How good should A1 be with greenscreen? at DVinfo.net
DV Info Net

Go Back   DV Info Net > Canon EOS / MXF / AVCHD / HDV / DV Camera Systems > Canon HDV and DV Camera Systems > Canon XH Series HDV Camcorders
Register FAQ Today's Posts Buyer's Guides

Canon XH Series HDV Camcorders
Canon XH G1S / G1 (with SDI), Canon XH A1S / A1 (without SDI).

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old November 4th, 2006, 09:17 AM   #1
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Portland OR
Posts: 32
How good should A1 be with greenscreen?

I've heard that HDV can be problematic with this. When I was thinking of Sony's V1, I'd decided that I'd shoot greenscreen out of the HDMI connection straight into a computer.

Now being drawn back to Canon by the low light comparisons, am not want to pay the extra for the G1 to get the SDI HD output for the direct computer recording but Canon chips are supposed to be better for this application than Sony's CMOS.

Therefore, how well should the A1's greenscreen taped footage perform in post?

Gene
Gene Latimer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old November 4th, 2006, 11:14 AM   #2
Contributor
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Kansas City, MO
Posts: 4,449
I don't think HDV is any more problematic for keying than DV. Neither format is going to be perfect, but if you do it right you can get very acceptable keys. If you're shooting Digibeta, you can be pretty sloppy and get a good key, but with DV and HDV you have to be much more precise with your lighting and with your keying software. I personally prefer the Canon because of its bigger chips. If a really big percentage of my worked involved studio chromakeying, I might consider the HVX200.
Bill Pryor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old November 4th, 2006, 11:46 AM   #3
Obstreperous Rex
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: San Marcos, TX
Posts: 27,368
Images: 513
If HDV isn't good enough for the key, then there's always the uncompressed analog component video output.
__________________
CH

Search DV Info Net | 20 years of DVi | ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!
Chris Hurd is offline   Reply With Quote
Old November 4th, 2006, 11:55 AM   #4
Contributor
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Kansas City, MO
Posts: 4,449
True...is there any magic box to get that into a laptop with FCP, I wonder. If so you could do live keying, maybe.
Bill Pryor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old November 4th, 2006, 01:38 PM   #5
Major Player
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 206
I ordered some eefx green foam and will be doing a lot of greenscreen work in the near future.

Seriously, shouldn't HDV be much better than DV?

I will be happy to let you know what I discover.
__________________
www.CodemanStudios.com
Cody Lucido is offline   Reply With Quote
Old November 4th, 2006, 01:42 PM   #6
Major Player
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: The Netherlands
Posts: 204
What really makes a difference is Magic Bullet's de-artifacter. I have tried to key DV and HDV samples with and without the de-artifacter, and the difference is very clear. Good thing is, it is now also in the cheaper version of magic bullet (editors version).

Steven
Steven Fokkinga is offline   Reply With Quote
Old November 4th, 2006, 02:09 PM   #7
Major Player
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: UT
Posts: 945
Even cheaper, faster and smarter (for FCP at least) is "G Nicer" and "G Chroma sharpen" from Nattress. (www.nattress.com) Dropping HDV clips into a uncompressed or Sheer codec timeline and preprocessing with the Nattress plug-in will help yield better keys.
Barlow Elton is offline   Reply With Quote
Old November 4th, 2006, 02:47 PM   #8
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Portland OR
Posts: 32
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris Hurd
If HDV isn't good enough for the key, then there's always the uncompressed analog component video output.
This has become an important question for me: what is a good, economical way to get the component video into a Mac (desktop or laptop) and FCP? I'm wanting to edit it as DVCPRO HD.

What's the best way to handle the audio in this scenario?

gene
Gene Latimer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old November 4th, 2006, 08:30 PM   #9
Major Player
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: chattanooga, tn
Posts: 721
Quote:
Originally Posted by Steven Fokkinga
What really makes a difference is Magic Bullet's de-artifacter. I have tried to key DV and HDV samples with and without the de-artifacter, and the difference is very clear. Good thing is, it is now also in the cheaper version of magic bullet (editors version).

Steven
Or you can just use your NLE's chroma blur, which does the same thing.
__________________
-->jarrod whaley.
www.oakstreetfilms.com
Jarrod Whaley is offline   Reply With Quote
Old November 5th, 2006, 04:11 AM   #10
Major Player
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: The Netherlands
Posts: 204
According to this test, de-artifacter is better (which would also explain why it takes longer to render)

http://pilalitos.blogspot.com/2006/1...vs-chroma.html

But enough OT, maybe if someone can do a greenscreen with the A1, not all HDV-cameras process the data the same, so maybe we'll be suprised...

Steven
Steven Fokkinga is offline   Reply With Quote
Old November 5th, 2006, 10:17 PM   #11
Major Player
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 206
I will be happy to post some footage for people to play with from the A1 as soon as my green screen arrives.
__________________
www.CodemanStudios.com
Cody Lucido is offline   Reply With Quote
Old April 3rd, 2007, 04:57 AM   #12
Major Player
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: The Netherlands
Posts: 204
Sorry for the old thread-reanimation, but did you make some greenscreen footage with your A1 already?
Steven Fokkinga is offline   Reply With Quote
Old April 3rd, 2007, 06:22 AM   #13
Major Player
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Ransomville NY
Posts: 239
Just remember that no matter how much great software you have to save yoru ass...if you dont shoot the greenscreen elements well (meaning well and evenly lit) your going to have trouble from day 1. DV if you light things evenly and you key it right works just fine, HDV even better like I said (if you light it right) then it shouldn't be that big of an issue. Obviously if you can go for capturing to the laptop for a better overall picture instead of capturing in HDV of DV

- Kyle
__________________
Online Portfolio | Feature Film on XHA1
Kyle Prohaska is offline   Reply
Reply

DV Info Net refers all where-to-buy and where-to-rent questions exclusively to these trusted full line dealers and rental houses...

B&H Photo Video
(866) 521-7381
New York, NY USA

Scan Computers Int. Ltd.
+44 0871-472-4747
Bolton, Lancashire UK


DV Info Net also encourages you to support local businesses and buy from an authorized dealer in your neighborhood.
  You are here: DV Info Net > Canon EOS / MXF / AVCHD / HDV / DV Camera Systems > Canon HDV and DV Camera Systems > Canon XH Series HDV Camcorders


 



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 09:14 PM.


DV Info Net -- Real Names, Real People, Real Info!
1998-2024 The Digital Video Information Network