Notes from High Definition Roadshow

JONATHAN SMILES, Digital Safari

Background: HD Post Production Supervisor, credits include Harry Potter. Has been working with HD for 10 years. Now 90% of his work is HD.

Upgrading Formats: If you’re currently working on Digi-Beta – move to HD-Cam If you’re working with DV – move to HDV.
Q How many versions of HD are there? In the USA there are 18 different variations! Main versions 1080i or 720p (latter mainly transmission format) HD: 1920 x 1080i and 1920 x 1080p (interlace/progressive – 2 fields/full frame) 720p at 50 or 60 Hz used for sports acquisition.
Q Has Interlace a future? Yes, but … True plasma screens with full 1080 capacity coming soon. HD Cameras: Panasonic DVC-Pro - worst camera HD-Cam SR – MPEG4 – Top end Post HD capacity needs – roughly approximate SD to HD requires 6 times the storage space.
Q What are the current HD Viewing Figures? In the US, 50% of output is HD.
Q Who currently transmits HD? USA, Far East, Australia, Russia Germany – ProSieben, Premiere France – TPS Benelux – HD1 and 2 By the end of 2006: Italy, Austria, Scandinavia and the UK. By the end of 2010: It’s anticipated that 100 channels will exist in Europe.
Q Who’s planning HD in the UK? Telewest – launched this week. Sky – launch date keeps moving, probably in June to coincide with BBC launch. BBC – 1st June Ntl – also have capacity for video on demand Telecoms, eg BT when ADSL 2 launches IPTV – Microsoft (Xbox 360) HD is of interest to ITV, although no launch date announced, as there will be fewer channels (targeting ABCs), therefore more attractive/lucrative to advertisers … greater advertising revenue.

Comments:

Component – RIP
Film Festivals – Berlin is the last to hold out for film, and it goes digital from next year.

TOM BARNACLE, Altered Images

HDV Cameras (3 chip)/Prosumer level: JVC – HDV (£2.9k) produces 720p images. Nice shoulder mount, changeable lenses. Focus assist – green shimmer – odd, but very useful. Good quality lenses, but how useful is it to have changeable lenses, most people don’t buy secondary lenses due to cost. Sony – Z1 - HDV (£2.7k) Handycam type. Fixed lens. Panasonic 200 (+ newer version)– DVC-Pro (£4.9 to £5k) Handycam type. Fixed lens. P2 stick offers full uncompressed HD BUT 4 gig stick (£430) only gives 2 minutes of video. Will become more useful when larger capacity sticks more available and cheaper. Canon H1 – (£4.9k) Similar in style to XL1. Picture quality stunning. Viewfinder crap. Digital controlled lenses, not manual. However, can buy b/w viewfinder, for £1,200. Camera would benefit/needs manual lens.

Q: What about Sony’s higher level cameras? XDCAM for corporate, HD-Cam SR. Comment: It all comes down to the lens – a good HD lens can cost between £15 to £20k. Sticking a 35 mm lens onto above cameras, the camera only uses a small fraction of the actual lens, therefore not that useful. Digital Arri’s – from film roots – offers full use of 35 mm lens with film like depth of field etc.
Q: How good are the HDV Cameras in low light? Not good at all, particularly the Z1. Comment: Don’t mix Sony and Panasonic tape stock/cameras, as they use different lubricants which will gum up the tape mechanism.
Q: Can you get drop out using HDV? Yes. You can lose up to 3 frames.