|
|
|
|
|
Many
of you have heard the buzz about HDV and the new Sony HDR-FX1 and
HVR-Z1, three chip, HDV camcorders. HDV
is a format that compresses HD images, either 720P or 1080i, into an
MPEG signal that is very similar to the TS files used on a standard DVD.
The HDV File has a much higher pixel count and a different compression
rate. I had to call in a
lot of favors to do this comparison. I asked David Fox from Fox Wilmar
Productions, Seattle, to help me with the camera work. David is an
award-winning director of photography and has done work in Film, HDCam,
Digital Betacam, Betacam and most of the DV based formats. The Cameras
Rey Serna, of
Absolute Digital Broadcast Rentals, an owner of both the HVR-Z1 and the
HDR-FX1, supplied us with the HDR-FX1. He also allowed us the use of his
DVW-709 Digital Betacam with a Canon J21x broadcast zoom lens and a
DSR-570 wide screen DVCam with 16:9 chips and a Canon J20x broadcast
lens. David brought along his trusty Panasonic AG-DVX100A to round out
the group. The
Tests
The
cameras are all very different so no attempt was made to match the
cameras from a color perspective. We wanted to know about resolution. David
and I decided we wanted both indoor and outdoor shots and since the Fox
Wilmar office is in With
the cameras set up side by side, David set up lights for a typical
interview session. Since our talent budget was limited, I was forced to
step in as the model. I feel
that this was an equal handicap for all of the cameras.
How
I
did the posting I
did the entire test using Sony Vegas 5 with Cineform, Connect HD.
I have no way to get the Digital Betacam directly onto my hard drive so
I asked David to drop the Digital Betacam into Final Cut Pro and save a
full bandwidth QuickTime to a Data DVD which I took back to the office
and imported the footage into Vegas. I
digitized the HDR-FX1 through Firewire using Cineform Connect HD.
I was able digitize the DVCam and mini DV using a Sony DSR-11
DVCam VTR and the standard Firewire cable. Sony
Vegas is one of the better programs to use for this comparison, since it
is resolution independent and you can import different types of files
into the timeline. In this case a 1440 x 1080 HDV file, the Digital
Betacam full bandwidth QuickTime file, and the DVCam and Mini DV files
which are roughly 720 x 480 and recorded in stretched 16:9. The
First Test
1280
x 720 In
Sony Vegas 5 I set the project size to 1280 x 720. This will down
convert the HDV to 720P and up convert the other cameras to 720P. I did
this because 1080i Windows Media or QuickTime file require too much
bandwidth for most desktop computers to run. I
set the video from the four cameras into the time line, and cut out
sections to reveal one camera at a time. Next
I added the titles. The
last step was to render it out as a 720p QuickTime and a Windows Media
720p file. I had to compress these files so that you’ll be able to
play them back. As it is, you’ll need at least a DSL modem and some
patience to down load the files. You’ll also need a fast PC, 2.7 GHz
or above, or a dual processor Mac to play them back.
QuickTime
Windows Media 9
QuickTime
Windows Media 9 Note: I'm not sure the DVW-709 is getting a fair evaluation due to the processed used to get it into the system. The Second Test 720 x 480 NTSC For the second test
I make my project size 720 x 480 (standard DVD size). When I render this
out, it will down-convert the HDV to standard size. I set the video from all
four cameras on the time line and cut out sections to reveal one camera
at a time. Next, I added the titles so we could identify the camera we
are looking at. The last step was to render the video out in a form that
you can look at. I rendered the file out as QuickTime 6 at DVD
resolution for the Mac users and as a Windows Media 9 DVD resolution for
the PC users.
QuickTime Windows Media 9 QuickTime Windows Media 9 It’s
clear to me that HDV is much sharper than the Digital Betacam and the
two DV-based cameras when up-converted to HD. What may come as a
surprise, is that when down converted to standard NTSC the HDV from
HDR-FX1 was still sharper than both the DVW-709 Digital Betacam and the
DSR-570 16:9 DVCam! This is due to the fact the camera is higher
resolution to begin with. Further,
I should note that when compressed to DVD, the difference in resolution
is unnoticeable due, no doubt, to the additional compression. So,
should you shoot everything in HDV from now on?
No, the lens is a very important part of any camera and has a
tremendous impact on the image. While
the HDR-FX1 has a very good Ziess Lens, it does not have the control
that you get from professional, film style or broadcast lenses. In
addition, the larger chips of most broadcast cameras allow them to have
greater control over the depth of field which, to most photographers, is
an important aspects of any image. There
is no doubt that the impact of the Sony HDR-FX1 and the Sony HVR-Z1 will
be felt in nearly every aspect of our industry. Just
as the Panasonic AG-DVX100a, and the Sony PD-150 before that, whittled
away at a portion of the Betacam business. The HDR-FX1 and the HVR-Z1
will carve out areas from the more expensive standard definition camera
business and a smaller but significant portion of both the DVC-ProHD and
HDCam markets. Perhaps
even more significant and a driving force for carving off that market
share is the ability to edit HDV on a relatively inexpensive yet
powerful desk top non-linear editing system, like Sony Vegas 5, Adobe
Premiere Pro or Final Cut HD. This in itself will be a driving force for
this format. After all many
producers will want to edit in house and keep the cash in their own
pockets. Truly,
HDV puts HD production within reach of many producers and filmmakers. Other interesting links This is a music video that was shot using a P+S Mini 35 image converter. http://www.fettesbrot.de/downloads/Emanuela.mov QuickTime 18 Megs. The mini converter is a mechanical device that connects to the front of the camera. The adapter uses standard 35mm prime lenses, or 35mm still camera lenses to shine the image on a spinning disk. The disk image depth of field approximates the characteristics of 35 mm film. The camera then records the image off the disk. I should note here that this same adapter can be used with standard definition cameras like the Panasonic AG-DVX100A and the Canon XL2. Here is an extreme example of looking for depth of field from the HDR-FX1. In the case, a man cuts of the lens of an HDR-FX1 with a Dremel tool. He plays around with a couple of different lens mounts. Here's a new HDV camera from JVC. It shoots 720P at the 24 Frame rate so popular today. It also has a more typical lens configuration. It will be introduced at NAB 2005 (April 16th - 21 in the Las Vegas Convention Center). My spy's have a link here. http://www.sanjinjukic.com/index_JVCproHD.html Large picture of the JVC camera http://www.digitaltelevision.com/prohd.jpg Here are a couple more videos and stills from the HDR-FX1
Click here to see a Windows Media 9 clip. Click here to see a Windows Media 9 clip. Get Windows Media 9 for PC Get Windows Media 9 for Mac OS X
|
