Could someone explain record formats?

[belloman]

Looking at getting into a HD camera and I'm cofused about all the different recording formats. I realise the difference between the i (interlaced) & p (progressive), and also the 1080 & 720 resolutions, but what is the difference between say 1080/25p & 720/25p apart from resolution. Like, why would I use one over the other (I'm in PAL land by then way). Also when would I use 1080/50i or 720/50p.
If there is somewhere that explains all this, would be great. Also would like to understand all about 'pulldowns'

 

[MrPolarBare]

Well, I don't use PAL, but I can give you a few answers. First off, people would use 1080P over 720P because the image quality is better. People would use 720P over 1080P because you can shoot with variable framerates. Also, with 720P you can use native mode which saves memory space and allows you to shoot much more onto your P2 card. Plus 720P takes less power to edit on your computer than the larger resolution 1080 picture.

Basically, your first question was Whats the difference between 1080/25p & 720/25p apart from the resolution? Well nothing. You choose one of those formats depending on what advantages I listed above. If you are recording to P2 cards, then there is no reson to shoot 720/25P unless you are doing it in Native mode. Native mode will require no pull down, and take up half of the space on your P2 card.

One of the things I loved about the HVX200 was the progressive scan recording. I am a graphics person first, and a cameraman second. I hate interlaced video. So I would never choose to shoot interlaced over progressive scan. I hate adding to the confusion. I assume that a camera guy on here can tell you why you would ever want to shoot 50i instead of 50p. The only reason I could think of, is because maybe that is the format that you client requests. If they need interlaced video, then there you go...you can do it. But for me personally I stay away from it.

OK, the pull down issue. I am not sure if this is the same for PAL as it is for my USA version, but... When shooting 1080/24P there are two different pulldown methods. There is an advanced method, and a normal method. I read about it a while ago, and vaguely remember it. Both of these pulldowns start with 1080/60P. They only use certain frames out of the 60 to make 24P. The normal pulldown is 3:2. It uses one frame out of the first three frames, and then one frame of the next two frames, and then one out of the next three frames, and then one out of the next two frames, and so on. Then you have advanced mode. I forget actually how it calculates it. I DID read all of this stuff in the manual though, so I'd check it out if I were you.

I hope this info was accurate. I am pretty sure that I've led you down the right path. Maybe, somebody that is used to working in the PAL environment will post after me and clean up anything I messed up.