HD For Indies

Blackmagic Design: Software Downloads:

This software release introduces support for Apple Final Cut Studio 2 and adds support for Apple ProRes, the the Canon HV20 camera, 1080i HDV playback, 720p25/50 DVCPRO HD playback with the Panasonic HVX-200 camera and general stability and performance improvements. These drivers support Intel-based Mac Pro series computers. PowerMac G5 series computers are not supported."


Since so many folks are so gung ho for the low cost Canon HV20, the $250/350 Intensity/Pro cards are a good match if you want to capture live over HDMI and skip the HDV compression. Transcoding to ProRes on the fly now appears to be a valid option as well - sweet!

-mike

PS - thanks to Greg Boston for pointing out the DVInfo.net thread where this was found.

Labels: hardware, low end, post, post equipment

Reel-Stream Mods the HVX200 at FresHDV

I found the info via FresHDV, so I'm linking to his coverage, I don't have time to do my own research on this one:

Today ReelStreem, famous for their Andromeda modification for the DVX100, announced that they would infact be offering a modified HVX200.


Go read all the specs over there.

Mike's Analysis: I'm glad they're doing this, I like their hacker mentality. Getting the full 4:4:4 RGB output is a good thing. Getting uncompressed output is a GREAT thing.

No pricing info that I've seen yet, but some issues/concerns:

-it is only a 960x540 pixelshifted imager - the claimed 2K resolution is scaled up, WAY scaled up - and not directly comparable to what is traditionally considered a 2K imager
-8, 10, 12, or 14 bit color depths - excellent to have all the options, but the crucial question is this - is the imager (which they aren't modifying from the HVX) capable of such subtlety?
-I like that they are essentially doing RAW capture off the sensor - a lot of the advantges that the Red One and SI-2K camera are doing.
-I'm a bit concerned about service/support since it is coming from such a small company - I'd rent one, I'd be cautious about purchasing one unless for a very specific project
-I love the indie DIY can-do attitude of this!
-"Up to 86dB" for dynamic range - hmmm....that's better than a lot of other stuff out there, and under what circumstances, etc. For comparison, folks have been excited about Red's claimed 66dB range.
-and you have to be tethered to a computer, specifically an Intel Mac running their software
-for some circumstances, this could be great - such as greenscreen
-the ability to work with the uncompressed source will help in a lot of ways, increased dynamic range one of them
-the data backup logistics for field shooting are even more complex than for P2 cards - if recording to a laptop, remember you can't bus power removable drives without AC power (no power over FireWire, even on "bus powered" drives - power only flows when laptop connected to AC power) EDIT - somebody corrected me and said USB 2.0 drives DO get power on a Powerbook - I don't have a bus powered USB 2.0 drive to check on my MacBook, somebody confirm FireWire/USB 2.0 power to bus powered drive WITHOUT AC power attached for me, OK?
-and oh yeah - you're still stuck with the original lens, which as Adam Wilt pointed out after our Texas HD Shootout last year, is well matched to the resolutions you can actually record with the HVX200 - the observed optical resolution was not anywhere near what these guys are planning on recording, and the lens has a lot to do with that. From Adam's
DV Magazine Texas Shootout! article:

"The HVX200 shoots both 1080- and 720-line formats, and it's sharper in 1080. While its resolution is only 540 x 540 (TV lines per picture height horizontally x TV lines vertically), the 1080-line recording preserves more of that resolution. 720p recording uses 960 samples/scanline, so filtering for recording causes detail near 540 TVl/ph to be diminished, whereas 1280-sample recording in 1080-line modes has a cutoff at 720 TVl/ph. 1080-line images show no graying-out of detail at all--the images retain considerable contrast at 540 lines, simply switching into aliasing at that point. "

-I'd gladly review one if they'd send it my way, however

-mike

Labels: cameras, DIY, low end

Studio Daily | Panasonic Introduces AG-HSC1U, World%u2019s Smallest Professional 3-CCD HD Camcorder

Besides the fact that Studio Daily essentially ran a press release with hyperbole intact, AND ran the first laudatory paragraph TWICE, the tiny little camera has the following pros/cons:

PROS:
-tiny - 1 pound
-shoots 1080i
-records to tiny 40GB hard drive
-3 CCD
-crash cam at $2100?

CONS:
-AVCHD format - no major NLE support (Canopus will transcode soon if not yet)
-1/4" CCD - I wouldn't call that professional
-non-interchangeable lense
-no 24p - as Stu Maschwitz said in the comments, "No 24p=Dead To Me" - I concur...

So I like the idea of 40GB tiny onboard hard drive, I like efficient codecs, but this is NOT a serious professional tool - "this hand-held camcorder delivers stunning 1080i recordings with the accuracy and natural 3-CCD color reproduction that professionals require for capturing events in HD. " - come on, Studio Daily, what professionals - budget high school football game videographers? Studio Daily, you can Do Better (and you usually do).

UPDATE - It DOES say press release, once, in not large type, up at the top. So I'm giving them flack perhaps not entirely deserved. But I'd like to see it more clearly delineated. A quick read makes it look like Studio Daily is giving them accolades.

Then again, I often post links with quotes (such as today) that a quick skim could interpret as me endorsing, so I should share some of that heat if anyone felt it due in publisher's direction.

-mike

more info - DV - News - Panasonic Introduces AG-HSC1U, World's Smallest Professional 3-Ccd High Definition Camcorder

Labels: AVCHD, cameras, low end

ProLost

I saw the press releases on the Canon HV20 - $1100 list price, HDV, 24p, 1920x1080 CMOS sensor. I figured too low end for the kind of indie filmmaking I want to pay attention to. But as a learner camera maybe, but Stu points out it makes a helluva cheap crash cam. He also points out that with HDMI out, you could pair it with a $250 Intensity card to capture live uncompressed...but with such a not-so-great image from an $1100 camcorder, why would you want to? Also, it couldn't be a crash cam and HDMI capture at same time, so pick one.

Anyway, $1100 24p crashcam...could be useful.

Tiny lens going to a 1/3" sensor likely to yield low optical resolution as well.

-mike

Labels: cameras, low end