HDCAM and the BBC


	Cow Forums : HD High-End << PREVIOUS THREAD • VIEW ALL THREADS • PRINT • NEXT THREAD >>

HDCAM and the BBC
by Stuart Bruce on Sep 2, 2009 at 12:03:10 pm

Hello

I'm trying to piece together a jigsaw based on limited information about whether we can shoot a show for the BBC on HD CAM (not SR) cameras. Please bear with me as I'm new to this.

We haven't had our contract through from the BBC yet, but point 1.1 on the BBC's HD guidelines is that delivery has to be HDCAM SR, and that non-SR is no longer accepted.

Non-SR HD CAM is much more compressed than SR, and unless I misunderstand compression entirely, once you've compressed your picture, you won't get that quality back. Or have I missed something?

So in order to deliver a full-quality HDCAM SR master, we have to shoot our footage on SR tapes. No?

Also, the AJA Ki Pro tapeless deck. The Ki Pro's 4:2:2 recording, plugged into the HD SDI of a Sony HD camera (don't know which one except that it's a "900", that's all I've been told)- would that be better or worse than a (non-SR) HD CAM which is (I think) 3:1:1?

I'm cross-posting this in the HD High-End forum in the hope somebody can enlighten me, as, as you can tell, I haven't got my head round this yet.

Stuart

Respond to this post • Return to posts index

Re: HDCAM and the BBC
by Mads Nybo Jørgensen on Sep 2, 2009 at 12:19:57 pm

Hey Stuart,

It really depends on what you are shooting :-)

However, the HD-CAM SR reference is for final delivery of Master tape, not for shooting format - i.e. depending on what you are shooting, BBC should accept both HD-CAM and DVC-PRO HD. + I am sure that they are using formats such as the EX and XD cameras.

All the Best
Mads
London, UK

Mac Million Ltd. - HD Production & Editing
Please watch our Showreel here: http://reels.creativecow.net/film/1145
Blog: http://macmillionltd.blogspot.com

Respond to this post • Return to posts index

Re: HDCAM and the BBC
by Stuart Bruce on Sep 2, 2009 at 1:07:54 pm

Thanks very much for the response, it helps a lot.

Do the BBC have something as simple as a list of accepted HDCAM cameras?

Respond to this post • Return to posts index

Re: HDCAM and the BBC
by Mads Nybo Jørgensen on Sep 2, 2009 at 1:15:17 pm

Hey Stuart,

IMHO the BBC creates their own laws depending on what suits them best - normally this will be driven by the wish to keep the production budget down. You'll need to negotiate what format to use with the commissioning editor and their tech team.

However, I would expect any HD-CAM camera recording 25P or 50i to pass the quality test. The only thing to look out for is a good lens and decent audio + a good crew that knows what they are doing...

All the Best
Mads
London, UK

Mac Million Ltd. - HD Production & Editing
Please watch our Showreel here: http://reels.creativecow.net/film/1145
Blog: http://macmillionltd.blogspot.com

Respond to this post • Return to posts index

Re: HDCAM and the BBC
by Robin Probyn on Sep 3, 2009 at 7:57:06 am

Hi there

Ive shot for the BBC with HDCAM and DVCpro HD... I would think these two formats would account for a very big percentage of their programs,and are pretty much universally accepted eg Nat geo/Discovery/History channel.With the 2/3 inch chip XDCAM no doubt making ground.Not sure exact numbers but for HD some channels will allow a percentage to be HDV/non HD.. around 15% I think but dont quote me there.

In my experience anyway.. these days most HD is shot 25p(PAL).. for Europe.. not always.. so worth checking ..

Respond to this post • Return to posts index


	<< PREVIOUS THREAD • VIEW ALL THREADS • PRINT • NEXT THREAD >>