HD formats - comparision chart

[Eki Halkka]

Hi!

I spent some time today trying to search for a chart showing the maximum theoretical resolution of currently available HD shooting formats. Couldn't really find one, so i rolled my own.

http://www.kolumbus.fi/erkki.halkka/...D_formats.html

Tell me if these seem correct, and also if you'd like to see any additions etc. there...

[Tim Dashwood]

Good chart.

You should include both types of HDV. 1080i60 @ 1440x1080, 25Mb/s and 720P60 @ 1280x720, 19.2 Mb/sec.
A column that has P or i would also be usefule. For example, HDCAM can do both.
I would also add a column for when pixel shifting is used to create the resultant resolution, or the resolution is native.

BTW, I'm quite sure DVCPRO HD is only 960x720.

[Eki Halkka]

Originally Posted by Tim Dashwood

Good chart.

You should include both types of HDV. 1080i60 @ 1440x1080, 25Mb/s and 720P60 @ 1280x720, 19.2 Mb/sec.
A column that has P or i would also be usefule. For example, HDCAM can do both.
I would also add a column for when pixel shifting is used to create the resultant resolution, or the resolution is native.

BTW, I'm quite sure DVCPRO HD is only 960x720.

Thanks for your comments!

I was aiming for the maximum available resolution that can be used with each format, so i left 720P out from them all, to keep it simple. I actually think all of the formats support 720P, not sure though. I guess i should try to find this info too.

The support for native progressive scan (specifically 60P, 50P, 24P) is one thing i should add i guess - i live in 50Hz country, so this really is not an issue to me (25P can be recorded to 50i tape without any loss, just like 30P can be recorded to 60i), but i know it's a big deal in the US side of the pond. If i add this, i'll make it a column for all natively supported frame rates (60i/p, 50i/p, 30p, 25p, 24p).

The only worry with adding this data is that i don't want to make the chart too complex to keep it in one page...

The other things (Pixel shift and Panasonic's 960*720) are not specific to the FORMAT, but rather to the individual CAMERAS currently available.

[Kevin Shaw]

It is possible to capture "true" (uncompressed) HD using computer setups with an HD-SDI card and a fast RAID aray, and I believe the full data rate for that is ~1450 Mbps. I wouldn't call that a commonly available format though, so you may want to rethink your title for this chart.

I think Avid intends for their DNxHD codec to be an option for acquisition, with specs as described here: http://www.avid.com/dnxhd/index.asp

Cineform is about to start shipping a recording device which captures directly to their Prospect HD codec, with specs as described here: http://www.cineform.com/products/ProspectHD.htm

XDCAM HD will reportedly have a maximum bit rate of 35 Mbps initially, as described in articles such as this one: http://www.tgdaily.com/2005/10/12/sonyxdcam/

Interesting discussion of video formats by Sony at this link:
https://secure.connect.pbs.org/confe...t#491,15,Slide 15

[James Llewellyn]

the page doesn't seem to load, on any of the 3 browsers I have (I.E., Opera, Firefox)

EDIT: Nevermind it works now.

[Eki Halkka]

Originally Posted by Kevin Shaw

It is possible to capture "true" (uncompressed) HD using computer setups with an HD-SDI card and a fast RAID aray, and I believe the full data rate for that is ~1450 Mbps. I wouldn't call that a commonly available format though, so you may want to rethink your title for this chart.

Read the small print ;-)

”TRUE HD” is an imaginary ”perfect” HD compliant format that doesn't really exist, AFAIK

I think Avid intends for their DNxHD codec to be an option for acquisition, with specs as described here: http://www.avid.com/dnxhd/index.asp

Cineform is about to start shipping a recording device which captures directly to their Prospect HD codec, with specs as described here: http://www.cineform.com/products/ProspectHD.htm

XDCAM HD will reportedly have a maximum bit rate of 35 Mbps initially, as described in articles such as this one: http://www.tgdaily.com/2005/10/12/sonyxdcam/

Interesting discussion of video formats by Sony at this link:
https://secure.connect.pbs.org/confe...t#491,15,Slide 15

Thanks for the links!

I'm sticking to the "currently" available for now... but i guess it would be a good idea to add "bubbling under" segment with these new formats. I count XDCAM HD in as already available, as it's promoted on Sony's site just like any other.


***

I updated the page slightly (that may have caused access problems) - it works now, at least on my machine.

[Eki Halkka]

I added those "bubbling under" links...

[Kevin Shaw]

Originally Posted by Eki Halkka

I'm sticking to the "currently" available for now... but i guess it would be a good idea to add "bubbling under" segment with these new formats. I count XDCAM HD in as already available, as it's promoted on Sony's site just like any other.

Sounds like the Cineform recorder is on the verge of being widely available, and advance orders are already being taken. Could be in widespread use before XDCAM HD cameras are shipping...