Dumbed-Down HDV? Which way?

Grazie wrote on 12/6/2004, 10:51 PM
I guess this has been asked before . . but I can't get through the techno-info, "Is downconverted output from HDV better than footage shot in standard DV mode on the same HDV camera ?" - this is a question being asked in the UK .. .

Any takers?

Grazie

Comments

Barry_Green wrote on 12/6/2004, 10:56 PM
I may have the footage to answer that question, but first I'd have to clarify: when you say "down-converted", do you mean downconverted by the camera (i.e., shoot in HDV, output downrezzed DV in firewire) or do you mean edit in HDV, and make your final timeline output at DV resolution?
Spot|DSE wrote on 12/6/2004, 11:08 PM
You'll find that Vegas does a better job of downconverting than the camera does...
And if you look at some of the various pages of comparisons on the HDV portal, you'll see for yourself that the downconversion looks better than shooting in DV, or from shooting a DV camera next to an HDV camera, and then comparing the down rezed HDV to the raw DV image from the other cam.
I think I just confused myself. :-) But maybe it makes sense to you?
farss wrote on 12/6/2004, 11:10 PM
Yes.
I think SPOT mentioned that but also letting Vegas do the downconvert rather than the camera seems to give better results.
You do have another choice though, if you're going to DVD you'd get better results encoding from the HDV than converting that to DV and then to mpeg-2 .

[Edit] Damn you SPOT, posted while I was typing! Got a bit of a hands on with a Z1 today, typical Sony though, Pinnacle was the way to go they still seem to be saying, Vegas was on their stand if you looked real hard, well at least it was there.
And then to cap it all of one of the presenters giving us all tips and tricks on shooting HDV says "There's no way to capture it yet!". This is at the same event that New Magic are showing off Vegas EDITING HDV and next to them is Canopus doing the same thing with Edius!!

[End Edit & Rant] Think I'll go and get very drunk now.
Bob.
Grazie wrote on 12/6/2004, 11:14 PM
. . ok . .this has been asked by no less a person than one of our "Fellows" from our Institute of Videographers . . I think it is a reasonable question . .

Thanks guys, I'll feedback your experienced & knowledgable replies . . .

Graham Bernard
PeterWright wrote on 12/6/2004, 11:29 PM
Sympathies Bob

Historically, Sony people over here have been similarly impressive - I'm hoping they've improved - I'll know by the time my Z1 has arrived.
puttes wrote on 12/7/2004, 3:04 PM
If you mean capture and edit in HDV and wire out to sd on master? Is tjhat what you mean Grazie?
Astronuts wrote on 12/7/2004, 4:13 PM
HI,

Another question regarding this - I'm assuming in the down-convert that something shot in the CF mode (25 where I am) will still need to be rendered out WITH FIELDS? Even though the image has been effectively de-interlaced - you would still render it out as PAL/25fps/Lower Field First/aspect DV widescreen etc. etc. yes?

Thanks,

David.