Dealing with Sony HDV 1440i footage

[rc444]

Hi Filmmakers,

I've got a question about HDV. What should you export HDV as -- 1440x1080i or 1920x1080i or 1920x1080p? I've got arguments for using all three, but divided as to which is the best approach;

Argument for exporting as 1440x1080i = same format as you used for importing, therefore no surprises in post...
Argument for exporting as 1920x1080i = 1920x1080i may be more universal than 1440x1080i - HDV may not play on 1080p/1080i modern players...
Argument for exporting as 1920x1080p = 1080p is a universal format, more universal than 1080i and HDV exported as 1080p may play/look better than 1920x1080i or 1440x1080i

Also, if you finish HDV to 1080i or 1080p in QT, won't this just stretch out the 1440x1080 image to fit into the 1920x1080 frame?

Or are you better off avoiding all three and exporting as 720p? This will help with a wedding video I'm making.

Cheers
rc444

 

[Moseph]

If you shot interlaced and export as progressive, you're going to get a much different result. Less resolution and less motion sampling. But by changing from 1440 to 1920, you won't see any difference whatsoever. When you play back HDV, it's already being stretched out to 1920. I would export at 1920x1080i. This is the most universally playable format of the three.