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public opinion poll: XDCAM vs. P2
I have a question for FCP editors. I’m considering making a new camera purchase. From an editing standpoint, which recording medium is better? XDCAM or P2? (I realize there are many codecs that this is enveloping. So I guess we’re talking about DVCPRO HD vs. HDV (is that XDCAM 35Mbps?). I realize that I can use a capture device from AJA or Blackmagic and get any flavor of HD that I want. )
– Which gives better looking images?
– Which is more reliable?
– Which is better on storage space or system resources?
– Which is more flexible (converting from one format to another, downrezing for SD, using in compositing, etc.)
– Which is better for archiving?-Trevor Ward
Red Eye Film Co. -
21 Replies
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– Which gives better looking images? and when you’re done with this one you might want to check out a bare fist boxing match!
– Which is more reliable? in what sense? image quality or recording format or ?
– Which is better on storage space or system resources? for better on storage space the nod would go to XDCAM HD, for better on system resources the nod goes to DVCPRO HD by a mile
– Which is more flexible (converting from one format to another, downrezing for SD, using in compositing, etc.) ? much of a muchness … though DVCPRO HD’s 4.2.2 sampling vs current gen XDCAM HD’s 4.2.0 should give it the edge for compositing
– Which is better for archiving? to what?
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David Roth Weiss
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[Trevor Ward] “- Which gives better looking images?”
Neither. It’s all in the hands of the camera operator. Lousy camera operators or those who don’t know how to properly use a specific camera can make lousy pictures with any camera.
[Trevor Ward] “- Which is more reliable?”
P2 is very reliable, no clue on XDCAM
[Trevor Ward] “- Which is better on storage space or system resources?”
For what, in the system? Both have about the same storage requirements
[Trevor Ward] “- Which is more flexible (converting from one format to another, downrezing for SD, using in compositing, etc.)”
If you have a system like the AJA Kona’s then all of this doesn’t matter. You let the hardware do all the conversion for you.
[Trevor Ward] “- Which is better for archiving?”
They’re both digital files, can’t see one being better than the other.
I can tell you that the P2 workflow is much more widely used than XDCAM. The biggest question you have to ask is what is your area using? If it’s predominately XDCAM, then you want to go that way. If it’s predominately P2 you probably want to look at that.
I don’t see either as better or worse. They’re both digital formats. Personally I like Panasonic cameras over Sony so for that reason, I like P2 more.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Biscardi Creative Media
HD and SD Production for Broadcast and Independent Productions.STOP STARING AND START GRADING WITH APPLE COLOR Apple Color Training DVD available now!
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[Trevor Ward] ”
– Which gives better looking images?”Depends on the operator…but given the same operator, the Sony EX1 has VERY sharp images. So much so that I know actors must hate it. I know they hate the Varicam.
[Trevor Ward] “- Which is more reliable?”
In what way? That is too broad a question.
[Trevor Ward] “- Which is better on storage space or system resources?”
They are about equal in that…DVCPRO HD from the HVX might take up more space…a little more. But then it is a 4:2:2 image, not 4:2:0…more information to store. I find that a key element to the HVX.
[Trevor Ward] “- Which is more flexible (converting from one format to another, downrezing for SD, using in compositing, etc.)”
HVX-200…without a doubt. The LOG GOP of the EX1 doesn’t lend itself well to conversion (takes a LONG time). It will allow you to import as ProRes, but that takes up a LOT of space. Although you can also do the final render as ProRes as well. But conversion…long encode times. And as for compositing, neither one is ideal for that…both highly compressed forms of HD. DVCPRO HD is better though as it has more color data to work with. In my experience. I have only heard from EX1 users, never dealt with it. I need to.
[Trevor Ward] “- Which is better for archiving?”
I’d say both are equal on that front. Both are tapeless and need to be archived to hard drives, data tapes, or Blu-Ray DVDs.
Shane
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We’ve been using P2 for the majority of our projects, but recently had the chance to try XDCam HD. Importing the footage was pretty straight forward, basic editing was fine, and getting our Kona 3 configured correctly also went smoothly. There were two areas where I found P2 to be more desirable over XDCam. 1. Render times were longer with XDCam. 2. The quality of rendered video, in our opinion, is better with P2.
Lon Keller
Chief Editor / Producer
Sundog Studios -
[Trevor Ward] “I have a question for FCP editors. I’m considering making a new camera purchase. From an editing standpoint, which recording medium is better? XDCAM or P2? (I realize there are many codecs that this is enveloping. So I guess we’re talking about DVCPRO HD vs. HDV (is that XDCAM 35Mbps?)
XDCAM is not HDV. Keeping it short:
HDV2 (the format Sony uses) = 1440×1080, 4:2:0 @ 25Mbps
XDCAM HD = 1440×1080, 4:2:0 @ 35Mpbs
XDCAM HD (new spec coming at NAB) = 1920×1080, 4:2:2 @ 50Mbps
XDCAM EX = 1920×1080, 4:2:0 @ 35MpbsWhich is better on storage space or system resources?
DVCPro HD is a 100Mbit codec and XDCAM HD is 35Mbit. So if you are shooting 1080i60 you’ll get about 50gig/hr and 15gig/hr respectively. XDCAM will be more proc intensive though due to the long GOP compression (so expect less RT and longer conversion times).
– Which is better for archiving?
I’d say XDCAM HD is because you shoot/record to disc so you have a physical master to put on the shelf. If you use XDCAM EX or P2 then you’ll have to either roll the footage out as video or use a file-based archiving method. But it ultimately depends on your workflow as to what is best.-A
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Thanks everyone for your feedback. I’ve realized there’s no perfect format. Each has its advantages and that makes a decision tough. 6 of one and half a dozen of another.
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Three years perfect workflow with p2 on different cameras in combination with FCP, not one file lost, file copies with no problems even in international changes.
I’ll recommend p2.
The only thing is, that sony has a 1/2 inch chip in the small HDV Panasonics 200 is a 1/3 inch chip. So in this example the sony gives a better image.
On the full HD cameras as the 3100 or 2100 Panasonic is far better (100 Mb/s) and it’s a 1080i Codec which is very common.
Sony always wants to do something on their own, own codecs, own special things, not really compatible. This is history, because Digibeta and Beta SP are dead.Rainer
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[Rainer wirth] “because Digibeta and Beta SP are dead.”
SP, yes – but I think we’ll be seeing Digibeta for a few more years yet! Calling it dead is jumping the gun a little…
-Simmie
3 MacPros – Kona 3 & Kona LH
2 G5s – Kona LH
2 G4s – Cinewave
xbox360, Wii, PSP, PS2
https://www.speak.co.uk -
[Rainer wirth] “This is history, because Digibeta and Beta SP are dead.”
Completely false and baseless information. Digibeta and BetaSP are FAR from being dead.
We are still delivering BetaSP masters monthly to broadcast clients.
We are about to deliver a brand new series to PBS on DigiBeta masters.
All Food Network programming is delivered via DigiBeta.
Just because you may not use or like a format does not mean it’s dead. It just means you don’t use it or don’t like it. Both formats are still widely in use today both at the local, corporate and national broadcast level. To say otherwise is simply spreading very bad information.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Biscardi Creative Media
HD and SD Production for Broadcast and Independent Productions.STOP STARING AND START GRADING WITH APPLE COLOR Apple Color Training DVD available now!
Read my Blog!
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