Codecs

[naavt]

I apologize in advance if this isn't the right forum to post this question. If any moderator finds this post belongs to another forum please move it, but since I work with FCP here it goes:

I'm currently working with HDV tapes but with the recent Pana AF100 announcement (which I'm considering to buy), I'm forced to go tapeless.

One thing that everybody talks about is codecs and Mbps recording. AF100's will record to AVCCAM with a 24 Mbps, solution which everybody seems a tad unsatisfied, asking for a P2 solution on that camera.

Does anyone have the patience to explain me why?

Thanks

 

[bikefilms]

AVCCAM is a consumer and/or prosumer CODEC. The AF100 looks to be a professional camera. So the mix of consumer and pro is confusing some people.

I have shot AVCCAM video, and I think it looks great. In early October 2009, I received an HMC40 from Panasonic to test and review. I was very impressed. Even in action shots, which consumer CODECS usually have difficulty with, the images looked great. It was also a fun camera to use, overall. Here's my full published review: http://www.videomaker.com/article/14750/

Professional clients may balk if given a consumer CODEC video file. If shooting with an AVCCAM or Rebel T2i camera, you'll likely have to convert your video for final delivery. Since so many companies use P2 (DVCPRO CODEC) equipment, I usually don't have to convert that CODEC for them.

Hope this helps,
Andrew Burke
Filmmaker / Educator / Journalist

 

[naavt]

AVCCAM is a consumer and/or prosumer CODEC.

Can it be somewhat compared to, say... a aiff file and mp3 one? When you say "consumer" it has to have less quality than pro right?

Do you know any good web articles that I can read about the differences between ACVCAM and DVCPRO? I assume P2 records on the last...


When you mentioned "convert your video" I opened FCP and it really has the DVCPTO codec for working with, and that's really good but nonetheless many mates seem to convert their DVCPRO to ProRes?!

AF100's looking somewhat hazy now. Probably it will be best to wait for a version 2 when Panasonic decide to listen all the pros out there and incorporate P2 recording on it.