Re: Codec - price

Hi Mads,

Happy to see you're getting some answers here! In all reality, the codec (whether EX1 or 5D2) will produce artifacts in post if you really push it. At 4:2:0 8-bit, there's just not a lot of room there. Compression blocking may become more apparent as well when pushing it. And by pushing it, I refer to sever color-timing/grading. Here are some things that will help you out though (at least with the 5D2)...

- Change your picture profile to a more linear setting. Reduce the saturation and definitely reduce the contrast. By default, the 5D2 is overly contrasty and saturated. Creating a more linear profile will help maintain some latitude in post for color-timing and such.

- If you're shooting mostly white in the shot, change the 5D2 to Highlight Priority Mode. This will increase your latitude in those whites from blowing out. Keep it in check though as it'll produce some added noise in the shadows, if shadows exists.

- Batch-transcode your shot footage to 10-bit 4:2:2 ProRes HQ. This will give you a tiny hair of added playing field when color-timing the edited footage. You shouldn't be editing in the native H.264 codec anyway, but regardless, using the higher ProRes HQ codec may help out a little.

Hmmm, I might be missing something here off the top of my head, but that should get you in the right direction!

Oh and FWIW, one option for "client dubs" of the raw footage for them to take would be the use of an external BluRay drive, if they themselves have a BluRay reader. If it's a repeating client and the need is high for such dubs, then that could be a viable solution. Alternatively, the client can buy their own CF cards to which you can copy the footage from your CF cards to theirs. Just thinking out loud.