Michael_Richard
Active member
Please leave any comments as to why you shoot in this particular format.
Format of Choice
- Thread starter Michael_Richard
- Start date
Re: Format of Choice
I shoot 4x3 and crop to 1.85:1 or 2.35:1. If I had the anamorphic adapter, I would use that and crop to 2.35:1.
I shoot 4x3 and crop to 1.85:1 or 2.35:1. If I had the anamorphic adapter, I would use that and crop to 2.35:1.
Control_Lab
Member
Re: Format of Choice
SHEAR BLOODY MINDEDNESS, matthew !!! - I like your spirit ! lol.
I mostly shoot 4:3 as this suits the majority of my (uk) customers, but sometimes I'll shoot " 4:3, protect 14:9 " for cropping to 16:9 , but still being able to view as 14:9 on a 4:3 TV - It's ok really - there's still about 3% of the frame available in the safe area for the action!!
Paul.
SHEAR BLOODY MINDEDNESS, matthew !!! - I like your spirit ! lol.
I mostly shoot 4:3 as this suits the majority of my (uk) customers, but sometimes I'll shoot " 4:3, protect 14:9 " for cropping to 16:9 , but still being able to view as 14:9 on a 4:3 TV - It's ok really - there's still about 3% of the frame available in the safe area for the action!!
Paul.
scottchapin
Well-known member
I shoot 4:Re: Format of Choice
I shoot 4:Re: Format of Choice
I shoot 4:3, because for now, that's what customers want and it is more versatile when using lens adapters.
I shoot 4:Re: Format of Choice
I shoot 4:3, because for now, that's what customers want and it is more versatile when using lens adapters.
Jim Brennan
VHS Member Old Skool
Re: Format of Choice
I shoot letterbox. Basically because it looks more cinematic that 4:3 without the hassle of squeeze (I don't have an anamorphic lense yet), and everything I shoot gets seen on nothing more than a big screen TV.
I shoot letterbox. Basically because it looks more cinematic that 4:3 without the hassle of squeeze (I don't have an anamorphic lense yet), and everything I shoot gets seen on nothing more than a big screen TV.
pookie_old
Veteran
Re: Format of Choice
When you shoot 16:9 on the DVX, you're just masking, no true 16:9.
To waste the masked area is foolish, as it's far better to letterbox in post, and have the full CCD size open for shooting. Otherwise, as you cut the CCD by almost a third, you're tossing a very large part of your investment out....for no gain.
When you shoot 16:9 on the DVX, you're just masking, no true 16:9.
To waste the masked area is foolish, as it's far better to letterbox in post, and have the full CCD size open for shooting. Otherwise, as you cut the CCD by almost a third, you're tossing a very large part of your investment out....for no gain.
Jim Brennan
VHS Member Old Skool
Re: Format of Choice
Yes, I'm aware of that. But as I said, I see no loss of image on the smaller screens I see my stuff on. From the research I have done, if you use the squeeze mode, then letterbox in post, there is only a nominal (10% ?) difference in quality. That's not enough for a new guy like me who is already confused about lighting, sound, DOF, and compositon to worry about. I'm also not sure if my software (Premiere 6.5) will do the anamorphic dance. I'll get there eventually, but I want to get the basics down first.
Yes, I'm aware of that. But as I said, I see no loss of image on the smaller screens I see my stuff on. From the research I have done, if you use the squeeze mode, then letterbox in post, there is only a nominal (10% ?) difference in quality. That's not enough for a new guy like me who is already confused about lighting, sound, DOF, and compositon to worry about. I'm also not sure if my software (Premiere 6.5) will do the anamorphic dance. I'll get there eventually, but I want to get the basics down first.
Michael_Richard
Active member
Re: Format of Choice
so how do you letterbox in post?
so how do you letterbox in post?
Re: Format of Choice
..i use a 720 X480 .gif or single frame .avi or with pure white in the center, and pure black bars on top and bottom for masking to whatever ratio i want, then i stretch it over the work area of the project on a higher video layer, and do a simple luma key and key out white so the white area becomes transparent showing the video underneath. if your doing any effects to the video youll generally have to re-mask it in post anyway, cause your color or blur or whatever effects will smear into the black mask bars from the DVX letterbox mode. but with the mask being on a seperate upper layer, your effects wont ruin the proper black mask on top.
