Imx 50 vs. Dvcpro50 codec

[Mark Raudonis]

Anders,

We’ve used both extensively. Our colorists will tell you that they prefer the DVCPro codec for it’s ability to “stretch” on the low and the high side. Meaning: You can pull more detail out of the blacks and seem to retain more detail in the blown out white (sky) areas.

By IMX 50 are you referring to the older tape based format? (Not the XDCAM disc based format?) If so,
I’d prefer the DVCPRO. If you really mean the XDCAM disc based format, then I’d prefer the post advantages inherent in a file based acquisition format.

Compared side by side, you probably won’t notice much of a difference. I would NOT recommend using different brand cameras and codecs in a multi camera shoot however. Scene to scene = OK.

Personally, I’d avoid this “mixed mess” if at all possible. But you probably already know that!

mark

[Anders Haavie]

Thanks for your answere Mark. Believe me, I would love to have only one codec but there is not much to do about that. The imx 50 format comes on xfile system, so we have to deal with both tapes and disks. The imx files will be a studio setting, and the dvcpro will be reality so at least, that will work out.

Anders

Xraid-Xserve-Xsan-Xeverything

[Mark Maness]

[Anders Haavie] “The imx 50 format comes on xfile system, so we have to deal with both tapes and disks.”

In this case, I’d capture the tapes to match the discs.

But normally, the question that would need to be asked is… what is the majority of the footage shot on IMX50 or DVCPro50? Based on that answer, your workflow should follow the majority.

BUT…. Since our workflows involve discs, its better to stay with that and match it. Now, there is a time when you don’t want to do that and this is working with HDV or XDCAM HD. In this case, if the footage has to be mixed, capture in something like ProRes or DVCProHD so that it is friendlier to edit.

_______________________________

Wayne Carey
Schazam Productions
https://web.mac.com/schazamproductions
schazamproductions@mac.com

[David Mansir]

We use a mixture of imx50 and DVCpro50. the Imx50 comes from an evs system and is the bulk of the material,
i.e. a studio record and 3 ISO records for a studio based weekly forum.
some of the smaller elements come in DVCpro 50 and graphics are animation codec.
when digitizing we opt to stick with imx50 for ease of editing as our turnaround is pretty tight but I agree dvcpro50 seems slightly better quality.