I've been hoping I'm wrong on this for a while now but I don't see how it's possible to squeeze the full 1080p30 raw data into a 1080i data stream without loss. The difference in data is around 30%. Look at the section title "Standards" at:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_Digital_Interface

1080p requires SMPTE 372M dual-link HD-SDI. I've speculated that 1080p30 is transmitted through the EX1 HD-SDI as 1440x1080p30 wrapped into 1080i, but that's not true 1080p30. Or maybe it just sends out 1080i30 and it still looks so good that it's believed to have been 1080p30?

1080p 4:2:2 10 bit requires a set "x" amount of data. Nothing can change that no matter how it's wrapped.

Mike, I'm not saying it is true 1080p 30fps 4:2:2, but hypothetically there should be enough bandwidth to carry the stream. 30fps takes about 1 Gibts/sec. While 59.94 fps takes upward of 2.5 Gbits/sec.

So depending on how HD-SDI handles the slower frame rate, it is techinically feasable, FWIU.

But more likely, the EX-1's HD-SDI stream is limited to 1080i and 720P. I imagine this is a pretty "easy" question for Sony or some EX-1 owners to answer.

This is definitely something needed to know. Well, so we don't hijack this thread, this is being discussed here on the EX1 forum...

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=118054

I've been hoping I'm wrong on this for a while now but I don't see how it's possible to squeeze the full 1080p30 raw data into a 1080i data stream without loss. The difference in data is around 30%. Look at the section title "Standards" at:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_Digital_Interface

1080p requires SMPTE 372M dual-link HD-SDI. I've speculated that 1080p30 is transmitted through the EX1 HD-SDI as 1440x1080p30 wrapped into 1080i, but that's not true 1080p30. Or maybe it just sends out 1080i30 and it still looks so good that it's believed to have been 1080p30?

1080p 4:2:2 10 bit requires a set "x" amount of data. Nothing can change that no matter how it's wrapped.

1080p isn't any larger in terms of bandwidth then 1080i. Dual link is used on the high end Cinealta equipment to pump out RGB 4:4:4 data. That is why the bandwidth is higher. 1080i and 1080p contain the exact same amount of pixels. One is just made up of two moments woven together. That same number of pixels is still there. A single SDI is capable of sending any form of 4:2:2 video no matter what the resolution or framerate. Dual link again is only used for 4:4:4 RGB output and only from the F9## series cameras and like decks.

Cinealta uses PSf frames where they put progressive frames inside of an interlaced stream. From a viewers point of view there is no difference at all in doing this. It is only so the signal makes sense to interlaced equipment because interlaced equipment expects the alternating fields.

The only time psf is an issue is with cameras such as the V1 or pal DV cameras that shoot progressive scan because they put progressive data into a interlaced encoded video file. The reason why this is an issue is because mpeg2 uses two different forms of chroma pixel layout for interlaced and progressive video. Pal DV always uses the interlaced form of 4:2:0. Progressive of course is what you want with progressive footage but since the stream is an interlaced mpeg2 file it has to use the interlaced method of arranging the chroma blocks. With an uncompressed live feed this is not an issue at all since you never go down to 4:2:0 anyway. For 4:2:2 or 4:4:4 material is doesn't matter how the data is dumped into a format.

Thanks a lot for the clarification. On post #29 at http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=118054 I outlined how the max bandwidth of 1080p30 4:4:2 10 bit is calculated to fit precisely within SMPTE 292M HD-SDI at 1.485 Gbit/s. But in that post I ask how sound would then fit. Anyone know?

1080p isn't any larger in terms of bandwidth then 1080i. Dual link is used on the high end Cinealta equipment to pump out RGB 4:4:4 data. That is why the bandwidth is higher. 1080i and 1080p contain the exact same amount of pixels. One is just made up of two moments woven together. That same number of pixels is still there. A single SDI is capable of sending any form of 4:2:2 video no matter what the resolution or framerate. Dual link again is only used for 4:4:4 RGB output and only from the F9## series cameras and like decks...Thomas, I really don't believe that this is entirely correct. 1920 X 1080 59.94 10-bit 4:2:2 is approximately 2.5 Gbits/sec. This IS too much bandwidth for single HD-SDI. Now if you are comparing embedding 1080P into a 1080i timeline using a pulldown, then yes they are the same bandwidth b/c by definition, you are using a 1080i stream. But you can't do that with any frame rate. I believe I am correct with this.

I think he's saying 1080i60 bandwidth = 1080p30 bandwidth which sounds right

Correct. 1080p 60p doesn't really exhist yet except for with Red. Single link SDI handles up to 720p 60p or 1080i 60i or 1080 30p which the last two are the same. No camera including the Cinealta F900 or even the F950 can output 1080p 60p so there is no need at all to even think about it. Dual link SDI is strictly for 1080 i/p RGB 4:4:4.

When anybody talks about 1080p they are talking about 24p 25p or 30p.

I see where you are coming from, but not to be too picky, but it is a tad bit different from: "A single SDI is capable of sending any form of 4:2:2 video no matter what the resolution or framerate." In the context you've outlined, yes it makes sense. But as a general statement, which is how I first took it, it doesn't.