Shoot HD or SD for DVD release

monkeyking

monkeyking

Well-known member
Finished product is SD 4:3 DVD. Using FCP.
Shooting Greenscreen.
Some of the other footage has already been shot on Sony EX-1 1080p 30p but final product is 4:3 SD DVD.
Couldn't I shoot DVCPRO 50 30p and save on rendering time/frame adjustment in post? Would footage actually look better shot in HD even though it'll never be viewed as HD? DVCPRO 50 color space is 4:2:0? better than EX-1 ?

thanks
 
The color resolution of 1080p with 4:2:2 color sampling is similar to SD with 4:4:4 color sampling, so the greenscreen shots will resolve with finer detail if you shoot in HD.
Since you're going to DVD, I wouldn't expect much of a difference from the two formats, except when there's a step in between, like greenscreening.
 
DVCPro50 is probably better, but have shot both that and 720/30pN to a replicated DVD, we don't see a material difference.
 
Just curious, why a 4:3 DVD when you are shooting with a 16:9 camera and can make a 16:9 letterbox DVD? And you have other footage that was shot in 1080p.

I just released our second 16:9 letterbox SD DVD (shows black top and bottom on a 4:3 TV and plays full 16:9 on a LCD/Plasma display) that was shot in 720/24pn and I edited in FCP in DVCPROHD 720p24.

The good thing is I have the master in HD that is ready for Blu-Ray when it makes sense to start producing them. And even though the current DVD is in SD resolution it does look better than if it was shot and edited in SD.
 
4:3 DVD is a client demand in which I have no say. I'd prefer 16:9 as well, but I'll see what goes down next week when I meet w/client.
I agree with your HD reasoning for future proofing. This project may have no future : )

So Shooting in HD looks better even when end result is SD - thanks.
 
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