Which format

[ColorBalance]

I am sure this has been discussed before.

I'll be shooting a stage show - 3 to 4 hrs long - using my EX1. The final output will be a standard DVD. Normally I shoot 1080 / 24P (movies). Have 3 hrs of recording capability at 1080P (2 x 16gb KxS, 2 x 8gb SxS). Can increase the capacity if I go to a lower format.

For the best results (it's a DVD), what'll be your suggestions. I could buy another 16GB Sandisk Ultra II if I have to, but rather not spend anymore money as the target is to buy the 32GB once the price becomes reasonable.

So, which will be the most optimal NTSC format?

 

[DCSensui]

If you're going to TV, shoot 1080p30.

Why 30 frame? Because that's TV's frame rate. Eliminate pulldown problems.

The other advantage includes more flexibility if you have to do time remapping in After Effects. The more data you start off with the more there is to work with.

The downside is if you have to do rotoscoping. More to work with in 30 fps than 24 fps.

 

[MitchLewis]

I was wondering the same thing. Have you thought about progressive verses interlaced. Do you have a way to burn and then play a progressive dvd? If not, I'd shoot 1080 30i or maybe even 720 60P. 720 will give you a little brighter picture if you're shooting in low light.

But I've never shot in any of the non-HQ formats. It would be interesting to know what the quality hit would be. It would gain you the ability to shoot with the amount of storage you have on hand.

Why don't you do some tests and let us all know the results?

 

[PerroneFord]

Standard DVD is 60i. Broadcast in NTSC is 60i. Shooting 60i over 30p should give you a full extra stop of light to work with also.

I've shot the EX1 in every mode available except 720/60p which is coming in a few weeks. The "hit" in shooting in 1080i HDV mode for mostly stationary work was nearly negligible. But it increased my recording capacity nicely. I deinterlaced in post to make my web versions, and all was good.

Again, I suggest looking at the final delivery format, and then shooting in a format that gets you there. If you are delivering to DVD, then shoot in DVD's native format.