shoot is AVCHD 1920x1080 at 30fps. The camera is positioned to take in the whole screen of the iPad and little (or nothing) else.

The other day I borrowed a Canon REBEL T2i, thinking that the results were going to be fantastic. They were not. There is a weird strobey effect (NO idea why that would appear *more* with this camera shooting 30fps than with any other one), and the clarity is not great. In fact, it may look better with a $250 Sony pocket camera I have.

Which got me to thinking: I really haven't the slightest idea what I'm doing.

* Should the room be dark or light? Or should there be light coming from some specific direction?
* Should the iPad's brightness be high, medium or low?
* Should the camera be as close to the iPad as possible, while still being able to get focus, or a few feet away?
* Since the DSLR has SO many manual settings, what adjustments should I be trying to make?
* Since the DSLR has interchangeable lenses, what kind of lens is really appropriate for this sort of thing?

I could go on, but I really don't even know the questions to ask. A bit of guidance or orientation or some links to read (that are not 400-page books, unless they are titled "How to Make a Video of a Tablet") would be appreciated.

**Tags:** video, ipad

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: http://viewstream.com/blog/index.php/2011/12/how-to-record-an-ipad-screen/  
> **username_0**: Related: http://avp.stackexchange.com/questions/3065/how-do-i-record-a-computer-monitor-without-banding-flickering-with-a-canon-t2i-5  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2012-03-08. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

From what I recall

* The room should be dark, so the tablet is the light source.
* Experiment with the brightness, but usually low is the way to go.
* Camera doesn't need to be extremely close, but the more zoom you use the more obvious vibrations will be.
* Put the DSLR in manual focus and adjust it so the tablet is just slightly out of focus - this will remove the moire effect.
* You want a short depth of field. This is achieved with a lower F-Stop (larger aperture opening).

I attended a session by [Hendrik Kueck](http://www.pocketpixels.com/) (creator of [Color Splash](http://www.pocketpixels.com/ColorSplash.html)) at [360iDev](http://360iDev.com) on this topic specifically. It was called "*Effectively using videos to explain and market your app*". You can [buy that video online](http://360idev.com/session-videos#360idevaustin2010) for $3.50. It goes into a lot more detail and explains everything really well (and may even correct me on a couple points.) It is a deal at 10x that price.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Wow, great stuff, thanks! I will definitely check out the video and go through all of your advice carefully.  
> **username_0**: Also I just added a link as a comment to my question a friend sent me...  
> **username_2**: @Yar: I was just reading that article. Looks to have some good information too. I am going to be shooting similar video here soon, so am researching this again too.  
> **username_0**: a friend has also suggested I try a "softening filter" and "UV filter", i.e., hardware. Thoughts?  
> **username_2**: @Yar: I haven't tried. Get that video by Hendrik and I bet he has his email address in it and you could email him. He does a fabulous job on his videos.  
> **username_0**: After lots of testing and fiddling with a T2i, I actually got better results with my Sony DSC-WX5. Batteries are cheap and it does AVCHD, but it just contains less artifacts the the Digital Reflex. Weird. Anyway: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bRIa7y4tLM Not 100% pro, of course... anyway, iPad upside down, some ambient light, a nice distance away, and brightness at 50%. It's a 1-minute video only... Still exploring though...  

---

### Answer by username_1 on 2012-03-13. Score: 1

Even better is to use a HDMI capture device like a Blackmagic Intensity. Plug the iPad (or any tablet with HDMI output) into it and away you go. Perfect screen capture.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Yeah, the problem is that you lose the finger (um, that doesn't sound right). It's a reasonable suggestion, though, but the units are $200...  
> **username_1**: The finger isn't that important, is it? If anything, the finger/hand gets in the way of seeing what's on the screen. Plus the quality of a capture via HDMI will look perfect, 1:1 copy - where as you've found with a video camera, there's so many variables that can change the quality.  
> **username_0**: the finger is pretty important for demoing, otherwise I'd use the iPad Simulator, which is beyond perfect (though hard to pinch and zoom)  

---

