:: NEWS - DIGITAL VIDEO TECHNOLOGY ::

New Formats
The changeover to HDTV (High-Definition Television) is on the way. TV stations are gearing up with very expensive HD equipment, and consumers are purchasing flat panel display TVs either LCDs or plasmas. But what if you don't have a TV licence fee in your back pocket to fund your video productions? What are the alternatives for low-end HD production? Fortunately there are some alternatives to choose from. While not cheap for the individual purchase they are still very cheap by comparrison to what TV studios are paying for their equipment. While the image quality is not the same as the more expensive camcorder, it is still remarkably good for most standard HD production.

Basically the offerings come from three vendors - JVC, Sony and Panasonic. Both Sony and JVC use a deriverative of the present miniDV format called HDV, which utilises the same tape mechanism and many off -the-shelf componants as standard DV, but with enhanced compression capabilities to deliver much higher picture quality. HDV, uses the H264 compression algorithm, which delivers excellent picture quality but small file sizes suitable for PC processing and distribution. It is especially suitable for standard 'stright-cuts' editing such as news or documentary footage. The downside is that the compression format is not especially suitable for motion graphics, visual effects (VFX) or multilayered mixing. The Panasonic system is more suitable to the latter and uses an algorhythm that permits precise cutting on a frame. HDV uses a GOP (Group of Pictures) composed of about 12 frames, so frame accurate editing is not possible. Editing software applications, such as FCP, examine the footage and generate the missing frames. Technical experts are not too enamoured with this process. However, as mentioned it does suffice very well for standard edits.

Prices quoted below are from Eurotek and are correct as of publication (7/10/'06).
So let's look at the camcorders available!

 

JVC - http://www.jvcpro.co.uk/prod/camcorders/index_html

First is the JVC ProHD 100 series camcorders. The latest model, the GY-HD110E, uses a 3-chip CCD. It has native 16:9 aspect ratio (other camcordes fake this by cutting the top and bottom of the frame off). Older DV tapes as well as HDV tapes can be utilized and there is an option to fit either a 40GB or 80GB Hard Disk recorder. It also features interchangable lenses, twin XLR connections for professional audio recording, a standard 16x zoom lens, AC adapter/charger, battery and SD memory card among other features.

This is the type of camcorder that will appeal to educational institutions, professional videographers, news departments and TV programme producers utilising straight-forward cuts-style editing (i.e. not used for compositing work). JVC have an attractive range of options including versions for professional TV studio work. Price: Euro 6,000 - 13,000 + VAT @ 21%.

Sony - http://www.sonybiz.net/primesupport
N.B. you still have to 'click' onto 'Products' then 'Camcorders' then 'HDV' as there is no direct link to the HDV page available!

Next up is Sony who has three HDV models to choose from, the HVR-A1E, the HVR-V1E and the HVR-Z1E.

The HVR-A1E uses one 1/3" 3 mega pixel CMOS CCD, a Carl Zeiss lens, 10x zoom function, still image capture in either 1920x1440 pixels memory mode or 1440x810 pixels in tape mode, both a 2.7" LCD colour monitor and a B&W/colour switchable viewfinder, can operate at 25 frames for a 'cine' -like effect. It also records in 1080i format, sports 2 XLR channels as well as built-in audio (usually not used except for background audio), manual focus and manual zoom ring, exposure lever, a new 'tele' macro function (can take a macro picture at a distance) and a histogram function for measuring brightness and exposure accurately. Outputs are iLink (Sony's name for Firewire), Composite, S-Video and Audio. It is also one of the smallest such camcorders on the market. Price: Euro 2,482.07 + VAT @ 21% (options extra)

The HVR-V1E is Sony's first camcorder to utilise 3 'ClearVid' CMOS CCD sensors. It captures 1080/50i (i.e. 1080 lines @ 50 interleaved frames per second). Again it incorporates 2 x XLR microphone inputs, a 3.5" LCD, Timecode options and HDMI output for direct connection to consumer High Definition LCD and Plasma displays. It has a 20x zoom and can 'downconvert' from HDV to DVCAM internally. Output via iLink (Firewire). It has 25p (for progressive cine style effect recording) and can output this into a number of different formats for inclusion in other file types such as Digital Betacam or HDCAM (note it does not record in any of these formats, just is capalbe of exporting the file for inclusion in those formats). Price: TBA.

The HVR-Z1E was the first such camcorder to come on the marked aimed at the semi-professional user or news crews/stringers. It can switch between DV, DVCAM and HDV formats, has iLink (Firewire) for connecting to Macs or PCs for NLE (non-linear editing), it uses 25p (progressive) mode for a cine-style 'film look' . Unually it can switch between 50i (PAL) and 60i (NTSC) i.e.it can record either in the European or American/Japanese formats. As you would expect it had 2x XLR inputs, 2ch. independent audio record level controls, both flexible Time Code and User settings, a B&W/ Colour switchable viewfinder, a colour LCD panel, 6 'assign buttons' for frequently used functions such as indoor or outdoor white balance settings. There is also a lower priced consmer version called the HDR-FX1E. A feature-for-feature comparrison is available on the Sony website. Price: Euro 5,675.37 + VAT @ 21%.

Sony have of this writing (Oct.'06) introduced a new modlel called the HVR-V1U, which has an optional 60GB external hard drive (4.5 hours recording time) and the images can be captured to either or both tape and hard drive. However, unlike the models above which capture interlace pictures and then give the option of progressive images (which are derived from the interlace images), the HVR-V1U uses true native progressive capture. This is a better recording method and permits capture of fast moving images without degradation. It also has 2x XLR audio inputs, a 3.5" LCD, 20x optical zoom, and a cache recording feature, which allows up to 14 seconds of video and audio signals to be contnuously buffered in memory while the camera is in stand-by mode (so you don't miss the action). The machine can also record in DVCAM. Price: TBA.

 

Finally there is the offering from Panasonic the AG-HVX200 (my favorite). Panasonic has developed its own propriatriary formats which are less compressed than HDV and can be preceisly edited on the frame.
http://www.panasonic.com/business/provideo/hvx200microsite/index.asp

The VX200 utilises variable frame rates from 12 to 60 fps useful for over- or under- cranked effects (fast or slo-motion effects). Unlike the Sony or JVC models it captures in progressive (continuous - similar to a computer screen) rather than interlace (alternate lines) format. Although it has a tape mechanism onto which it can record the miniDV format, it utilises a PCMIA or P2 4GB or 8GB memory card to record in either DVCPRO HD, DVCPRO 50 or DVCPRO - all very high-quality broadcast formats. Although it looks like a small camcorder from the image above, it is in fact quite large, robust and heavier than the previous mentioned Sony camcorders. It, like the others has a IEEE 1394 computer interface (the technical term for Firewire), to connect to NLEs like Final Cut Pro. The image quality is said to be 'stunning', and the footage can more easily be integrated into motion graphics environments. If your budget can afford it, this is the one to go for! Price: Euro 6,000 + VAT @ 21% (many optional extras available)