Hello, all. I'm wondering if anyone knows if it is possible to convert MiniDV footage (shot on a Panny DVX100 @ 24pA) into slow motion, using Final Cut Pro, for eventual transfer to film?

I've read in Marcus Van Bavel's book "Shooting Digital" that to do slow motion in NTSC for film transfer it can only be done at 40% of normal speed for the frames to line up right. Does anyone know what speed is necessary if it's shot in 24pA and not in 60i?

Thanks in advance!

have you tired Twixtor?

http://www.revisionfx.com/rstwixtor.htm

The comment in the book only applies to "normal" interlaced NTSC.

For something shot 24PA I hope you're editing at 24P. Are you? If so then any slow-motion method you use, like a simple 2:1 frame repeat (i.e. 50% normal speed), will look the same on film as it does on your computer.

If you're not editing at 24, then you'll have to remove the pulldown, apply the slow-motion in a 24P timeline, then re-apply the pulldown. Removing and reapplying the 2:3:3:2 pulldown can be done with DVFilm Maker, http://www.dvfilm.com/maker/dvx100.htm

Yes, I will be editing in 24pA, most likely using DVFilm Maker.

Thanks a bunch!

hey jamie,

first of all what do you plan to shoot in slow motion? i mean is it a stationary shot, a pan, tilt, zoom, or even a moving camera one?
i ask this because i heard alot about the motion blur/artifacts that can occur with this camera or any video camera for that matter.
you could always try shoot it in film; like super-8mm or 16mm and then transfer it to video later.

john,

There is also the 'built-in' slow motion:

shoot at 30p fps and force back to 24 fps, resulting in a 20% slow-down with 'real' frames.

HTH,
Clayton

Well, I probably won't be shooting in actual film (as I have no idea how to use a film camera), but it is a good suggestion.

The shots I have in mind have very little camera movement; only the subject being filmed is moving somewhat fast (he's throwing a baseball), which I'd like to be in slow motion.

As far as shooting 30p and then converting to 24p, that is very interesting. I'll probably try shooting it in various camera settings to decide later on which looks better in slo-mo.

Thanks for the suggestions!

Just HOW, if someone can explain to me, does anyone go about shooting in 60i or 30p then change it to 24p? How? Is it in camera or in post? I didn't know it's built it. I would totally use it if I only knew.
Thanks!

You can't get good slow motion results because you'll need to bump up the frames per second when shooting, like at 60fps. 60fps is basically the standard slow motion frame rate. You can do this with film and HD, but not with miniDV.