When I watched the shuttle launch from Merrit Island one thing that impressed me was just how long I was able to see the flight. It was just before dawn and I expected it be gone in a minute or so, ...it seemed like a good 4-5 minutes before I lost sight of of the flight. I may have gauged it wrong, it was a emotional moment for me as I was thunder shaken to my core.
About film. -— You would be amazed at how much information you can extrapolate from film if you carefully examine it. Many of the questions raised the last few days could be answered from the complete footage, I don’t expect we’ll ever see it.
Anyway, I was pleased to see the second video posted.
I never got the chance to watch a shuttle launch. That would have to be the coolest event ever. It's climbing into orbit, unlike a commercial jet that's limited to the troposphere, so the horizon as we normally view it would not be an issue. That humongous belly tank of fuel feeding those engines would make some spectacular hell-fire for those 4-5 minutes. I doubt that you gauged anything wrong.
You are right; quality film can be analyzed practically to infinity, it seems. A commercial news-cam is better than a cell phone, of course, but not in the same league as a dedicated rocket tracking crew. But I know little about this, so I'll decide when I see it. Sooner or later. More information is always better thas less.