[James O’bryan]

Hmmm. That’s curious. Thank you for your speedy response. I don’t know much about using the fire store because I’m at the post end of things and I don’t get a lot of opportunity to test these things out. However, when I did test slow motion, set at 60fps 720/24p, the camera wouldn’t actually record in slow motion. When I viewed the playback in camera from the P2 cards it looked normal and played back at normal speed. I then decided to check the camera manual and found out that the camera, according to the manual, has to be in either 720/30pn or 24pn in order to perform an affective variable frame rate. So, I don’t really understand how you were able to capture slow motion, 60fps for sake of argument, in the 720/24p mode. I know the camera will allow you to change the frame rate when you’re not in native mode but I didn’t see any change in speed. Maybe it has something to do with going to the P2 card vs. the firestore. I don’t know. Anyway the reason why I’m persisting with this is because I’m a post coordinator for a small group of editors and we just went through a shoot where the DP claimed he shot 60fps to achieve slow motion to the P2 cards. However, when I ingested the footage it did not play back in slow motion. Weird. So I was wondering if you might know why? I know the DP shot everything 720/30p which makes sense because everything imported as 29.97. Then when he went to do the slow mo shot I think he only changed the frame rate to 60fps and forgot the mode change to 720/30pn. That’s my guess anyway, so what do you think? The other clue also is that the clip came in with audio recorded by the on-board mic which apparently is impossible, the camera will not record sound in variable frame rates. So, I would love to know what you think, because if there is a way we can convert the clip somehow to regain the slow motion effect that would be super. Thanks again for your help.
Cheers,
James.

[James O’bryan]

“Look for 720P/24PN or 720P/30PN on the menu. Set your camera to 720P/24 not 24PN and be sure that the User Bits are in Frame Rate. If you have the 3.0 version, this should do it for you.”

Jan, I just read your message about the 720/24p vs 720/24pn as it relates to shooting slow motion or any variable frame rate for that matter. As far as I know from my own testing and other docs I’ve read, you have to be in 720/24PN or 30PN mode in order to achieve the variable frame ability of the camera. This contradicts what you’ve written here. I’m not sure if I read your message incorrectly, or maybe there is some loop hole I’m unaware of with the camera’s ability to over or under crank. I’m not trying to be confrontational by any means, I just want to clarify my own findings to make sure I’ve got it right in my head as to what the camera is doing. Could you comment on this for me when you have a chance.
Cheers,
James.