View Full Version : Is HD200 UK SD Broadcast quality?


Josh White
June 16th, 2009, 02:45 PM
Hi All,

I'm currently using my hd201 for corporate jobs but we are starting to branch out to documentaries (Mainly fly-on-the-wall). Would a broadcaster like Channel 4 accept the HD201's footage for broadcast.

I was thinking shooting straight to DV, not HDV downconvert. Obviously the broadcaster would probably be unaware which camera it was shot on. But does DV from the HD200 hold enough to be used either on a 60min one off or series.

I was thinking I might have to just upgrade the lens to 13x for example. As oppsoed to going the DSR450/Digibeta/DVCPro route. Which would incurr additional costs if I either hired or bought.

Thanks for all your advice.

Josh

Brian Drysdale
June 17th, 2009, 03:01 AM
DV has been used to shoot SD productions in the UK for many years, especially observational documentaries. However, just bear in mind the Channel 4 usually commissions programmes rather than buys them in, so whatever format being used will be budgeted for.

Tom Hardwick
June 17th, 2009, 03:53 AM
And before you shoot anything for Channel 4, ask them what formats are acceptable. They'll no doubt have a technical website for suppliers.

Josh White
June 17th, 2009, 04:01 AM
Thanks For your responses guys.
Channel 4 would obviously be our first choice and we'd go for a commission. But failing that we'd look for funding elsewhere and try for a sale after it was made.

Marc Colemont
June 17th, 2009, 02:49 PM
I would capture and edit in HD, then export to DV.
It will give you better quality, and you have the choice afterwards to sell it as HD too.

Josh White
June 17th, 2009, 04:06 PM
I would capture and edit in HD, then export to DV.
It will give you better quality, and you have the choice afterwards to sell it as HD too.

This was something I was thinking about. Would broadcasters accept 720p or uprezzed to 1080 for HD broadcast? I don't want to make another thread about shooting HD for SD delivery. But has anyone done it with HDV 720?

Shaun Roemich
June 18th, 2009, 09:34 AM
I've shot a ton of 720P for SD downconvert broadcast, if THAT helps...

And even more 1080i for SD broadcast.