Chroma-keying: HVX or Andromeda?

N

NeverColdCall

Well-known member
Hi Everyone,

I'm an author who does a couple of hours of instructional footage a month in front of a green screen, and I'm still learning about video and am in a "I wish I knew then what I know now" situation:

I have a DVX100B, and as you know it's a challenge to pull good chroma keys from the 4:1:1 footage (they look great on the web but are only about 70% satisfactory on a DVD/television).

I'm considering either having the Andromeda mod done to my DVX, or replacing with an HVX. The good news is the DVX is just over a month old and has 11 hours on it so I'm assuming I can get most of my money back as it's practically brand new.

Since my only application that I really care about is pulling chroma keys, and the camera gets practically no other use outside of home/family videos for fun (and my GS500 still does most of those!), I'm wondering which option would be better for pulling keys: 4:2:2 HVX or 4:4:4 Andromeda? The other consideration is that the Andromeda workflow is a major hassle.

Thanks - this is a great forum - I wish I'd found it BEFORE buying the DVX!!!
 
I can't speak for the Andromeda.. but the HVX pulls a really really nice key. OFten times almost without evening lighting the greenscreen that cleanly... So much better than in my DV days. Here's a really good article that helped me get it even tighter. I didn't realize how much the internal settings can affect the final results:

http://generalspecialist.com/2006/10/greenscreen-and-bluescreen-checklist.asp


Here's a key that I did really fast... Still needs some work but I needed to get it out quickly... Not as gross as it might initally appear:

http://www.electriccowtheater.com/ECT/poop.mov
 
Justyn said:
I can't speak for the Andromeda.. but the HVX pulls a really really nice key. OFten times almost without evening lighting the greenscreen that cleanly... So much better than in my DV days.
Click to expand...
Now that made me smile! I've pulled some good keys with the DVX but only after a lot of frustration and lots of wasted time. Plus if the screen isn't perfectly lit, forget it.
 
LOL!!!

Well all things considered I'm going to go with the HVX, part of the deal-killer for me with Andromeda is the annoying workflow, and the fact that my one-month old DVX would have a voided warranty (for about the same cost of selling this for an HVX).
 
You guys are welcome. That article was posted before and I got a lot out of it... Also, as for the crappy shot... we're all learning.


I am attempting to do some more full body and interactive greenscreening stuff.. maybe walking on a treamill type of thing.. that should be a fun one to pull off.
 
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