NEX-FS100 vs. EX1 (24 vs 35 megabits)

[John Lenihan]

The NEX-FS100 shoots in AVCHD and the EX1 shoots in MPEG2.

Both of these are compression technologies. However, AVCHD is considered to be twice as efficient bit wise than the MPEG2.

So, On the surface, it would seem the NEX-FS100 is storing the EX1 equivelent of 48 megabits per second.

John Lenihan

John Lenihan

LeniCam Video Productions
https://www.lenicam.com

[Peter Chambers]

[john lenihan] “So, On the surface, it would seem the NEX-FS100 is storing the EX1 equivelent of 48 megabits per second.”

Hence, a “better” image than the EX1’s 35 megabits per second…if I follow you correctly.

[John Lenihan]

That is what is implied all things being equal.

However, to say better picture one would have to compare more than bit rate. There is sensor, processor, lens, etc.

John

John Lenihan

LeniCam Video Productions
https://www.lenicam.com

[Peter Chambers]

Thanks John, that clears a lot of things up.

[Michael Palmer]

AVCHD (Mpeg-4) is the next generation of compression and it is more efficient at lower bit rates than Mpeg-2, however after 50 Mbps they both begin to even out. Convergent Design uses Sony’s XD Cam (Mpeg-2) encoder in the Nano Flash and it allows the end user to control the encoder from 18Mbps all the way up to 280 Mbps. Another feature of Mpeg-2 is that at 50 Mbps it produces 4:2:2 color space and at 100 Mbps you have a choice of either intra-frame or inter-frame compression.

It is my opinion that AVCHD 24Mbps is very even to the EX codec of 35Mbps. The FS100 uses a very large single sensor to produce full raster 1920×1080 HD and the EX uses 3 1/2″(1920×1080) sensors that some would argue has more RGB pixels represented within the 1920×1080 resolution. Both cameras produce amazing video.

Good Luck
Michael Palmer

[Michael Johnston]

AVCHD and XDCAM EX are, quality wise, basically the same. AVCHD allows you to capture more video per GB of media but is very hard to edit with on current systems because it’s so hard on CPU’s. XDCAM EX takes more space to capture but is much better in current NLE’s. PC and NLE technology will catch up very soon because AVCHD has been adopted as a consumer format so consumers need to be able to use it on their laptops. Once that happens, I think AVCHD will become one of the dominant formats. It’s new but here to stay.

[Michael Johnston]

I will ad that broadcasters and some professionals will fight against accepting AVCHD as an acceptable pro format for high quality acquisition simply because it’s used as a consumer format. However, it’s a fight they’ll lose. Eventually you’ll start to see places like Discovery Channel accept AVCHD cameras. Heck, Deadliest Catch is shot on HDV and the NX5U with it’s Exmor CMOS sensors capturing 1920×1080 AVCHD is far better quality than the 1440×1080 image they are currently using. No reason for them not to accept the NX5U. Only reason is to be stubborn, plain and simple.