Re: HDCAM 3:1:1?

The trick here is, where did the footage originate? If we're talking 35mm telecine they need to deliver all FX plates on D5. Then rent a deck if need be for capture and record.

If it was acquired HDCAM you're going to gain very little by transfering to 720P. The resize down will, possibly, filter out some of the badness but the damage is largely done and can't be undone.

A friend of mine was the composite supervisor on MIRACLES, before it got canceled, which finished in HD. They delivered their FX plates in HDCAM, much to the pain of the folks actually having to do the work (which is not published fact you can bet on for EP2 as well). A couple days into trying to make HDCAM greenscreens work he was ready to commit murder.