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Advice for Canon Vixia HF R20 Record Settings
We are experimenting with some “commodity hardware” for shooting corporate events and found that the relatively low priced Canon Vixia HF R20 encodes using h.264 in mp4 container which is useful for us.
My recording options are:
– 60i
– “PF30” which is described as “30 frames per second, progressive” but then it goes on to say “Using this frame rate, video is recorded as 60i”
– “PF24” which is described as “24 frames per second, progressive. Using this frame rate will give your recordings a cinematic look.” but then it goes on to say “Using this frame rate, video is recorded as 60i”I will likely pull these into Vegas for some touch up, but I’d like to avoid as much re-encoding time as possible.
Ultimately, we will re-encode these to a number of formats exclusively for the web:
– 240p
– 320p
– 480p
– 720pThanks in advance for any help you can provide!!
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10 Replies
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I’ve never used that camera but if your target is progressive web video, I would think the PF30 mode might produce the best results. Even though it’s being encoded to 60i the two fields are recorded at exactly the same time so they have the same temporal information and will look better for the web than normal 60i footage.
~jr
http://www.johnrofrano.com
http://www.vasst.com -
Since we have to re-encode anyway, I’m wondering if the 60i will be the best source. We are still running some subjective tests … I will report back.
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[Scott Mitchell] “Since we have to re-encode anyway, I’m wondering if the 60i will be the best source”
You run the risk of interlace artifacts since you already know that your delivery format will be progressive. Deinterlacing will always make the image softer if you use blends fields, or throw away half of your resolution if you use interpolate fields. It’s up to you but 60i is not the best format for delivering progressive video.
~jr
http://www.johnrofrano.com
http://www.vasst.com -
@ John Rofrano, you were correct. We used the “fake” progressive mode of PF30 as it produced better video.
== slm ==
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And, for anyone reading this post in the future, I would highly recommend the camera. Our “commodity hardware” test went really well. Here is the result.
Note that we captured the speaker w/ the Canon ($400) and the screen with an Epiphan device ($800). The camera was on maximum 20x zoom to get the speaker. We shot from the top of an auditorium. The “camera person” was someone who I grabbed at the beginning of the event to see whether the average person would be able to operate the camera.
https://azgroups.nextslide.com/state-of-the-union-scott-guthrie
What is cool is that we now can have many members of our technology community capture these events without the expense of professional gear … which is better than not capturing the event at all.
== slm ==
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This seems to conflict with what was said in this thread:
https://forums.creativecow.net/thread/24/943909
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[Mike Costantini] “This seems to conflict with what was said in this thread:”
I’m sorry I don’t have time to read two long threads and figure out what might be different about them. If you’d like to expand on exactly what you think is in conflict, I’d be happy to try and explain it. (unless it wasn’t something I said in which case I may or may not be able to explain what others have said)
~jr
http://www.johnrofrano.com
http://www.vasst.com -
From that thread:
“Actually, after playing with it for a bit, setting the project properties to “interlaced” vs “progressive” is a lot sharper in the vegas preview, and rendering out as “interlaced” as Sony AVC also plays back much sharper with Windows Media Player… confusing though. What the Hell is that PF30 mode on the Canon cameras supposed to do?”
What (the other) John was trying to determine in that thread is whether one should shoot in PF30 or 60i with the Canon XA10 (for utlimately viewing on a computer screen, not a TV) and then after that question is answered, what should the project properties be set to,, in order to achieve the sharpest picture. I noticed that PF30 doesn’t look entirely clear in the Vegas preview (set to best and full size) too….
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I just a couple of brief tests comparing the PF30 vs the 60i. The PF30 was noticeably more vibrant and bright compared with the 60i footage. Not sure why the big difference, but the PF30 is definitely the way to go. Is there a reason for the obvious difference? Everything else stayed the same, lights, camera position, etc..
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