.comment-link {margin-left:.6em;}

High Definition Video for Independent Filmmakers
A How To Guide for Digital Filmmakers
Welcome all! This is my blog to share my latest research,
thoughts, etc. on utilizing HD for independent filmmaking.

YES, I am available for consulting
Contact me at mike@hdforindies.com

All content copyright 2004-2007 Mike Curtis.

Monday, April 10, 2006

Texas Shootout Monday - Capture and teardown 

Monday was teardown day. Everybody came in about an hour or more later than they said they would, we were all exhausted. Adam looked over what I wrote earlier today and didn't have any violent reaction to it, so it probably isn't too far off the mark. Then we transcoded some footage from uncompressed to DVCPRO HD for him to take with him, captured footage from the Z1U so he could have that too, and copied over some previously captured HDV footage onto his FW800 drive.

We captured footage from some different cameras:

1.) XL H1 24fps - while the HD-SDI is 1080i60 (24p with 3:2 pulldown added as 24p or 24pA), when in 24F mode, Adam says they have a proprietary solution that allocates data rate optimally to the 24F frames per second. This also means you CANNOT record it from Final Cut Pro 5.0.4. 1080i50 yes, 1080-60 yes, no 1080F24 (frame mode) - so NOTHING comes in over FireWire, not even 60i with 3:2 pulldown. Same kind of problem with 24p on JVC GY-HD100U - can't record anything over FireWire in that mode...yet.

2.) Z1U - I like the location and functionality of the big flipout screen and playback controls - they're quite nice. I like the button location and wide, easy-hit button layout. I didn't like that the FireWire port wasn't responding. So we used the XL H1 to capture the footage - which for some reson surprised me. But it worked fine for 1080i50 and 1080i60. As for Z1U, somebody said "Dead FireWire? That doesn't surprise me." so apparently we are far from first or frontmost with this position.


I spent the rest of the day getting the place put back the way it was when we started and shutting down, disconnecting, and packing up my gear and borrowed friend's gear (thanks again Neil Halloran!), and returing Omega Broadcast Group's borrowed gear - two G5's with monitors, 3 HD LCD monitors, lighting gear, a million cables, their HVX200, their Z1U, their Varicam, etc. If you need video stuff, they've got it.

Around 8:30 I finally pulled out of Omega's lot in the U-Haul and headed to Neil's to drop off his gear.

It's 12:32pm as I write this, I am beat but happy and satisfied - I'll learn a LOT in the weeks to come from all of this footage.

But I've dozed off twice, so definitely time to go.

-mike
Posted by: Mike Curtis / 4/10/2006 11:27:00 PM
Comments:
The Dead firewire could be due to someone pushing the firewire socket into a computer the wrong way around. I've personally fried a couple of cameras' FW circuits by doing this. It is possible (if you're in a hurry, you push hard enough and you're not watching what you're doung, which is often if the socket is around the back) to push the computer end of the socket in the wrong way around. Funnily enough, it doesn't seem to affect computers' Firewire boards, which is annoying as often it's much cheaper to replace.
# posted by Blogger Dylan Pank : Tue Apr 11, 07:25:00 AM CST
 
Really looking forward to your post production comments on the footage you've captured.

I am really interested in just how far the footage can be colour corrected. I note your comments about the HVX colour reproduction but one of my main concerns with this camera is the noise and particularly in dark areas of the image or in low light. Similarly with HDV footage and its compression artifact noise, how far can the footage be pushed before this becomes a problem?

Did anyone measure the latitudes of the cameras? The HVX appears to have quite a wide latitude.

Does anyone have any ideas why the HVX is so noisey? Its almost as though there is a load of gain dialled in????

Thank you all who put time money and effort into these camera tests. Its much appreciated.

Sleep long....
# posted by Anonymous Guy : Tue Apr 11, 07:28:00 AM CST
 
I havent seen the HVX noise, but am well aware of the noise in general from Panasonic cameras like the Varicam and DVX-100. Both of those cameras have a higher degree of noise than Sony cams, in general, in my opinion. Sometimes it is "film-like" and people like it. I'm looking right now at well lit Varicam footage with alot of noise in the darker areas. Its a Panasonic thing. But I LIKE the Panasonic look. Sony is clean-clean, but kind of sterile for my taste.

It seems likely that you guys might be seeing the same degree of "more noise" that is a Panasonic hallmark in my book.
# posted by Anonymous Christopher Johnson : Tue Apr 11, 09:27:00 AM CST
 
You know, much of these tests usually involve having little or not enough time to explore all of a particular camera's features, and or mishaps and broken equipment. That in itself is another test that I pay attention to.

Sure you can tweak to your hearts content to improve the image, but that's not real life on the set. Especially if you rent, time is money.

How well do these puppies perform right out of the box, only having a few minutes for white balance and set focus, etc. Many times your stuck with material that's less than optimal and you have to make it work in post.

So, the real deal is, which of these camera's make that kind of scenario work?
# posted by Anonymous Anonymous : Tue Apr 11, 10:11:00 AM CST
 
I've actually heard a lot of complaints about DOA Z1U iLink ports. In fact, even sending a camera to Sony to be replaced due to this, and having the replacement's port dead as well.
# posted by Anonymous Isaac : Thu Apr 13, 09:32:00 AM CST
 
Post a Comment


Links to this post:

Create a Link

This page is powered by Blogger. Isn't yours?

Listed on BlogShares