SD footage expiry date?

[mushyosh]

Just wondering: Is worth buying a DVX over HD if you like the look of DVX better, right?

Im saving up for a new camera, decided to save long term. But people are telling me to go with HD.

My reasoning is: if it looks ok, it will never be out of date. But is that the case?

I mean, plenty of cinema releases shot on SD cameras. So as long as its good enough to fill a big screen like that, then is it really going to ever go out of date?

Its just a matter of one picture being more crisp and detailed over another. Or is there more to it?

 

[Erik Olson]

There has been a major shift in the past two years from SD to HD in most broadcast markets. However, there is no wide requirement (like legislation) for a complete shift anywhere on the horizon.

In fact, many of the mandates producer's are working under today still dictate SD deliverables! I'm talking about TLC and other major cable outlets.

From a future-proofing standpoint, taking footage in HD makes good sense in every way. I had a meeting yesterday around shooting an incentive trip for a corporation this summer. It wasn't long before we changed the proposal from SD to HD acquisition and deliverables (HD-DVD most likely as the show delivers in October) because the margin of cost between the two has narrowed so quickly.

It is remarkable how quickly HD has become the new "standard-definition". Many would argue that the shift began a decade ago, but there was no real traction in the industry until after 2003.

I would seriously consider purchasing a 1/3" HDV or DVCProHD camera over an SD equivalent at this time. Especially when the margin between the two is less than 40% in many cases. There is a marked difference in image quality and resolution-compatibility for filmout.

You have to decide what camera suits you better - many can successfully argue that some are better for narrative or news-like and so on. This has narrowed, with Canon cameras producing better 24-frame cadence in the latest generation of HDV.

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[KyleProhaska]

I went SD and realized I made a big mistake when I saw the prices of HD cams dropping. The whole reason I wanted HD was the picture clarity and the use for the future. I'll be putting most things on DVD but while editing and doing FX, color correcting, etc. I have much more leeway and the image is simply beautiful. It does sound crazy to buy an HD cam when your output is DVD but ive seen movies on DVD that have been shot on film, and movies like Click, or w/e that were shot in HD and the difference in the DVD quality is unmistakable. Down-rezzed or not the difference is clear in the image detail. Not to mention editing in HD now means I have the opportunity to make HD-DVD's or w/e I want later from the projects I create now, its a win win.

- Kyle