DVX vs. SDX 900 for Greenscreen

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Which camera produces a cleaner key, DVX or SDX 900 (DV 50)?
I am putting together a equipment list for my FX studio and for budget reasons need to stick with standard def.

So, does DV50 really make that much of a difference when keying?

Thanks,

Joseph
 
Re: DVX vs. SDX 900 for Greenscreen

DV50 has a lower compression ratio (3.3:1) and 4:2:2 sampling compared to DV at 5:1 compression and 4:1:1 sampling. So it should be easier to key off DV50 footage. However, I've seen very good keys pulled from DV footage. If your bread and butter is going to be effects and compositing, the SDX 900 would sure be nice.
 
Re: DVX vs. SDX 900 for Greenscreen

It will be much easier to get a quality key from an SDX900. You have twice as much color information to work from, sampling info at 4:2:2 vs. the 4:1:1 of the DVX. There's reasons that bad boy costs 6 times as much as the DVX, and the 4:2:2 with the nearly-transparent 3.3:1 compression are two of the biggest ones, image-quality-wise. If chroma keying is going to factor heavily in what you're doing, you can get nearly Digital Betacam-quality results from an SDX900.
 
Re: DVX vs. SDX 900 for Greenscreen

[quote author=Barry_Green link=board=news;num=1089865258;start=0#2 date=07/14/04 at 22:04:36]It will be much easier to get a quality key from an SDX900.  You have twice as much color information to work from, sampling info at 4:2:2 vs. the 4:1:1 of the DVX.  There's reasons that bad boy costs 6 times as much as the DVX, and the 4:2:2 with the nearly-transparent 3.3:1 compression are two of the biggest ones, image-quality-wise.  If chroma keying is going to factor heavily in what you're doing, you can get nearly Digital Betacam-quality results from an SDX900.[/quote]

DV50 was created specifically to make special effects easier because DV25 produces a lot of compression and color specific artifacts that, while not apparent to the eye, are bears to key.

This said, Final Cut Pro 4+ and Combustion 3 both have clipping path plugins that allow excellent clipping of DV25, as does After Effects. Other NLEs should be following suit. In addition, there are tricks of the trade to get good clips off of DV25 from other editors.
 
Re: DVX vs. SDX 900 for Greenscreen

[quote author=Jarred Land link=board=news;num=1089865258;start=0#5 date=07/15/04 at 01:07:26]wait till you try this:

http://www.Reflecmedia.com[/quote]


We saw it at NAB. The cloth is around $250 per sq meter.
Plus the cost of the light. I never saw so many jaggies on the
demo monitor they had. We will skip Reflecmedia and stick
with Serious MAgic Ultra Key.
 
Re: DVX vs. SDX 900 for Greenscreen

or use GNicer 4:1:1 to 4:2:2 chroma upsampler, from Graeme Nattress.

MUCH MUCH better than a normal chroma smoother.
 
Re: DVX vs. SDX 900 for Greenscreen

[quote author=ironwolf link=board=news;num=1089865258;start=0#6 date=07/15/04 at 07:56:12]
We saw it at NAB. The cloth is around $250 per sq meter.
Plus the cost of the light. I never saw so many jaggies on the
demo monitor they had. We will skip Reflecmedia and stick
with Serious MAgic Ultra Key.
[/quote]

Any recommendations for Mac users? Isn't Serious Magic PC only?
 
Re: DVX vs. SDX 900 for Greenscreen

Ultimatte is the best greenscreen option I think for the mac, unless you want to step up to Shake. Not that many decent low budget alternatives for the mac unless you can get your hands on AE which also allows for Ultimatte plug-ins.

Mike
 
Re: DVX vs. SDX 900 for Greenscreen

Does anybody know how a SDX would compare aggainst an interlaced digibeta on the keying arena?
 
Re: DVX vs. SDX 900 for Greenscreen

Since they're both in the 4:2:2 colorspace, (assuming your shooting in DV50 on the SDX), I don't think you'll see much differnence if any. Most of the greenscreen work I've done has been on either DV25, BetaSP or HD so I can't comment techically on the performance of your noted cameras in this environment.

Mike
 
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