Z1U questions...

[Jkim]

Hi All,

I’m planning to film my first feature in September. I can’t wait for the Panasonic HVX-200, so I’m considering buying the Z1U. I have a few questions I hope you can help me with.

1. How do I get to 24fps with the Sony. I don’t understand the difference between shooting 50i and 60i.
2. Will it look better (film like) than the DVX100a?
3. How can I edit HDV native without going to a DI codec? I currently use Premiere Pro 1.5 and Vegas 6 on a PC but will buy a Mac and use FCP 5 if necessary.
4. What is the best monitor to shoot with? Something small and portable would be best.

Anyone have experience shooting a feature with the Z1U? I would love to know your workflow – especially editing. How about filmout? Any good results to speak of?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Barry_Green]

1. How do I get to 24fps with the Sony. I don’t understand the difference between shooting 50i and 60i.

There are a few ways to simulate 24p. You could shoot CineFrame 25, and then slow it down by 4% in post (i.e., edit in a 24p timeline, import your cineframe 25 footage, and tell it to play back at 96% speed, which won't be 100% accurate but it'll be close... probably should be 95.9% or 96.1%, I don't remember). Or you could just shoot 60i and let Vegas handle the conversion to 24fps for you.

Either way will result in a significant loss in resolution.

2. Will it look better (film like) than the DVX100a?

It will not look nearly as filmlike as the DVX100A. It will be about the same vertical resolution, but about twice as much horizontal resolution, with less dynamic range and more contrast, less light sensitivity, and less noise. But more filmlike? Not at all.

3. How can I edit HDV native without going to a DI codec? I currently use Premiere Pro 1.5 and Vegas 6 on a PC but will buy a Mac and use FCP 5 if necessary.

Vegas 6 supports native HDV editing in the native codec.

4. What is the best monitor to shoot with? Something small and portable would be best.

That's a big problem with HDV. Big problem. Because the monitors don't show you what your footage actually looks like. They show you an uncompressed version of what you think your footage will look like, but don't show you what your footage ACTUALLY looks like, once the MPEG compression has gotten through with it. The only way to see what your footage really looks like is to view it through the firewire; and about the only way to do that will be the forthcoming HDV Power Pack for DV Rack.

I don't know what you'll find in the way of a small, portable, HD monitor. Likely will be very expensive (and, again, won't show you what your footage on tape looks like, unless you play back the footage from tape).

How about filmout? Any good results to speak of?

Marcus Van Bavel at DVFilm.com has transferred some FX1 or Z1 footage, and I believe he said it was the sharpest transfer he's done from prosumer camera footage.