HVX200a or HPX-170 or HMC150

History shows us that this is possible.

I have a 32 GB flash thumb drive that is faster than a MicroNet 8 GB fast/wide SCSI we purchased ten years ago. About 1000 times cheaper.

But if you have client, you use what is available

There will always be something faster/cheaper/better -- eventually
 
Bucknfl said:
I'm wondering if the speed of sd cards could ever be increased to make p2 obsolete?
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I am sure the speeds will get there and above, it is always a matter of time (unless another media takes over first)... however, I do not see them putting their pro codecs on "non-pro" cards for reasons other than cost and size. P2 cards have other advantages that pros rely on like ruggedness and redundancy. SD cards are great for what they are, but I wouldn't trust my life with one.

You could hope that once flash memory is fast enough, cost of the P2 card goes down without needing raid. Of course by then we would probably be dealing with new codecs that need the extra speed, but that's another issue...
 
Barry.... this looks like a dead post, but wanted to ask you or anyone with the answers to the questions.

You responded in an earlier post in this thread as shown below:

"Yes. You'd have 4:2:0 worth of color space, but carried in the 4:2:2 codec. "

That's your response to HMC 150 color space format after converting AVCHD to DVPRO HD. My question is will the native 4.2.0 color space of AVCHD be easy for pulling perfect key on a green/blue screen shoot? Pulling key on a 4.2.2 space (like in HVX200A) is a delight and smooth like butter, attempting the same green screen key in 4.1.1 space (like in DV) is a nightmare. Is 4.2.0 any better that 4.1.1 for green screen keying? or is it close to the 4.2.2 keying smoothness?

Thanks
 
Not really, and it's much worse in interlaced 60i.

4:2:0 is one color sample for every four pixels. 4:2:2 is one color sample for every two pixels.

4:1:1 is also one color sample for every four pixels. It's in a different pattern (chroma samples are 4 wide, 1 high in 4:1:1, whereas in 4:2:0 they're 2 wide, 2 high). So you are still throwing away twice as much color information in 4:2:0 (or 4:1:1) as compared to 4:2:2.

So -- no, it won't be as easy. 4:2:2 has twice the color info of 4:2:0. If you're shooting progressive scan 24p/25p/30p, then 4:2:0 isn't bad at all. But if you're shooting interlaced, 4:2:0 is hideous, and 4:1:1 would even be better.
 
Thanks for the info Barry. So if I am really desirous of doing a lot of green screen keying and post work, I should go for a 4.2.2 capable camera like the HVX200A or HPX170 and not 4.2.0/4.1.1 cameras like HMC150 and all DV cams. The convenience and cost of AVCHD is so hard to pass up. One would have thought the image quality from the HMC150 would have reduced the pain experienced in pulling a key with the DV cams. It will be great to know if there are workarounds for pulling an easy key with HMC150 too.

Lastly again, can HD footage be shot and recorded on the HVX200A miniDV tape deck?
 
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4:1:1 is pretty bad for keying, and all NTSC DV cameras use 4:1:1.

4:2:0 in interlaced mode (60i) is horrible.

4:2:0 in progressive is not bad at all. Not as good as 4:2:2, but not bad. You can usually pull pretty decent keys in 4:2:0.

Will a 4:2:0 HMC150 pull a key as well as a 4:2:2 10-bit HPX300? Not a chance in the world. But will it pull a key good enough for your purposes? Maybe, and in fact "probably", as long as you're shooting 24p or 30p. If you're shooting 60i, I'd really, really recommend going 4:2:2 for that.

Only standard-def DV gets recorded on the HVX's tape deck.
 
Thanks a lot Barry. You help shed more light to this topic. I learnt keying on 4.1.1 and boy, with my little knowledge of this motion pix thing, I never want to go back to that experience. (nightmare). I am strongly tilting towards the 4.2.2 capable camera. But the cost of media will eventually decide the toss up.

Can't wait to get my hands on your HVX/HPX book. May be I should just go ahead and buy now or wait to purchase it as part of a new cam. lol

Thanks for your advice, tips and knowledge sharing.
 
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