We commonly shoot our interviews for DVD extras on a Beta SP or DigiBeta camera. I'm thinking of replacing that with the Sony Z1 HDV. What are the resolution differences going to look like in my final product? I edit FCP 5 and typically master to DBeta on the way to DVD. Thanks!
Re: DigiBeta to HDV comparison? by SydneyS on Feb 2, 2006 at 4:39:18 am
Keep using your larger cameras, man... There may be more pixels in an HDV camera, (The small 1/3" chips) but to me, they still look like dv... just more pixels... I've made the comparison with the exact same formats you mention. There is no question as to the difference in quality. The larger cameras you are using will give you a much better image quality with the larger 2/3" chips. Besides, if your're going to end up on DVD anyway, you'll have to downconvert the HDV to 720X480, thereby losing your only advantage of going with more pixels. Soon, larger HDV cameras will be on the market with higher quality CCDs, but they're not here yet... Don't get me wrong, I really like the Sony HDV cameras... Use 'em all the time. They are just simply not a replacement for a larger, higher quality camera.
Re: DigiBeta to HDV comparison? by Borjis on Feb 2, 2006 at 3:08:16 pm
HDV, captured as SD or dubbed to SD Digibeta looks VERY close to Digibeta.
It's so close, that it takes an SDI monitor to be able to tell the difference IMO. There's just a subtle amount of noise in the HDV, but other than that you really can't tell.
For interviews this would be perfect for you as the camera doesn't need to move at all, keeping the HDV image as good as it gets.
Re: DigiBeta to HDV comparison? by Derek Antonio Serra on Feb 2, 2006 at 4:48:04 pm
Please guys, these kind of questions hark back to the early days on this forum. Be realistic - a Digibeta rig with a quality 2/3" broadcast lens up front costing about 10x the cost of the Z1 will generally provide better pictures. Resolution isn't everything. In the hands of a good DOP a Digibeta rig with provide top-end production value - seamless focus-pulls, no lens aberration, etc. The same DOP may well get very good results with a Z1, but he'll moan like hell and work a lot harder.
HDV compares amazingly well DV and DVCAM cameras like the PD170 and DVX100 - and knocks spots off them. That's because it's the next generation of digital video and is replacing DV. Digibeta is a format which will be replaced by XDCAM-HD if anything, so you should be asking: Digibeta to HDCAM-HD comparison?
Derek Antonio Serra
Filmmaker
www.controversifilms.co.za
www.indv.co.za
Re: DigiBeta to HDV comparison? by Steve Connor on Feb 2, 2006 at 5:20:31 pm
[Derek Antonio Serra]"Please guys, these kind of questions hark back to the early days on this forum. Be realistic - a Digibeta rig with a quality 2/3" broadcast lens up front costing about 10x the cost of the Z1 will generally provide better pictures."
Very true, but last year I cut two shows that used two Digi 790's and two Z1's and a PD170, the Z1's matched very well, the PD170 was nowhere near. I would imagine XDcam HD at 35mbs, with a good lens on the front to be stunning.
Steve Connor
Adrenalin Television
Have you tried "Search Posts"? Enlightenment may be there.
Re: DigiBeta to HDV comparison? by Jerry Alto on Feb 2, 2006 at 4:40:17 pm
Chris- I agree with Borjis on this. The key is to use the component analog downconvert feature in the camera. Then everything is real time. We shoot HDV with the Z-1's SD markers and go component out 8-bit uncompressed to FCP via AJA ioLA (you'll need a seperate firewire card for machine control-$20). Our experience is 'better than Betacam SP' and right there with DigiBeta.
Jerry
G5 Dual 3GB Ram
FCP5 Studio
External 1 TB SATA Raid 0
Kona LH, Second system w AJA ioLA
Sony Z-1
Re: DigiBeta to HDV comparison? by Craig Meadows on Feb 2, 2006 at 5:30:33 pm
We operate in a relatively small market and own and shoot both a SDX-900 and a Sony Z1. While we haven't used the Z1 extensively yet it's pretty damn good. We had a day shoot, run-and-gun style, only one softbox light source for interiors for a local :30 spot and went with the Z1. When we got back we were very impressed.
The end result is client perception and satisfaction, and in our case they can't tell the difference between the two cameras. All they know is that now we have a HD camera that shoots footage comparable or better in their minds to our SD unit.
We take the component hd analog outs through a AJA hd analog to hd-sdi converter feed that in to the hd-sdi input on the kona 2 and capture dvcpro100 hd, post, then downconvert realtime to SD for local dubs.
Technology has marched on. Is a new 1/3" chip hdv camera better than a older 2/3" sd camera? Probably not, at least not in the SD world. Is there a discernable perception by your clients that one is better than the other...in our case no. Do clients undersand HD, HDV, SD. . . no. Do clients buy in to "HD" marketing and think it's better?...yes.
In a small to medium sized market does the cost efficiency of a $5k camera make more sense than a $30k?..of course, simply more bang for the buck.
Take a look at the work people are doing with dv and hdv with the guerilla 35 adaptor at www.cinemek.com. There's some great DP work that few customers or audiences would be able to tell if it was dv, hdv, digibeta, dvcpro50, etc.
Re: DigiBeta to HDV comparison? by Jerry Alto on Feb 2, 2006 at 6:05:26 pm
Craig- Right on with the client perception. On our previous shoot with the client we shot Betacam SP. Our shoots were tough.... shooting in a retail environment with the store open for business. Obviously it limited our crew and equipment.
Bringing in the Z-1 was a bit risky but what really saved the day was a wide screen HD LCD monitor. All of a sudden the whole client team was gathered around the monitor staring and saying, WOW, that REALLY LOOKS GOOD! Not a single question on why the Z-1 and kudos for the finished SD results. David, we havn't delivered on HD yet. I can't wait to
shoot HD and go into FCP via the KonaLH real time DVCProHD. That workflow seems awesome and our present system should be able to handle it with ease.
Jerry
G5 Dual 3GB Ram
FCP5 Studio
External 1 TB SATA Raid 0
Kona LH, Second system w AJA ioLA
Sony Z-1
