Is HPX footage uncompressed HD?

K

ksduded

Active member
I am planning to get HPX500, but a question lingers in my mind. Is the HPX500 footage uncompressed HD. Some of the broadcasters require that, so I don't want to shut myself out due to that reason.
 
Every HD codec is compressed--that's the point of a codec. DVCPRO HD has a compression ratio of 6.7:1. Anytime you see color space of less than 4:4:4, there
is chroma compression. HDCAM is 3:1:1. Even HDCAM SR and RED CODE Raw codecs are compressed. Compression is why MPEG and DCT and h.264, its AVC and MPEG 4 variants and VC-1 exist.

Delivery formats that the movie studios and networks use, D-5 and HDCAM SR are compressed. Not sure what network demands uncompressed acquisition and delivery? Recommend shooting on 35mm film.
 
DSWMEDIA said:
If you want near uncompressed rent a hpx3700 and record dual HD SDI out. yay!
Click to expand...

If recording onto HDCAM SR from a dual link 4:4:4 stream, that's still a compression ratio of 4:2.1 using MPEG4 SP codec. There is no viable uncompressed HD acquisition or delivery format. However, HDCAM SR at 600Mbps(440Mbps for the video portion) looks pretty lossless to my eyes!
 
Last edited:
HDCAM SR allows full raster resolution and 4:4:4..whats there left to comrpess? Does it still compress groups of pixels in macro blocks like other Iframe codecs?
 
ksduded said:
I am planning to get HPX500, but a question lingers in my mind. Is the HPX500 footage uncompressed HD. Some of the broadcasters require that, so I don't want to shut myself out due to that reason.
Click to expand...

Hi,

There must be some misunderstnding of the broadcaster's requirements, I don't know of any here in the US that require an uncompressed signal. Go ask again, as this is just an unpractical approach. Whe have lots of HPX500s in the hands of broadcasters here.

And Discovery HD just gave it a Silver Rating. ;-)

Best,

Jan
 
Jan,

Great news about the silver rating from Discovery...

Is there somewhere on the web (Panasonic, Discovery website) where this information is posted?

Thanks!
 
I haven't checked lately by it may be listed in teh technical requirements in Discovery's posted production/producers manual. You would find this through the producer's portal at Discovery.
Jim
 
Jan,
I'm surprised your not mentioning the Discovery HD news on other forums. This is a big selling point for the camera - and for us freelancing with it. It could be a dealbreaker for a potential customer.
 
From one of my contacts at Discovery who is a senior editor:

"Gold is for premiere shows that require true DP cinematic quality images for shows like "Planet Earth" and "Atlas".

Silver is for high-profile shows that are more like "American Chopper"

Bronze is for shows that need to be HD on a budget, in the vain of "Jon & Kate Plus 8" and any number of the home improvement shows, etc."

Good stuff all around, and great news for us HPX-500 owners!
 
mcgeedigital said:
From one of my contacts at Discovery who is a senior editor:

"Gold is for premiere shows that require true DP cinematic quality images for shows like "Planet Earth" and "Atlas".

Silver is for high-profile shows that are more like "American Chopper"

Bronze is for shows that need to be HD on a budget, in the vain of "Jon & Kate Plus 8" and any number of the home improvement shows, etc."

Good stuff all around, and great news for us HPX-500 owners!
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info.

Lets work hard to make our work the best quality possible, this is what people will remember.
 
vanvideo said:
Jan,
I'm surprised your not mentioning the Discovery HD news on other forums. This is a big selling point for the camera - and for us freelancing with it. It could be a dealbreaker for a potential customer.
Click to expand...


Been a little busy. Next week should have me off the hot seat. Press Conference and training Sales people this week on two different products. The problem is, they don't tell you how they work, you get to figure it out so that you can teach it.

So, next week, when I have more time and maybe by then Discovery will have t up.

Best,

Jan
 
Jan_Crittenden said:
Been a little busy. Next week should have me off the hot seat. Press Conference and training Sales people this week on two different products. The problem is, they don't tell you how they work, you get to figure it out so that you can teach it.

So, next week, when I have more time and maybe by then Discovery will have t up.

Best,

Jan
Click to expand...


I'm sorry, Jan. That was a bit presumptuous of me. It isn't my place to dictate your schedule. But a big thanks to you for bringing us this great little tidbit.
 
Interesting information about Discovery HD's camera rating for its various shows. Any ideas how other cameras are rated in there such as the HVX-200, HPX-170, EX3?
 
Hmm, a little bit of additional reading on another forum where it was claimed that on Discovery HD the HVX200 is rated as Bronze while the EX1 and EX3 are rated as Silver. At that time the HPX500 was rated as Bronze as well, so it appears they have moved it up in category.
 
As of today, all 1/3" cameras are rated in the bronze category. It will be interesting to see if the full raster and AVC Intra codec on the HPX300 will up it alongside the HPX500 as it probably should be or if it's 1/3" CMOS imager size will keep it in the bronze rating.

Discovery Channel takes their time in assigning these categories, they are always way behind the technological curve because most of thier vendors are as well. Not that it is a Discovery Network, but all of the most popular shows on Travel Channel (Bizarre Foods and Anthony Bourdain No Reservations) are still shot the Sony Z1 and V1 on HDV so that will give you an idea of how cutting edge cable shows are. Not usually very cutting edge.

Dan
 
that sounds really good that the HPX500 comes under the High Profile Discovery shows.

With the wealth of knowledge showed by the posters here, I am certain the person who told me that was not very well versed with the technicalities.
 
ksduded said:
that sounds really good that the HPX500 comes under the High Profile Discovery shows.

With the wealth of knowledge showed by the posters here, I am certain the person who told me that was not very well versed with the technicalities.
Click to expand...

Think you will find also that due to this forum, if you do get yourself a 500, theres always people around that can get you through a non service issue.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top