..i use a 720 X480 .gif or single frame .avi or with pure white in the center, and pure black bars on top and bottom for masking to whatever ratio i want, then i stretch it over the work area of the project on a higher video layer, and do a simple luma key and key out white so the white area becomes transparent showing the video underneath. if your doing any effects to the video youll generally have to re-mask it in post anyway, cause your color or blur or whatever effects will smear into the black mask bars from the DVX letterbox mode. but with the mask being on a seperate upper layer, your effects wont ruin the proper black mask on top.
Barry_Green
Moderator
Re: Format of Choice
If your destination is to get a letterboxed image, there's nothing wrong with shooting letterbox in the first place. You're not "wasting" anything, because you intend to cover it up with black bars in post anyway.
Shooting full-frame and letterboxing in post does give you some additional flexibility to reposition the frame, or to do page-peels or other types of transitions without black bars on the footage. And if you're color-correcting your footage, you may find that some effects (specifically brightness/contrast, etc) may actually affect the black bars also, so in cases like that you may find that you'll have to add new black bars in post anyway.
But for most stuff that I want letterboxed, I shoot letterbox. It looks good, and the black bars are a great compositional aid. Shooting squeeze mode when the destination is a 4:3 TV is just silly, you'll be doing two digital stretch operations on the footage, which will only harm the image quality.
If your destination is to get a letterboxed image, there's nothing wrong with shooting letterbox in the first place. You're not "wasting" anything, because you intend to cover it up with black bars in post anyway.
Shooting full-frame and letterboxing in post does give you some additional flexibility to reposition the frame, or to do page-peels or other types of transitions without black bars on the footage. And if you're color-correcting your footage, you may find that some effects (specifically brightness/contrast, etc) may actually affect the black bars also, so in cases like that you may find that you'll have to add new black bars in post anyway.
But for most stuff that I want letterboxed, I shoot letterbox. It looks good, and the black bars are a great compositional aid. Shooting squeeze mode when the destination is a 4:3 TV is just silly, you'll be doing two digital stretch operations on the footage, which will only harm the image quality.
Bill_Bolton
Well-known member
Re: Format of Choice
To date I have only shot 4:3 because our training & seminar videos are for TV. If I can get a gig shooting drama or something for the big screen, then I'll buy the anamorphic adapter.
To date I have only shot 4:3 because our training & seminar videos are for TV. If I can get a gig shooting drama or something for the big screen, then I'll buy the anamorphic adapter.
HorseFilms
Look ma no hands
Re: Format of Choice
I've gone to shooting letterbox for my dramatic work. I started shooting in squeeze mode, but the loss of resolution bothers me a little. Since most of my stuff will never be viewed on anything but a 4:3 screen, I find that letterbox is the way to go.
I've gone to shooting letterbox for my dramatic work. I started shooting in squeeze mode, but the loss of resolution bothers me a little. Since most of my stuff will never be viewed on anything but a 4:3 screen, I find that letterbox is the way to go.
Re: Format of Choice
I shoot mostly 16x9 Anamorphic. I have two Panasonic Anamorphic Lens. For run and gun, I will use the squeeze mode on the 100A if I'm that concerned with quality.
I still shoot 4x3 for my commercial clients who still request that aspect ratio. Also, I charge my clients $500 extra to shoot and edit in widescreen, i.e. weddings, etc...
Shooting is 16x9 is a much more natural feel. I also shoot photo montages using 16x9. There is so much more you can do in 16x9 with regard to creativity.
I shoot mostly 16x9 Anamorphic. I have two Panasonic Anamorphic Lens. For run and gun, I will use the squeeze mode on the 100A if I'm that concerned with quality.
I still shoot 4x3 for my commercial clients who still request that aspect ratio. Also, I charge my clients $500 extra to shoot and edit in widescreen, i.e. weddings, etc...
Shooting is 16x9 is a much more natural feel. I also shoot photo montages using 16x9. There is so much more you can do in 16x9 with regard to creativity.
Antoine_Fabi
Well-known member
Re: Format of Choice
I almost always shoot 16:9 true anamorphic (with the adapter) for all DVDs (including the menus).
For TV, i also shoot 16:9 anamorphic and convert it to letterboxed 4:3.
