The Best Video Formats

iDV8

iDV8

Well-known member
My next dumb question is this: With all the different recording formats why wouldn't you want to always use 1080? Apparently it doesn't go "good-480", "better-720" and "best-1080" because why would you want to use 720 over 1080? Wouldn't you always want to use the best?

Second, I read that you can shoot in 720 and then convert it to 1080. Neat, but why? Is there a downside (loss)? Why not always shoot in 720 and convert etc.

I'm just trying to get my head around WHY all these options. I know there is a good reason.

I appreciate you patience in advance.
 
My experience is that the best "value" in a shooting format is 720/24p.

It provides most of the quality/resolution of 1080 without the calories.
 
iDV8 said:
My next dumb question is this: With all the different recording formats why wouldn't you want to always use 1080? Apparently it doesn't go "good-480", "better-720" and "best-1080" because why would you want to use 720 over 1080? Wouldn't you always want to use the best?

Second, I read that you can shoot in 720 and then convert it to 1080. Neat, but why? Is there a downside (loss)? Why not always shoot in 720 and convert etc.

I'm just trying to get my head around WHY all these options. I know there is a good reason.

I appreciate you patience in advance.
Click to expand...

With P2 cards. shooting 720/24Pn yields 20 minutes on an 8GB card (I actually have gotten over 21). 1080 yields 8. Given the small quality advantage of 1080, that's a pretty good reason by itself. Then there's the variable frame rates, which are also only available in 720/24Pn mode.
 
Variable framerates. Record time. Format the project has to be delivered in. Some might want dvcpro50, or 720, or 1080...

The point is, it's good to have the options and not be tied to 1080 all the time, or 720 all the time, etc, et.

Jason
 
Then there's the variable frame rates, which are also only available in 720/24Pn mode.
Click to expand...
Variable frame rates can be used in any 720p mode (not just 24pn) while set for FILM CAM (Barry book, pg. 121).
 
But, to be done in camera, and to take advantage of record times based on the frame rate, you have to use pn. Using non-pn modes and doing variable framerates, requires you to do the work in post. And, in non-native modes, even if you are shooting 12 frames per second, you are still taking up a gig a minute.

Jason
 
I figured that recording time and P2 space would be an issue but I had forgotten about variable rates only in 720p. I didn't realize that there wasn't a huge quality difference.
Mostly I'm thinking along the lines of my independent projects and want to get the most out the camera's quality.
I really appreciate all your comments, it’s very helpful for me to get started on the right foot.
 
David S. said:
My experience is that the best "value" in a shooting format is 720/24p.

It provides most of the quality/resolution of 1080 without the calories.
Click to expand...

Tastes great . . . no, less filling . . . no, tastes great . . . no, less filling . . .
 
It depends on what youre shooting.

108024p is the "best" for narritive. HOWEVER, 720 60P, is the best for reality stuff. Sports, reality show, news etc.... 720p60 has higher resolution per frame than 1080i does. As of now, there is no 1080 60p, so as far as the HDTV formats go, 720 60p is the best for sports, and reality.

There is no "good, better, best". Each framerate has its own purpose. Europe has adopted the 720p standard, over 1080i. Its easier to compress, and holds more temporal resolution. though the individual frames are lower res, it shows more of them per second, so your eye fills in the detials.

ive strated falling in love with the 720 60p. it looks amazing.
 
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