Which should I record on my Camcorder. 4K or AVC

[alexbooth99]

I have just purchased a Panasonic camcorder which can capture in many formats.
I am going to video a wedding for friends and will burn some Blu-Ray DVD for them.
Should I film in AVC as I believe this can be burnt directly to Blu-Ray DVDs with no conversion, or film in 4K and downscale to AVC.
If I filmed in 4K I could keep the raw source for them to use some time in the future and downscale for the BLU-Ray.
I am worried that downscaling from 4K to AVC may introduce loss of quality compared to filming directly in AVC.
All advice appreciated.
Regards Alexander

[Ken Berry]

Personally, I would go for 4K and then "downgrade". In fact, there is quite a bit of positive argument here about this. But personally, I believe that filming in 4K and keeping it, not only preserves the original in high quality, but when so called downgraded, and depending on the exact properties used, the result can often be better than, or at least as good as, the video originally filmed in HD. When "downgrading", though, you need to set the properties, apart from frame size, to use as far as possible the same or close to the properties as the original...

[lata]

One point to keep in mind is that Video Studio Bluray can only use 1920 x 1080 and 50i aka 25fps interlaced. ( I note you are in AU)
Unless we use 1280 x 720 where 25 progressive can be used. (not really an option)
I assume the AVC will record to 25fps interlaced Upper Field First.
I would imagine the 4K recordings would use 50P or 25P progressive.
Would the conversion from 50P to 25i (interlaced) cause further poor quality.

Hmmm, even so I think like Ken 4K to get the best recording quality.

Pity the program has not kept up with Bluray international standards to allow 4K Bluray burning.

4K video files could be played via a USB memory stick on to TV, most memory sticks suitable for connection to TV have to be Fat32 limited to a 4 Gb file size, even so the total size of the 4K is gonna be large, you may have to use a Bluray disc as a data disc to deliver the 4K files.

[alexbooth99]

Hi all & thanks for the info.

My new camera is a Panasonic VXF1.

According to the manual and the settings in the camera itself -

AVC recording can be set to either 1080i/50 or 1080p/50.
4K recording is described as MP4 3840x2160/25p.

If I did record in AVC should I select 1080p as the doco says this is the best quality ?

Yes I am in Australia which uses the Pal TV system. What does this mean in relation to recording formats and Blu-Ray etc.
I am assuming that videostudio can burn a Blu-Ray disc that I can use in my player.

Also from the responses i am leaning towards recording in 4K as it would be available for the future even though I would be burning to Blu-Ray initially.

Thanks again
Alexander

[tletter]

If I did record in AVC should I select 1080p as the doco says this is the best quality ?

If the manufacturer is telling you that their camera's best quality is 1080p then why record in 4K and get poorer quality video?

tletter
https://www.youtube.com/user/tletter

[lata]

Hi Alexander
I assume you were comparing AVC 50P to AVC 50i for best quality and not comparing to 4K
1080i / 50i is Bluray quality, Bluray has to use 1920 x 1080 x 25fps interlaced (aka 50i)
1080 / 50P will be better quality recordings especially with movement as the frame rate has been doubled. 50 fps instead of 25fps
4K at 3840x2160/25p. will be the best given the resolution and progressive 25fps.

The data rate Kbps will also influence quality although I doubt you will have any say in that when recording.
I would imaging AVC 50i the lowest at 18000kbps ish - avc 1080 / 50P at 26000kbps and the 4k at 60000kbps

As mentioned earlier we think 4K would be the way to go then render to Bluray compliant video to burn a disc.

You can run your own tests, then instead of actually burning a disc create a Bluray folder, then you can play the video from the Stream folder to compare quality

[alexbooth99]

Thanks guys for all your help and advice.
Much appreciated.
Regards Alexander