OT: panasonic AJ-HD1400

[Bob Zelin]

yes, it will work fine, but it’s still DVCProHD, not HD Cam, or uncompressed HD native. This is a native 720p deck, but it can record at 1080i (and it’s 59.94, not 60). Buying a $25,000m Panasonic VTR is not a cheap way to do Sony HD layoffs.

Bob Zelin

[Jason Levy]

Hey Bob, thanks for those comments. Our need is not to master in HD but to shoot and capture in HD. The final product is SD for the moment. The HD origination is to allow for potential HD finishing in case of future sales.

I recognize that DVC Pro HD is a compressed format. Are there acceptance problems with it? I note that it is an accepted HD format for Discovery Channel and my impression is that they are fairly picky.

I am a a bit confused by the notion that the deck “is a native 720p deck, but it can record at 1080i”. What is “un-native” about it’s 1080i performance? What is the real meaning of that distinction? If you can clarify..

Thanks, Just starting to get the HD thing figured out. I need all the help and information I can get. Anyone know of a good website?

thanks,

Jason

[Bob Zelin]

Jason –
there are no pitfalls with 720p. 720p is fantastic, the DVCProHD codec is fantastic, and many people prefer the look of Panasonic Varicams at 720p, to Sony CineAlta’s at 1080i (I am not trying to start a format debate here – the CineAlta is fantastic too). If you are working with DVCProHD, and a Panasonic AJ-HD1400 VTR, you can just stay native 720p, and everything will work just fine. Almost no one can tell the difference. Most people I know NEVER use uncompressed HD – it’s either DVCProHD, or AVID codec’s like DNxHD 145 and 220.
Uncompressed is for the wonderful world of feature film production – and plenty of those guys work with the Panasonic Varicam.

Bob Zelin

[Kaspar Kallas]

I think bob made a little boboo
Usually panasonic get critized for their 1080 formats because the camera sensors are smaller than native or 1440 wide sensors, mening they do upscale the picture (dont rember if they use pixel shift on higher end products as well) anyway as DVCPRO HD codec does scale your image:
1080 is 1920×1080 and DVCPRO HD is 1280×1080 (60i) or 1440×1080 (50i)
720 is 1280×720 and DVCPRO HD is 960×720

BTW HDCAM is also 1440×1080(but different compression scheme / rate) and so is HDV(mpeg2), HDV 720 is full raster 1280×720

I personaly like DVCPRO HD better than HDCAM because there is more color information, (4:2:2@1280(1440)x1080) VS HDCAM (4:1:1@1440×1080)

-Kaspar

[Jason Levy]

THanks for that interesting note, Kaspar.

jason

[Jeff Bernstein]

Just to set the record straight, HDCAM color space is actually 3:1:1. Moreover, it has herendous color artifacts if you are trying to do chroma-keying due to the compression.

Jeff Bernstein

Digital Desktop Consulting
Apple Pro Video VAR
XSAN Certified

323-653-7611

[Kaspar Kallas]

the 3:1:1=4:1:1@1440(instead of 1920)x1080

-Kaspar