HD camera format works best for FCP6?

[Thom Obarski]

We’ve used the P2 workflow since the day the HVXs came out, we loved it so much that we also bumped up to the HPX500 to be able to shoot 1080p footage dirt cheap. We’re now finishing the deliverables on our second feature using the HPX and if you’re comfortable with a tapeless workflow (although i do strongly recommend backing up your mxf data in 2 other locations off-site) I’d say that’s the way to go.

The HPX also outputs very nicely to Sony HDCam tapes for a nice upres to 8 or 10 bit uncompressed 🙂

“This is post, you can’t fix it after this.”

[Russell Lasson]

While XDCAM, HDV and DVCPROHD are all being used for broadcast, the most edit friendly of the three is DVCPROHD. I say this because it’s the least processor intensive of the bunch which means it’s easy to export and render clips.

Even if a show was shot on XDCAM or HDV, I’d be tempted to ingest them at DVCPROHD or PRORES as the editing performance it better.

But as I said, all three of the formats are being used.

-Russ

[Shane Ross]

I’ll throw my hat in the ring and say DVCPRO HD with the HVX-200. 4:2:2 color space…variable frame rate at 720p…a breeze to work with.

The HDV format is a pain to work with…unless you capture it as another format. 4:2:0 color space…log GOP (group of pictures)

Another camera to look at is the Sony EX. XDCAM…good in low light…great image. But again, Log GOP, 4:2:0 color space. But I hear it is a great camera. Requires FCP 6.0.2 to import the footage.

Shane

Littlefrog Post

GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD now for sale!
http://www.lfhd.net

[Thom Obarski]

Why go HVX when you could go HPX? You get the same DVCProHD codec but at 1080p instead of 720.

But I will agree with you on the HDV codec being the absolute worst thing in the world to work with. When it first came out I had computers crashing just trying to render cross disolves with that crap, I won’t even work with HDV anymore, blah.
~T

“This is post, you can’t fix it after this.”

[Shane Ross]

Thom…the HVX-200 shoots 1080 as well.

Shane

Littlefrog Post

GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD now for sale!
http://www.lfhd.net

[Thom Obarski]

You are correct, sorry I’m an editor not a cameraman.
I just love the P2 workflow.

Has the HVX always been able to shoot 1080 or is that a newer feature on these latest cameras. Our shop got them when they first came out not last July but the year before that and I’ve always gotten 720p footage from my boss. Did he waste 15k on the HPX?

lol, thanks for correcting me,
~Thom

“This is post, you can’t fix it after this.”

[Shane Ross]

The camera has always been able to shoot that format. It shoots 81 different formats…that’s what makes it so great. Variable frame rate is only available with the 720p settings.

Waste his money on the HPX500? Oh my no. Larger CCDs…better low light performance among other things.

Shane

Littlefrog Post

GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD now for sale!
http://www.lfhd.net

[Pete Sake]

Thanks for the info so far guys.
The EX1 is HDV 4:2:0
FCP with 4:2:0 video is hard to color correct I believe.
Whats your expierience working with HDV versus DVCPRO HD at 4:2:2.
I think the HVX500 is better video qualitry than Sony EX1.
Any thoughts appreciated
Thanks
Peter

[Russell Lasson]

[Peter Hitchcock] “Whats your expierience working with HDV versus DVCPRO HD at 4:2:2. “

Rendering HDV – bad
Rendering DVCPROHD – great
Coloring HDV – bad
Coloring DVCPROHD -better

-Russ