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DVCAM 16:9 image degradation
I’ve shot a bunch of footage on my PD150 in 16:9. In order to do the 16:9 the camera has to enlarge the picture or some such thing and as a result, there is image degradation – digitized through firewire using DV codec it looks like horizinontal line duplication. Is there a way to fix this? Are there filters or is there a process I can emply to get rid of this problem?
Thanks,
Chris
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6 Replies
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The PD-150 is a 4:3 camera. It does not do 16:9 at all, it just basically crops the 4:3 image down and then blows it up, making a mess in the process. You’re far better off shooting 4:3 and cropping in post. Basically, nothing really can fix the mess Sony makes, other than using that famous “reshoot” filter. Sorry.
Graeme
– http://www.nattress.com – Film Effects and Standards Conversion for FCP
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Chris,
I have a lens adapter for my Panasonic DVX 100 which allows me to shoot true anamorphic. Works great, here’s one for your Sony.
https://www.centuryoptics.com/products/dv/16×9/16×9.htm
Have a wonderful day.
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I’ve used this century optics lens with the PD150 and have been very pleased with the results. They are rather expensive though, so look around on eBay etc …. at some point you have to decide if you invest more in this camera … or use this money towards a true 16×9 camera.
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Hi Graeme,
I’m curious about what you’ve pointed out here with Sony cameras. Are you saying that Sony DV cameras, when applying an “electronic” 16:9 aspect ratio, actually throw away about 1/3 of the resolution? Is this true of all cameras that do this electronically as opposed to optically? When about 16:9 capable Digibeta cameras? Is the same true for them?
I’m interested because I bought my son a Panasonic AG-DVC80 a couple of years ago, but was extremely disappointed to discover after I bought it that it’s 16:9 mode was really only letterboxed 4:3. I regretted not buying the Sony (VX-2000 I think?) because I thought it did true 16:9.
My son’s 21st birthday is coming up, and I was planning on buying him the Panasonic anamorphic lense for his DVC80. Have you seen any results from this combination?
Many thanks for any insight you can provide.
Michael Buday
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Some cameras crop, other cameras squeeze. Sony VX and PD series squeeze. There is a difference. Crop simply lops off top and bottom of picture. Squeeze maintains the full image but actually changes it to anamorphic BUT it’s using far fewer pixels on the chip to do that. End result is both cause image degradation but technically they are not the same. I’m not unhappy with the 170 squeeze because, under certain circumstances (shooting in dark clubs) I don’t see too much damage. The DVX series also does squeeze I believe and when doing it in progressive mode, seems to hold up well. All the above compromise the image though and any professional or person with a good eye, can see it.
Best is to get a camera with 16×9 chips. Cheapest is Sony PDX-10 but they’re small chips and the camera doesn’t preform well in low light. Although I really DO NOT LIKE HDV, the HDV cameras (and Panasonics PVCProHD HVX200 I believe) have 16×9 chips and can shoot 16×9 in DV mode natively.
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PD-150, 170 do it wrong, the Sony PDX-10 does real widescreen. High End Sony cameras do it right. I thinkt eh real issue with the 150 was not that it didn’t have real widescreen, but that it’s implementation was so bad as to severely degrade the image beyond just what teh resolution loss should do.
As for anamorphic lenses – they’re tricky to use. I’d certainly want to play with one first and find out it’s limits.
Graeme
– http://www.nattress.com – Film Effects and Standards Conversion for FCP
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