HMC40/80 Modes and Sharpness??? at DVinfo.net

Chris Harding · February 24th, 2011, 11:26 PM

Hi All

Having upgraded from the HMC70 which shoots 13mbps as the highest mode, I did a wedding with the HMC80 in HG mode so the footage would sorta match the HMC70 as the 2nd camera.

What I wanted to ask is that even in HG mode (13mbps) the video from the 80 is pristine!!! For you guys with the 40 (or 80) is the 24mbps highest mode on the camera really worth it??? Is there a huge difference in maybe sharpness or something else.... in PH mode on the 80 it eats SDHC space up twice as fast (almost) so I'm really interested to know if the footage is visually a lot better than at 13mbps??????

Comments be be much appreciated as my 2nd 80 arrived yesterday and so I'm doing this weekend's wedding with the two new cameras. If PH mode is the way to go and makes a big difference then I also will need some bigger cards!!!!

Chris

Tom Bostick · February 25th, 2011, 01:57 AM

Hey Chris ,i always shoot ph 24mb/s ,why not?

it does take up more space ,but why limit yourself when you have the ability to shoot higher bit rates

Chris Harding · February 25th, 2011, 05:13 AM

Thanks Tom

I agree shoot at the best rate possible but what are the advantages exactly....more pristine footage ????
I don't seem to find anyone who can say "When you shoot at 6mbps ..... the footage will ...... BUT shoot at 24mbps and you will find that .........."

Any technical reason why we need to shoot at the highest bitrate we can ?????

Chris

Phil Lee · February 25th, 2011, 12:07 PM

Hi

Higher bit-rate is better, leading to less compression artefacts in complicated scenes. Lower bit-rates can look just as good until they are faced with a challenge, so you are better off always using the highest rate.

Regards

Phil

Corey Graham · February 27th, 2011, 05:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Harding

Thanks Tom

Any technical reason why we need to shoot at the highest bitrate we can ?????

Chris

I always think in terms of how much processing will be involved in post . . . when you're doing things like color correction, effects, rendering, converting, etc., you will always get a better result when you're starting with the best quality and most amount of data possible. This includes routine things like converting for DVD/Blu-ray or web delivery.

Chris Harding · February 27th, 2011, 05:45 PM

Thanks to you both

PH mode it definately is then. I will grab a few extra 16GB cards this week as well to allow for the extra space needed.

Chris

February 24th, 2011, 11:26 PM	#1
Chris Harding Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 8,441	HMC40/80 Modes and Sharpness??? Hi All Having upgraded from the HMC70 which shoots 13mbps as the highest mode, I did a wedding with the HMC80 in HG mode so the footage would sorta match the HMC70 as the 2nd camera. What I wanted to ask is that even in HG mode (13mbps) the video from the 80 is pristine!!! For you guys with the 40 (or 80) is the 24mbps highest mode on the camera really worth it??? Is there a huge difference in maybe sharpness or something else.... in PH mode on the 80 it eats SDHC space up twice as fast (almost) so I'm really interested to know if the footage is visually a lot better than at 13mbps?????? Comments be be much appreciated as my 2nd 80 arrived yesterday and so I'm doing this weekend's wedding with the two new cameras. If PH mode is the way to go and makes a big difference then I also will need some bigger cards!!!! Chris

February 25th, 2011, 01:57 AM	#2
Tom Bostick Major Player Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Austin TX Posts: 292	Re: HMC40/80 Modes and Sharpness??? Hey Chris ,i always shoot ph 24mb/s ,why not? it does take up more space ,but why limit yourself when you have the ability to shoot higher bit rates

February 25th, 2011, 05:13 AM	#3
Chris Harding Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 8,441	Re: HMC40/80 Modes and Sharpness??? Thanks Tom I agree shoot at the best rate possible but what are the advantages exactly....more pristine footage ???? I don't seem to find anyone who can say "When you shoot at 6mbps ..... the footage will ...... BUT shoot at 24mbps and you will find that .........." Any technical reason why we need to shoot at the highest bitrate we can ????? Chris

February 25th, 2011, 12:07 PM	#4
Phil Lee Major Player Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: London Posts: 302	Re: HMC40/80 Modes and Sharpness??? Hi Higher bit-rate is better, leading to less compression artefacts in complicated scenes. Lower bit-rates can look just as good until they are faced with a challenge, so you are better off always using the highest rate. Regards Phil

February 27th, 2011, 05:45 PM	#6
Chris Harding Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 8,441	Re: HMC40/80 Modes and Sharpness??? Thanks to you both PH mode it definately is then. I will grab a few extra 16GB cards this week as well to allow for the extra space needed. Chris