This has always seem to be the worst subject. Everyone is all over the place.
I have read all the info attached to every board I can find. That is alot of reading. To my supprise it seems that people just tend to go with what works for them. I find that kind of iritating. I'm in the same boat as most people but it seems that it just comes down to personal preference. Like in the post

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?s=&threadid=6839

The filmmaker wasnt going to go off to film but still used 30p while shooting. I thought that if you were going off to TV (HBO as they stated) you needed to have 60i to avoid the flickering that can appear.
Are there technical papers that say "to get the best possible image from your camera do this!"
It just seems that each time i read something most people stick to a side but then in the end its "You pic. Whatever looks good to you." I can be happy with that but I would think that one way is the best and the other is just not considered...as of yet.
This subject just seems like the big crossroads.
Granted I have the XL1s and both modes look amazing and I love them both. So I'm asking for....Facts. I Think that is what Im looking for. Maybe infomation about what one to use with TV, Film, Web, DVD and whatever else comes along.
Thanks all for your help so far. I think I just need this problem SLAMED into my skull one more time.

Rob

I've researched this issue as well- it seems the general consensus is:

60i will give the camera's sharpest, video look- good for nature documentaries and anything else that would benefit from sharp "video look" imagery...

30p (and 24p) gives a softer look (25% reduction in vertical resolution for some camcorders) and a more "filmlike" image- to me it's just plain softer....it does have the benfit of producing better web videos as you wont see interlacing during movement in the shots (you could always deinterlace 60i video- but it's extra time and steps)

If you were shooting a project you think you'll output to DVD and want the film look- 30p is the way to go.
Informative documentaries....I'd go with standard 60i.

Steve,
Thanks for the nice and clean reference.

I'm also assuming that everyone else agrees with Steve, since no one else has posted to counter.

So now about 16x9 electronic?
Taking 16x9 mode into 60i or 30p. What would be the results? Higher resolution in vertical. Only big downer is the inablility to adjust the framing of the image? So given the fact you frame everything the way you want to from the start your set then?
So by using 30p in 16x9 mode you would end up with just the same ammount of information in each frame? (XL1s)


Correct me if I am wrong, please.


Rob:D

"30p (and 24p) gives a softer look (25% reduction in vertical resolution for some camcorders)"

to make this clear .. FRAME MODE (not progressive) has 20-25% reduction in vertical resolution...

true PROGRESSIVE has more resolution then interlace.