[Devin Rice]

Thanks Harry,
Seems like we’re (once again) caught in the marketing spin that camera manufacturers and sellers are desperately throwing out to disguise the fact that none of these cameras have quite arrived at what we’re all waiting for: true high-definition video. 12-15 years ago we were all in a dither about what was “broadcast quality” video. Was it Beta SP? Was it Digi-beta? Truth is, they were broadcasting all kinds of video resolutions from cameras with all kinds of specs/limitations. Now, in the dawn of HD TV, everyone is prematurely claiming to have achieved “true HD”, but when really pressed to the wall, no-one, (at least in my research in the under-$20k-camera range), seems to be able to actually produce an uncompressed 1920 by 1080 native progressive output at 30 frames per second. (Someone please correct me if I’ve missed a camera out there that actually will!)

And spin doctors can get away with this because like “broadcast quality”, “HD” isn’t an exact standard with rigid specifications. At least it doesn’t seem to be if you read the hyperbole dished out by camera makers and sellers.

I know it will come, and it will be soon. Everyone’s racing towards the finish line. I just wish folks would be a little more honest before their camera actually arrives there.