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Attention: Jan Crittenden
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I’ve done both online and offline editing for Varicam (and Cinealta) footage, and I can tell you flat out, that mini-dv downconverts of DVCPRO HD look so much better than dv, that there’s no comparison.
While it’s true that you’re compressing the footage twice, it still winds up looking way better. Not even slightly better, but a lot better. Formats higher than dv, when transferred to dv, still look pretty great. Just like if you went to the store and rented “Lawrence of Arabia” on VHS, it would look beautiful. Because although VHS is crappy, the material did originate on 70mm neg. Now compare that with something originally shot on VHS tape. Where you came from is as important as where you end up, resolution wise.
jeremiah black
dual 2 gig G5
2.5 gigs of RAM
Decklink Extreme capture card -
[jeremiah black] “I’ve done both online and offline editing for Varicam (and Cinealta) footage, and I can tell you flat out, that mini-dv downconverts of DVCPRO HD look so much better than dv, that there’s no comparison.”
One thing to keep in mind is that generally you are comparing something shot on a 2/3″ chip camera with (probably) really good glass on it, with the footage we see from fixed lens cams with 1/3″ chips.
That’s one thing that makes the HVX so curious to me, it will be great (for once) to be able to compare these formats under completely controlled circumstances. No more quess work as to what difference the chips/glass are making, because we can shoot both on the same camera now (well, not now, but by the end of the year).
Luis Caffesse
Studio 3 Productions, Inc.
Austin, Texas -
[Luis Caffesse] “One thing to keep in mind is that generally you are comparing something shot on a 2/3″ chip camera with (probably) really good glass on it, with the footage we see from fixed lens cams with 1/3″ chip”
This is a good point. There are several factors at work in image quality besides just resolution (and all the HDV fanboys who think that a $5000 HDV camera is better than a 30,000 SD camera just because it’s HD would do well to keep this in mind). Compression is one, chip size is another, color space is another, lens is another, resolution is another, etc. etc. So, although downconverts from the varicam have the advantages of coming from material with the advantages of (1) chip size (2) better lenses; the resolution of the source material is the same, as is the color space. So, while I don’t expect downconverts done on the HVX to look as good as downconverts from the varicam, I still expect them to look better than footage originally shot on mini dv.
But then maybe just mini dv footage shot straights from the chips (and not downconverted from P2) will be the best, since (a) it’s still coming from HD resolution and (b) it’s coming from a 4:4:4 space.
Like you, Luis, I’m eager to check out all the comparisons.
jeremiah black
dual 2 gig G5
2.5 gigs of RAM
Decklink Extreme capture card -
[jeremiah black] “Front mounted LCDs- mmmmmm, good stuff.”
Better yet, as I have previously advocated, all LCD monitors included with “prosumer and above” camcorders should be designed to be _detachable_, and thus be able to be mounted elsewhere on the camera.
All this would require is a relatively low-tech mounting system and coiled video cord, neither of which would add significantly to the cost of a camcorder.
Almost all new-model camcorders now include a built-in LCD screen. Unfortunately, their typically “fixed” location makes them useless about half of the time, especially in the case of a shoulder-mount camcorder. Even in the case of a handheld cam, a relocatable LCD would be tremendously valuable in many shooting situations.
It’s maddening that we have to pay for built-in LCDs which we often can’t use.
Of course, adding a second, redundant, extra-cost 3rd party LCD monitor can address this issue, but what a waste of money. Further, many of the mid-to-lower price 3rd party LCDs aren’t as good quality as the LCD built-into the cam.
Detachable LCD monitors with coiled cords — mmmmmm, even better stuff! 😉
All the best,
– Peter
Just a friendly reminder to all: Please consider filling-in your COW user profile information so we have a better idea who you are, where you’re from, and so forth. It’s the friendly thing to do. Thanks!
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[Peter DeCrescenzo] “Detachable LCD monitors with coiled cords — mmmmmm, even better stuff! 😉
“True!
jeremiah black
dual 2 gig G5
2.5 gigs of RAM
Decklink Extreme capture card -
My vote goes also to detachable!
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