XDCAM HD vs. DVCPro HD.. opinions please.
by Eric Steinberg
on
Jan 20, 2006 at 8:30:50 am
I'm considering cameras for my transition to HD. HDV is not an option, so right now I'm torn between Panasonic P2 which shoots DVCPro HD, and Sony XDCam HD. There are several pros and cons with both cameras I'm considering, but my question here is just basically about the quality of the footage itself. I read one place that DVCPro HD is the best compressed HD format available, but that was one man's opinion. What do you HD experts think? I do a lot of compositing/effects/greenscreen/color correction work (Adobe After Effects), and I've just recently ordered the new Matrox Axio editing system. So, as far how well the 2 HD compression schemes hold up, which is better: DVCPro HD, or XDCam HD?
Re: XDCAM HD vs. DVCPro HD.. opinions please. by Mads Nybo Jorgensen on Jan 20, 2006 at 9:40:46 am
Hey Eric.
XDCam HD is not really a solution - yet. OK, the marketing has started, but one has yet to see the results, and find a editing system that can work with the format...
P2 works on a number of editing platforms. Has expensive media, but that can always be backed up to cheaper data storage.
Re: XDCAM HD vs. DVCPro HD.. opinions please. by Blub on Jan 20, 2006 at 7:59:46 pm
I have used XD SD not the new HD format and find the XD very good. The image quality is smooth crisp and the colors are well presented. I did not know it was an mpeg format until, after weeks of use, I did some research.
If the HD XD form of this product is attentive to quality as the SD version is I guess it will be an excellent mid range HD choice.
We have all learned that the low end HD products HDV are a compromise, the high end as in HDCAM is superb, this is the mid range and it will almost certainly be better than HDV and not as good as HHDCAM CineAlta.
Regarding keying, the mpeg format might cause issues depending on the compression ratio. If you shot or receive footage that has used the highest compression my guess is that the key will need work on those frames that have a lot of motion of an object in front of a stationary background. Of course I could be wrong, I have not played with the new variant of the XD format. But before we see it this might be worth keeping in mind.
Slightly off topic, and a complete guess, I think Sony is going to offer the XDHD format as the next low end HD system. If Panasonic can sell $6000 HD cams Sony will want a slice of that pie, I think they will offer an XDHD format with smaller disks that will record only 20 minutes per 3 1/2 inch disk. I love competition.
Re: XDCAM HD vs. DVCPro HD.. opinions please. by Eric Steinberg on Jan 23, 2006 at 7:49:33 am
Thanks for everyone's input!
After finding out about the mpeg compression in the XD HD format, the scales are tipping over to the Panasonic HVX200...this week. ;-)
Re: XDCAM HD vs. DVCPro HD.. opinions please. by Bart Harrison on Jan 25, 2006 at 2:38:09 pm
[Blub]"I have used XD SD not the new HD format and find the XD very good. The image quality is smooth crisp and the colors are well presented. I did not know it was an mpeg format until, after weeks of use, I did some research."
Are you using 50Mbit XD ? At this bandwith SD is gorgeous but I have questions about 1080i HD at 35Mbit (and below). By-the-way we edit DV100 with our HDW-F500 HDCAM and it looks great. Panasonic compresses HD to 100Mbit (DVCPro 100) and Sony compresses HD to 143Mbit (HDCAM). In my opinion bitrates below 100Mbit, although appropriate for HD distribution, are simply insufficient for HD acquisition. My two cents !
Bart
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MPEG2 is more efficient than DCT by a factor of 2.5 so P2 has a slight edge in quality and since is 4:2:2 better chroma key capability.
1/2 versus 1/3 means more pixels and better low light perfomance for the XDCAM. Also less depth of focus for 1/2 inch CCD so more film like.
exchangeable lens and the ability to use 2/3 inch lenses with an adapter is bonus for XDCAM.
shouldermount vs lighter smaller camcorder is entirely up to your style of filming.
P2 vs Optical disc againg depends on what you're going to shoot but personally I find a big workflow issue with P2 (i.e. what do you give to customers? where to you archive? etc.)
Also bear in mind that in the P2 forum there is some speculation that HVX200 is in reality a 720p camcorder that internally upconverts to 1080i/p. I personally believe this to be the case but I'm not an expert.
