HDV Capture 1080x1440 or 1080x1920???

[brumey]

Hello:
I have just started captureing HDV from my Sony HC3 camera. I followed the excellent guide to capturing and have had some success. My main goal is to capture and keep at least one copy of the capture unmolested by me and in it's native formate so not loosing information.

The instructions say to capture in MPEG2 at 1080x1440. This at first made sence because I understand the CCD captures at this resolution for HDV. I then read a comment on a reputable camcorder forum that states "At 3000 lux, the high definition picture measures 1440 x 1080 (spread over a 16:9 area) so the imported image is 1920 x 1080". So, is the Sony actually spreading the pixels to make a 1080x1920 resolution recording? If so, should we not capture in 1080x1920?

Any guidence or specific information will help. I was suprised that it only captured in 1440 yet HD is 1920.

what if I capture in using both settings, will I be able to see a difference that would prove anything either way. Is there a way to see what resolution is coming out of the camera from tape?

Thanks in advance,

Kevin

[mahakgtr34]

There are different specs for HD.
720p, 1080i and 1080p

the p behind the number stands for progressive scan, the i for interlaced/interlacing.

Actually the Sony HC3 is recording HD content in 1080i which is interlaced. Same with HD displays. For example a Hitachi Plasma with "only" 1024 x 1024 pixel resolution can playbak 1080i (1920x1080i) material.

For best results you should capture videomaterial in its native 1440x1080 resolution. (The common use of 1080i is 1440 or less.) capturing in higher resolutions would make no sense. You can't get a better result by using 1920x1080 capture as only 1440 vertical lines are recorded in the first place.

Read about 1080i etc. here.. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1080i

[jchunter]

Kevin,
You should capture using properties that exactly match those of the originally encoded video: Mpeg2 HDV 1440 x 1080 pixels, Interlaced, Upper Field First.

You cannot improve the picture quality beyond the original by any means.

You may have noticed in the HD Tutorial that I do transcode my edited projects to 1920x1080p but the reasons have nothing to do with improving resolution. I do this as a workaround because my playback device gets the aspect ratio wrong with 1440x1080 and I deinterlace because it gives smoother pans and sharper moving objects.

[Terry Stetler]

I shoot the resolution that most closely matches the native resolution of the most commonly available/affordable HDTV's 'out there'; 720p (1280x720), and keep it throughout the edit unless . When 1080 TV's become more of a market factor I'll change.

The problem: too many of the current sets do not scale down the higher resolutions very well at all, so I'm shooting for their 'sweet spot'.

If someone happens to have a 1080 & informs me of that pre-shoot then that's another matter.

[brumey]

Thanks for the information. I now know the camera's native capture resolution is 1080x1440. I assume that Sony are not changing that resolution to 1080x1920 before it hits the tape. Therefore, I'll always capture in the 1440 mode and interlaced as suggested.

I have two primary viewing devices:
1) Dell LCD 24" (16:9) PC monitor.
2) a mitsibishi WS-65611 65" rear projection HDTV.

The TV is a 1080i and not 720P. My consern or confusion is the convertion from 1440 to 1920. I am wondering to do it or let the TV deal with 1440?

My other consern is the TV. From the owner manual specification and a web forum, it's suggesting the horizontal resolution to be 1200. This is far less than 1920 what I thought the HD standard was and even less than the 1440 capture on my Sony HC3.

Maybe I am thinking about this too much. I guess I was looking for the ideal, 1080x1920 in and 1080x1920 out. Guess I'll capture in 1440 and let the playback devices deal with the scaling.

Any clarifications welcome.

One observation on HDV recording, it shows every error. Out of focus and poor videography shows much more than SD IMHO.

Thanks,
Kevin

[jchunter]

Kevin,
You just have to experiment a bit to see how your HDTV behaves. I have a (now) ancient Pioneer 59" RPTV (circa 1998) that does amazingly well with whatever hi def I throw at it and I can see the differences. My aspect ratio problem is due to the AVLP2, which can't read the pixel aspect ratio (PAR) properly. Experimentation and work arounds are the best strategy, here, IMHO.

You are quite right about HD showing every error. I have sharpened up my camcorder technique to use a fluid head tripod with LANC control, to slow up the HC1's zoom speed to 25sec. Moving car shots are now out of the question, without a motion stabilizer...


Terry,
Neither Kevin nor I have the option to shoot at 720p. However, if I did, I would still shoot at the maximum resolution possible, edit that, and then downrez a video file to whatever is required. This would allow the greatest flexibility to output any possible resolution that might be required in the future. But if you shoot 720p, you can never uprez, later...

[Jerry Jones]

If I recall correctly, that comment is part of a review posted on the CamcorderInfo.com Web site.

If I recall correctly, the reviewer was making a reference to a software program called "Imatest."

The video was being measured for resolution by "Imatest."

All 1080i camcorders use 1440 instead of 1920.

So your PROJECT SETTINGS should match:

NTSC drop frame (29.97 fps)
MPEG files
24 bits, 1440 x 1080, 29.97 fps
Upper Field First
(MPEG-2), 16:9
Video data rate: 25000 kbps
Audio data rate: 384 kbps
MPEG audio layer 2, 48 KHz, Stereo

Jerry Jones
http://www.jonesgroup.net

I then read a comment on a reputable camcorder forum that states "At 3000 lux, the high definition picture measures 1440 x 1080 (spread over a 16:9 area) so the imported image is 1920 x 1080".