Have been learning the new cam today. Few questions.

1. I do not see an option to shoot 720p? Or is that only a post option? It only allows 1080i and 480i.

2. I am currently using premiere pro 2.0 and i cannot export as an HDV file. Why not? Only wmv9 and mpeg2.

3. I am planning on shooting (hopefully 720p) or 1081i and then capturing in an HD project. Then creating a SD widescreen project and scaling it down to fit. Is that a good or bad way to do it? As opposed to just setting the camera to shoot SD.

thanks guys

There is no 720p in this camcorder, only 1080i (with 24f 30f and 60i).

I would suggest shooting in the highest quality and then downconverting in post, you will get better resolution that way.

I cannot help you with the premiere pro issue, but if I remember correctly they haven't added the export to tape implemented into the software yet, so wait for premeire 2.5 or a plugin.

one more thing.

Is mpeg the standard format for capturing HD off the camera? I always thought if you had an HDV project it was capturing in the HDV codec?

HDV is mpeg2, but in a long GOP (group of pictures) format (I frame every 15 frames). It's got the same data rate as DV, but is mpeg compressed video for that data, rather than full ('uncompressed') I frames, so when it goes to tape, it's compressed already into a transport format..that's how they get the 1080i worth of data into the same physical tape and tape speed as DV. To edit, you need a fast computer to transform it out of the mpeg (transport oriented) format into I frames whereever you cut, add effects, etc., or transcode to a different codec first for editing, then re-encode your final edited project.

You may want to look into Cineform's Aspect HD for Adobe Premier Pro. I use it with the A1 and Premier Pro and it makes life much easier.

If you're set on 720P I recommend shooting in one of the F(rame) modes for better downscaling.......you can shoot 30F and 24F natively (in 1080 res of course)- good luck.

1080i at 24 or 30 F should be better than 720p anyway right?
Andy

More resolution yes- if that's what you meant by "better."

Did you try this download for the Canon Editing Presets for HDV progressive?

http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/product.jsp?product=98&platform=Windows