[Roger Tully] "I then batch trans-code them to ProRes 422 (HQ) at 1920x1080 using MPEG StreamClip before I inport them to FCP"
I would use Compressor before I used MPEG-Streamclip for this. MPEG Streamclip is fine for ripping DVD files, but I don't think it's as good for HD files.
There's also Telestream Episode Pro that we also use here and it has infinitely more controls than Compressor allowing us to tweak image settings even further.
But since you're starting out H.264, any conversion you make will most likely result in a softening of the image. It's missing a lot of information to keep the file sizes small so when you convert to something else, you're likely going to lose some more information and sometimes this results in an image appearing to soften. That's really the disadvantage of any camera that shoots native H.264 derivatives.
What happens when you export the file in full quality from FCP and then open that file in Quicktime Player? Does it appear sharper than it did in FCP? As others have noted, you absolutely 100% cannot trust the FCP Viewer or Canvas for final quality. it's designed to work with an external monitor. But Quicktime Player does generally show you the full quality as it would appear on a website.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
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