[Christopher S. johnson]

You know, it’s not a dumb question. I too wish to know about options for 4:3. On the Sony HDV cameras, one has a choice of having a full SD 4:3 image, and gets guide lines in the viewfinder to boot (from what I have been told by owners).

What’s the word on this? Would we still need to go rent a DVX100a to do our SD 4:3 jobs?

-Christopher Johnson

[Christopher S. johnson]

One caveat to this is if you used Markers during the Log and Capture process. If FCP auto-makes new clips, the TC might be OK, but the Markers will not be. This just happened to me.

Also, if you know the camera person who is shooting with Free Run time code ask her to record at least 5 seconds before and after the real shot that is needed. It can make logging and capturing many, many times easier!!!

Good luck and welcome to the club!

-Christopher Johnson

[Christopher S. johnson]

——————————————–
QUOTE: mpjstuff

So when I hear that Apple is saying; “Lossless HDV editing”, I surmise that this means, I am getting the same results as if I converted the HDV to an uncompressed format, added filters and such and whatever else, and then exported. I think that is definitely possible. You might SEE artifacts in the timeline while you edit, but when you render out the file, it will render from the original.
——————————————-

If you’re speaking of rendering FX and filters in an HDV codec timeline, and exporting back to HDV tape, then you are definitely not getting anywhere near the quality of going to uncompressed. The video will be compressed by MPEG2 two times; once in the camera and once in the timeline. In fact, you might have to even call it an “offline” edit. I think, for FCP, a DVCPRO HD, or uncompressed are your only safe professional options to edit in.

-Christopher

[Christopher S. johnson]

Roman,

It is impossible for there to be lossless quality in an HDV codec timeline when you render an effect. I think there has been a misunderstanding. Nobody is expecting that. Even a DVCPRO HD timeline will be lossy.

-Christopher

[Christopher S. johnson]

Welcome to the wonderful world of editing video. You will either have to log around the break in your timecode numbers or trust FCP to make a new clip by selecting this option in user preferences. Did you know that FCP needs to have unbroken sequential numbers in the timcode? Just log around it with some padding and you’ll be fine.

-CJ

[Christopher S. johnson]

You know what Luis? I’m getting the impression from the guys over at DVX User that Panasonic is kind of sitting on this question. I do a lot of documentary and live performance, so this is a big deal for me too.

Jan, I know there must be a big internal debate in your company about this and I don’t envy your position. But I am responsible for making recommendations to at least three producers here in L.A. and one in Texas over the next few months on moving to budget HD solutions. And to have factual knowledge about whether real direct to disk recording is planned in the first release of the camera is a critical point in my report to them.

Again, nice product! Very cool. We love you for it. We just are trying to be responsible and figure out our workflows before buying.

Thanks,

-Christopher Johnson

[Christopher S. johnson]

But Ergonomics are important “I thought the iris dial was over here..” And often, beauty and ergonomics merge into the same thing. Remember the Hi8 Cannon A1-Digital Michael?

Speaking of ergonomics, where will you put your wearable hard drive; belt, backpack, sling, holster???

Where would have Kiki Stockhamer put her wearable hard drive???

-Christopher Johnson

[Christopher S. johnson]

Ah, spending more time at Starbucks and less at Ruta Maya, Luis? I figured you for a South Austin guy. 😉

-Christopher Johnson (who is amazed at the number of Austinites who haunt the Cow pastures)

[Christopher S. johnson]

Hmmmmm. Makes me all gushy inside.

Thanks Luis.

-Christopher Johnson (who is a former Austinite, now in L.A., missing Texas and funky Texans)

[Christopher S. johnson]

Seems to me that would be a big feature to talk about, saving a couple of thousand dollars in PCI cards and converters. And the Sony HDV cameras CAN’T do it. It’s kind of a major point for the budget minded.

-Christopher Johnson (who is not whining, but just curious) (he is actually is giddy about the camera)