View Full Version : can a 1 chip camera look like a 3 chip camera on the web?
robfilms
01-13-2007, 05:40 PM
i have a client who wants some video images posted on their site. they are not interested in having these images distributed via dvd or even on a kiosk in their office. they need some outdoor beauty shots and two short talking heads. total length is probably less than 2 minutes. cost is a major factor.
how much video is enough for the web? of course, i could use a hvx200 or dv100 or the xh a1 but i was wondering about the smaller pro-sumer/consumer cameras. could i shoot with a hv10 or a canon optura 50/60 (1 chip top-of-line before hv10) and would the image look okay once it was compressed and posted on their site?
i fully understand that the smaller cams would need more light but if light wasn't an issue, what would i have to do to make the image look almost as good as a 3 chip camera?
i also understand that sound is often the downfall with these smaller cams but using a decent mic and a beachtek should allow me to have useable sound.
i lastly know that physics dominates and that a 1 chip cam could never "be" a 3 chip cam. but if u had to work with a 1 chip camera what would u do to create a video image so that no one might say, "hey, that looked like it was shot on a 1 chip camera"?
any and all thoughts are greatly appreciated.
be well
rob
it depends on compression. But generally speaking, no. Unless you are using youtube compression and so on.
Huy Vu
01-13-2007, 07:06 PM
Magic Bullet it like crazy it might help; and streaming it at ultra low resolution. But the camera still isn't going to be good at taking those "beauty shot." The main problem with a 1-chip is that they offer no manual control whatsoever. You wouldn't look very professional with one either. I'm kind of not understanding the situation. If the 3-chip camera is your own then the only expense will be a $5 tape. And if the client can't afford to pay the rental cost of a camera then how can they afford to pay you?
EDIT: Note that the HV10 doesn't have a mic input so you won't be able to use a Beachtek with it.
robfilms
01-13-2007, 08:10 PM
papa/jade8472-
thanks for sharing your thoughts.
since i've never posted anything to the web except 3 chip efforts, i'm not sure how much the 1 chip image is de-graded, thus the reason for the posting.
unfortunately, i don't have access to a 3 chip camera but do have the optura 50 and wouldn't mind doing these folks a favor but didn't want to imcure any rental costs or use up a favor from a friend. as to looking like a professional, the finished product is what will be deemed good, bad or so what. i was hoping thru composition, editing, and a clever on-screen comment that "the image" from a 1 chip could be part of the design of the piece.
i suggested the hv10 for it's beauty shot capability and the optura 50 because it does has some minor exposure/focus controls. it also has the ability to manually adjust an external mic thus the suggestion of the beachtek.
i know the request is a bit of a stretch, i just wonder what other folks would do if faced with the same situation, i have a client that wants a favor done and i'm trying to make the only camera i have available to me work as part of the solution.
aside from youtube, anyone know any 1 chip .mov postings that i can view?
thanks in advance
be well
rob
Huy Vu
01-13-2007, 08:29 PM
I think that looking professional is equally important as delivering a professional product. Especially to a client who doesn't know much about filmmaking, having a pro-looking cam would really increase their confident in you which helps tremendously if the video shoot involves them.
About the 1-chip shooting technique, I would suggest outdoor shooting only, and pick the most beautiful location that you can find. The easiest beauty shot to get is sunset (the whole siluette deal if it involves people). Get a decent tripod to do some panning; and audio really have to be top notch to sell the final product.
Here's a music vid that I shot a long time ago with a Sony 1-chip cam. Deinterlaced to 24p and CCed using Magic Bullet.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=wVs1m6nLYEw
PM me if you want the original version.
Good luck.
adoyle
01-13-2007, 09:02 PM
canon optura 10 and 20's have really good colours and quality for one chips. one of those + heavy CCing could look as good/better than some 3ccd footage
robfilms
01-13-2007, 10:02 PM
jade8472-
thank u for sharing your 1 chip effort. i really was able to see some of the capabilities of what even a 1 chip camera can accomplish. thank u again.
adoyle-
your thoughts are what i'm hoping i can achieve with the optura 50.
anyone know of other 1-chip camera video that is posted as .mov?
thanks in advance
be well
rob
adoyle
01-14-2007, 12:10 AM
some optura footage maybe that will help. it's all in .mov but obviously compressed.
http://media.putfile.com/zack-lyttle-smith
http://media.putfile.com/optura-10-long-lens
also, you may want to think about the panasonic gs-series (gs180, gs 300 mostly because they have the most manual features i believe). they are small, and 3ccd and cheap, and they look great on the net.
YauYin
01-19-2007, 09:30 AM
Hello Robfilms,
I would defiantely say YES. I shot weddings with my Sony HDR-HC1 (single chip CMOS) for all of 2006, provided you do use Magic Bullet.
Aftering watching my vids in 720P wmv, more often then not, the HDV community would all ask me if the material was shot via the HDR-FX1 (3l CHIP CCD), and would usually be impressed @ the colour of my work.
The key with the single chip cameras is to shoot with as much light as possible & definately stay away from low light, to get as rich colour as possible and then tweak in post.
Here is a sample in SD, you be te judge. You WILL have to sign up for a FREE account however.
http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=batch_download&batch_id=fw0rUJNQbWx5TA%3D%3D
If you want to see more or perhaps in HD, feel free to PM me.