I use Final Cut Pro and it looks great (no stretching artifacts) for TV commercials using the DVCPro50 codec.
Then i bump it on a BetacamSP tape for braodcast.
It looks the same as if i had shot letterbox for a 4:3 TV display, plus it can be seen in true 16:9 from a DVD on a widescreen TV.
People like it.
Best of both worlds.
I almost always shoot 16:9 true anamorphic (with the adapter) for all DVDs (including the menus).
For TV, i also shoot 16:9 anamorphic and convert it to letterboxed 4:3.
I use Final Cut Pro and it looks great (no stretching artifacts) for TV commercials using the DVCPro50 codec.
Then i bump it on a BetacamSP tape for braodcast.
It looks the same as if i had shot letterbox for a 4:3 TV display, plus it can be seen in true 16:9 from a DVD on a widescreen TV.
People like it.
Best of both worlds.
scottchapin
Well-known member
Re: Format of Choice
[quote author=matthewd5 link=board=Events;num=1096926910;start=0#6 date=10/04/04 at 18:31:15]scottchapin - that is waaay too practical!
matthew[/quote]
Guilty as charged!
[quote author=matthewd5 link=board=Events;num=1096926910;start=0#6 date=10/04/04 at 18:31:15]scottchapin - that is waaay too practical!
matthew[/quote]
Guilty as charged!
andy_starbuck
Well-known member
Re: Format of Choice
I usually shoot dramatic work in 16:9 and interview/training in 4:3.
For 16:9 I use the Anamorphic adapter, and then I go to squeeze mode and shoot through other lenses for variety.
The Anamorphic gives a really wide angle shot. It is even a little wider than shooting squeeze mode through the Panasonic Wide Angle lens. But I can get a wider shot with less barrel distortion using squeeze mode through the Wide Angle than shooting the same framing with the Anamorphic. Using squeeze mode with the Teleconverter gives me better DoF options. I'll sacrifice the detail of the Anamorphic for other aesthetics in some shots.
The border of this image is the Anamorphic. The red line shows the Wide Angle lens in squeeze mode. The green line shows the native lens in squeeze mode. And the blue line shows the 1.6x teleconverter in squeeze mode. The camera was locked down and the zoom fixed. I just changed the lenses and then composited the results to compare.
So... I shoot with the Anamorphic for normal shots. I switch to the Wide Angle in squeeze mode for really wide establishing shots. And then I go to the Tele in squeeze mode when I want Depth blur, to lift a subject off the background. And I use the native lens in squeeze mode when I don't want to deal with the change of balance caused by the weight of the Anamorphic (handheld).
I usually shoot dramatic work in 16:9 and interview/training in 4:3.
For 16:9 I use the Anamorphic adapter, and then I go to squeeze mode and shoot through other lenses for variety.
The Anamorphic gives a really wide angle shot. It is even a little wider than shooting squeeze mode through the Panasonic Wide Angle lens. But I can get a wider shot with less barrel distortion using squeeze mode through the Wide Angle than shooting the same framing with the Anamorphic. Using squeeze mode with the Teleconverter gives me better DoF options. I'll sacrifice the detail of the Anamorphic for other aesthetics in some shots.
The border of this image is the Anamorphic. The red line shows the Wide Angle lens in squeeze mode. The green line shows the native lens in squeeze mode. And the blue line shows the 1.6x teleconverter in squeeze mode. The camera was locked down and the zoom fixed. I just changed the lenses and then composited the results to compare.
So... I shoot with the Anamorphic for normal shots. I switch to the Wide Angle in squeeze mode for really wide establishing shots. And then I go to the Tele in squeeze mode when I want Depth blur, to lift a subject off the background. And I use the native lens in squeeze mode when I don't want to deal with the change of balance caused by the weight of the Anamorphic (handheld).
scharky
Veteran
Re: Format of Choice
Andy, I am just wondering why you choose to shoot wide establishing shots with the wide angle when you are losing resolution by not using the anamorphic in critical establishing shots. Especailly since the anamorphic looks to be a little wider than even the wide angle. Just curious
Andy, I am just wondering why you choose to shoot wide establishing shots with the wide angle when you are losing resolution by not using the anamorphic in critical establishing shots. Especailly since the anamorphic looks to be a little wider than even the wide angle. Just curious