[Will Schmidt]

If that’s the case. What SD codec is it best to transcode to in preparation to encode for DVD? Previously I’ve tried uncompressed SD and DVCpro50.

I have tried numerous times to simply transcode with Compressor and when it works I’ve always had poor results. Often Compressor gets hung up and gives me stupidly long times to do the job. I’m on a Mac 2x3Ghz Quad Core so I wouldn’t think transcodes should be taking 10s of hours.

I’m certainly happy to try Compressor again, I’ve looked at all the settings very carefully but must be missing something. What codec and settings do you think will do the job properly for me?

Thanks again for your help.

[Will Schmidt]

Hello Daniel, thanks for the response.

I’m down converting using a Squeeze preset for large 16×9 with the frame size of 720×480 at 29.97 frame rate.

The editing time line corresponds to the DVCpro HD 1080 60i, odd field interlace specs of the footage and all looks great while editing and on QT conversions. It’s now when I’m down converting and encoding for DVD that the problems arise. I understand you shouldn’t have to deinterlace for DVD but the encodes look really bad when I don’t.

I have the upgrade deinterlace for Squeeze and it helps a bit but doesn’t get rid of the problem totally.

Will

[Will Schmidt]

Thanks Don,

For some of my recent footage I suspect it may have been a case of leaving the direct menu on AGC which over rides the normal menu setting. I’ve been tending to shoot with -3db but still think the noise is more than it should be. May have to get to a rental house and compare to another camera in order to be certain what I’m getting is normal for the EX.

Cheers,
Will

[Will Schmidt]

I’ve had my EX1 for about a week, and am very pleased. IMHO a high quality feature rich camera at a reasonable price. Hope it proves to be as robust as other Sony Cameras I’ve used over the years.

Relieved to report the camera doesn’t exhibit the vignetting problems mentioned by other early purchasers.

Solid construction puts it on the slightly heavy side however I actually like that since it forces you to hold the thing properly.

Rotating grip, forward placement of the LCD (similar to the Z1),lens controls well positioned on the side and underneath all combine for a nicely designed package for hand held shots.

Beautifully sharp LCD with expanded focus viewing is great.

Manual focus and professional iris control, very nice!

Menu selector drum on back is too small and fiddly, the toggle selector on top is much better.

Camera/off/Media switch although recessed for protection is also a bit fiddly.

14x lens is quite short but I guess that’s part of the compromise for overall size and 1/2″ chips, so I can’t
quibble.

Auto focus is a bit slow and easily confused, solid manual focus overrides that issue for me.

Would have been nice to see a momentary auto iris switch.

That’s about it

Cheers,
Will