Yes, it’s the NOISE thing again…

[Todd Fry]

Hi David-

Yeah, I’m familiar with the limitations of the DVCPROHD codec. I’ve usually been able to compensate by switching to -3 and black balancing more often on the Varicam. Good lighting helps. Bigger CCD’s don’t hurt.

I think I accidentally answered my own question on a previous post- the 1080 footage looks cleaner simply because the “lower” resolution of 1080 is masking the noise. Upon closer inspection, it’s still there, it’s just “smoothed out” somewhat by the resolution blocking.

Funny thing is- when I sit back and actually WATCH what I’ve shot, I don’t even notice any of this. This camera really is amazing, and will cut VERY well with the Varicam. After the rather steep learning curve is accomplished on this thing (and it will be steep, even for the best DP’s), I think it’s really going to blow people away with what it can do. I’m blown away already, and I just got it.

Todd

[Drew Harty]

I read many reviews of the Dell 24″ monitor recently and all were positive except for how it displayed video–grainy and desaturated.

Drew Harty

[David Battistella]

Cinema D mode is designed to increase the Dynamic range and while keeping a nice film gama curve so this might help if it extends into the blacks. The Varicam, and the HVX with both have the “purpley blacks” problem but I do not see this as a huge issue. This will be easily corrected in post.

What I was suggesting with the AE thing is that perhaps you can replicate the DVCPRO codec problem to determine if it is the codec by rendering shades of blue/black/grey type gradients to the DVCPRO CODEC.

It is well known that even the brig brother Varicam had problems with solid blocks of color. I have seen big blockies in sceneswith predominant wall color. If the $90,000 big brother does it then I am sure we will start hearing reports from HVX users.

The DVC codecs are not without their minor limitations. In post we inist on capturing footage uncompressed because we want to limit or eliminate the incidence of picture degradation. The DVCPro codecs are very clean and very efficent for their size,

[Todd Fry]

That’s true when you plug a video source directly into the Dell via the on-board connectors (component, composite, S-vid) You need to use the AJA HDP or Blackmagic SDI-HD to DVI converter, then the video looks really good, even in a side by side comparison with my Sony CRT. The internal processors and scalers in the Dell are terrible. Color is very good, but I wouldn’t go so far as to say I’d color correct on it- still use the CRT for that, but I still keep the Dell up for reference, and it is VERY close.

Todd

[Gary Adcock]

[David Battistella] “I am starting to think it has somethiing to do with codec limitations. It is an 8-bit codec that is being recorded and with all of the compression involved, something has to give. “

comon David.

all “in-camera” recording formats are 8bit
you can only get 10bit out when using an external recording device.

Gary Adcock
Studio37
HD and Film Consultation
Chicago, IL USA

[Chris Borjis]

Yeah the Dell with a proper DVI feed is excellent and right up there with the Apple equivalent minus the apple price.

[David Battistella]

Gary,

I know that all the incamera’s are 8-bit and there are inherent problems with 8-bit (banding, etc). I wasn’t acutally stating this as a dig at the Panny codecs (which I think are awesome) but I was just suggesting that with ANY 8 bit codec you can run into these problems (noise, banding, gradient reproduction, etc.

Because the Panasonic codecs are so well optimized for size

[Christopher S. johnson]

I havent seen the HVX noise, so I can only theorize. I have this comment to make:

I have used the Standard Def Panasonic DVX-100 many times and find it to be noisy compared to other cameras. I think this is just a Panasonic thing. On the DVX-100 it actually lends to some of the film-feel of the camera. Many, many producers here in L.A. still love the look with the noise. Perhaps this is analogous to the HVX?

-Christopher

[Mike Schrengohst]

In 60i yes the DVX is somewhat noisy. When you do to thin and reduce the detail the noise will almost go away. Have HVX users found any difference in the noise when shooting Thick vs. Thin??

[Toke]

[gary adcock] “all “in-camera” recording formats are 8bit”

Hmmm, digibeta is 10b and so is Infinity…