Change aspect ratio in FCP or set in camera?

M

metice

New member
I am making a documentary using a Panasonic DVx100. I am shooting in 4:3 and importing into FCP (latest version). I have a second camera - Canon HV30 - which will be used for additional footage. It is capable of recording in HD (16:9) or standard def (4:3).

To achieve the best quality should I;
1) use the Canon to record in high def and import into FCP and then change to a 4:3 aspect ratio (which I understand reduces the quality as you must enlarge the image to fit the 4:3 ratio).
2) Set the canon to record at 4:3 standard def and then import into FCP without further changes.

Any idea which will produce the best quality?
 
Your not gonna loose quality because of enlarging HD. HD is higher resolution. Your actually downsizing the HD to an SD resolution and cropping the edges off to fit full frame 4:3

I find that even HD footage looks better downrezed to SD then many SD native cameras. So quality wise, shooting HD is going to be better. However, is the goal image quality, or to match the DVX100 footage? If it's all too obvious that you used two different cameras, does that hurt the project? If so then you may want to figure out which setting best matches your DVX footage.

The answer is just to test shoot. Shoot footage with the DVX. Then with the Canon in both settings using the same subject as the DVX. Drop them in a timeline and see which setting works best for you and what supports your project best. Does the Canon SD footage look the same as the DVX? Or does it look more compressed.? Does the HD footage cropped and downrezed to SD match the DVX better? Is that even a concern?

It might be too much of a pain in the arse if you need to keep reminding yourself to frame everything 4:3 while shooting in HD. That depends on your shooting habits. Does the HD cam have 4:3 framing guides available? What if you accidentally frame your shot for 16:9 and forget your project is 4:3? Will that be a problem for you? More of a problem then the image quality? Letterboxing? Cropping? These questions you should also consider. Not solely image quality.
 
Last edited:
Ryan has some very good points. It might be easier (and IMHO) look better if you shoot in squeeze mode and edit the whole time line in 1.78 rather than 1.33.

You should also do some tests and make a scene file on the DVX to match the HV30. I have had decent results matching a DVC30 and GL2 using scene files. The bottom line is that the footage will look different even if the color temp, frame rate and aspect ratio are matched. You will need to decide if this is appropriate for your project.


Jason
 
results

results

Thanks for the suggestions. I can report back that I have tested using the methods you described and that recording in HD, and then importing into my 4:3 project and enlarging to fill the screen produces much better results than recording in standard def. Many thanks!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top