[Steve Brown]

OK, so here is the problem I am having with all of this. Does this mean that one is forced to shoot with a particular shutter speed in order to avoid these problems? That seems a little crazy to me. If I’m shooting at 24 fps (progressive), I generally have a 180 degree shutter angle equivalent to 48 fps. If I’m shooting at 30 fps (progressive), I do the same thing, so my equivalent shutter speed will be 60 fps. (OK, in reality the frame rates are fractional… but they are close to those rounded numbers – actual frame rates would be 23.976/47.952 and 29.97/59.94.)

I wouldn’t want to be forced to shoot at a shutter speed of 1/50th (or any specific frame rate) just to avoid artifacts. And what if I want to shoot for slo-mo? Normally, I’d shoot at 60 fps (progressive) with or without a 180 degree shutter angle. Is that going to be a problem also? Or will that faster shutter speed help to alleviate the problem as well?

Feel free to set me straight if I am misinterpreting any of this. These little quirks are why I have stayed away from the smaller cameras in the past, but I’d sure like to have a quality HD camera to carry on hiking trips, kayaking trips or other adventures where a full sized HD camera just isn’t practical.

Steve Brown
10-20 Productions

[Steve Brown]

Craig,

Thanks for the info. I guess I need to see the camera myself and use it enough to see if problems I’ve heard about have any validity. I have seen some problems with the HDX900s also and careful adjustment of detail coring has helped tremendously with things like trees with blowing leaves and other high detail subjects.

Do the EX series cameras have adjustment for “detail coring” and “level depend”?

Steve Brown
10-20 Productions

[Steve Brown]

Craig,

Are you referring to the XDCam, XDCam HD or XDCam EX? I have never heard of this problem with XDCam or XDCam HD, but I seem to be hearing a lot about this problem with the EX versions of XDCam. From what I am hearing, it sounds as though the problem is the internal long GOP recording process – similar to motion artifacts seen with HDV.

Keep in mind, I have not seen this problem with the Sony EX cameras. I have only seen those cameras a couple of times and there was not enough motion to be a problem in either case. I have seen the problem with JVC 250 cameras, however… and I understand that this problem is essentially expected in the HDV format.

Someone please set me straight if this is not correct!

Steve Brown
10-20 Productions

[Steve Brown]

Adam,

I don’t have a great deal of experience with that camera, but I can speak from experience with other HD cameras. I own two Panasonic HDX900s and they shoot 29.97fps and 59.94fps, even though the menu choices are 30 and 60 fps. That is actually normal and it is most likely the case for the EX-1 and EX-3.

The only camera I know of that has the option to shoot true 30 and 60 fps is the Varicam (it actually shoots either way) and I believe the Sony F900 also has that option. For compatibility with NTSC broadcast, 29.97 and 59.94 are best, although that may be a bit of trouble for your special effects.

Can FCP import as 30 instead of 29.97 or can you do a “fit” function after importing? After all, your FCP can do pull downs and reverse pull downs with 30fps converted to and from 24fps, right?

Steve Brown
10-20 Productions

[Steve Brown]

Hey guys,

I wonder if someone can clarify this for me. I was considering buying an EX-1 or an EX-3 for use as a POV camera, but this business of motion artifacts due to long GOP scares me a bit. Do you mean you have to use a particular shutter speed to avoid these artifacts? In my world, shutter speeds are not used for that purpose and I’d hate to have to use a 1/50th when I want 1/30th, 1/48th or 1/60th, etc.

Am I missing something here?

Steve Brown
10-20 Productions

[Steve Brown]

Hey Mike,

As you could probably tell from my post above, I’m a fan of the Flash XDR. When will it actually start shipping? And what about the Nano Flash? I use Panasonic HDX900s, so I don’t have the Long GOP issues, but there are some issues with DVC-ProHD too. I’d love to be able to by-pass that.

Steve Brown
10-20 Productions

[Steve Brown]

Hi Richard,

I’m not sure about your major issue, although I do agree it is probably caused by compression. The compression should be bypassed by going HD-SDI out. It would be unusual for compression to be applied to that output.

I looked at the Flash XDR at NAB and I was very impressed… I’m probably a buyer when they are actually available as it is the perfect solution for me. I have two HDX900s, which record on tape only (DVC-Pro100). That system will accept audio and time code in the SDI stream, as most systems do. Of course, you’ll have to check to be certain the EX-1 actually provides those signals in the SDI stream.

The Flash XDR actually starts recording when it senses incrementing time code, unless you are using the Firewire connection. And FYI… using the Firewire connection would not be recommended if you’re trying to get past the compression issues.

I’ll forward this link to a friend of mine who has an EX-1 and ask him for his $.02. Maybe he can contribute, as well.

Steve Brown
10-20 Productions

[Steve Brown]

Matt,

Thanks for the input. I find it interesting that even the Panasonic 64 minute HD tapes run only 32 minutes in the Varicam, as I assume they will in the 1400. I can only assume this is a throwback to the older Panasonic HD VTRs, with which I have no experience.

I am starting to wonder why there is still a special DVC-Pro HD tape available. Is there any advantage? Can the VariCam use the 66 minute large cassettes that I use in my AJ-SD93s?

Steve Brown
10-20 Productions

[Steve Brown]

John,

Thanks for the info! It is nice to know that I can use the same tapes in my SD-93 VTRs and the HD1400.

Steve Brown
10-20 Productions

[Steve Brown]

I think the original question may have changed, but I thought I would add my $.02 in case it is still of value.

The HDX900 defintely provides TC and embedded audio over HD-SDI. I see that regularly when I output HD-SDI from that camera to my Leader 5750 scope.

I can’t say that I am absolutely certain the camera provides both of those items via SD-SDI out of that same connector when the camera’s output is set to SD-SDI, because I don’t generally monitor that signal when shooting with that camera.

I can tell you, however, that the SDX900 does provide TC and embedded audio via SD-SDI, so I would find it hard to believe that the HDX900 wouldn’t do that. If you still need to know whether the SD-SDI signal (from the HDX900) provides TC and embedded audio, let me know and I can check for you.

As far as firewire is concerned, I can’t help you at this time. I own both of the cameras but I don’t have anything to capture from at this time. I will have an AJ-HD1400 in about ten days and I’ll be able to check some of that at that time. Hopefully, that VTR will be used to capture to my HD footage to FCP systems in the area.

I hope this helps.

Steve Brown
10-20 Productions