ex questions re: autofocus, hd to sd quality at DVinfo.net

Dave Allan · January 19th, 2008, 01:12 PM

We shoot with a variety of cameras including the f350 and z1 along with sd gear. I have an ex1 on hold for purchase next week and would like feedback before we take the jump:

1. How well it downcoverts (final cut or vegas) to sd dvd video which still represents the vast majority of our final product. I read somewhere that the z1 actaully does a noticeably better job downcoverted to sd.

2. Without a lanc control what are the options to operate from a jib.

3. Autofocus versus other hand held cameras ie: the z1.

thanks in advance

dave

Craig Seeman · January 19th, 2008, 01:56 PM

Auto Focus seems a bit slow but that's not necessarily a bad thing.

It you're tracking a moving object such as people walking past trees in front of them, it'll keep tracking the people and not refocus to each tree. On the other hand, if you jump from object to object it'll take time to lock . . . but that's when I'd use manual focus anyway.

There are controllers on the way.

Joel Klein · January 19th, 2008, 11:26 PM

I’m using auto focus allot... the auto focus will work great as long you point it center in the frame, in other words the ex1 auto focus is limited, and will only look for the center to focus... if you keep this in mind when composing your shot, auto focus will work real fast, until you zoom in all the way, then it will take more time... so be ready to assist manually!

Dave Allan · January 20th, 2008, 03:22 AM

Thanks for the input, any expereince in downcoverted footage quality to sd?
Does it hold up to quality sd cameras such as the dsr 450/500? Or for that matter the f330 or f350?

Ola Christoffersson · January 20th, 2008, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Allan

Thanks for the input, any expereince in downcoverted footage quality to sd?
Does it hold up to quality sd cameras such as the dsr 450/500? Or for that matter the f330 or f350?

That is really hard to say without side to side comparisons but I have downconverted both interlaced and progressive material to PAL using software transcoding in my Avid Media Composer and it looks good to me. As far as SD goes that is... ;-)

Joel Klein · January 20th, 2008, 04:25 PM

I was about to buy the dsr 400-450, but the size was a problem for what I need it, so I got the ex1 for the size and quality. I also got the vortex media: Mastering the PMW-EX1, and believe me "ITS WORTH EVERY PENNY" when I ran into extra deep questions about down convert, I emailed Mr. Douglas Jensen <douglas@vortexmedia.com> and the great fast support I got from him was amazing.

Dear Dave,
I have lots of footage, and I’m willing to put it up somewhere so people can judge, I just don’t know were I can upload it. I can maybe mail you a sd DVD.

So far about how it looks and what I thing is like this:

No SD camera this price and size will give you the control and image touch the ex1 holds on after down converting.

When I see the final sd DVD, the dsr 400/450 in my opinion looks like original pro. great footage and the ex1 looks like down converted stuff which is pretty nice too... and I’m almost certain, I will be able to withstand a test for my self, and with out knowing before, identify original footage, vs. down converted footage... and this fact really bothers me!
Got the idea? And If any one on this forum things I’m wrong, I’m willing to hear why…

Regards

Bob Grant · January 20th, 2008, 04:44 PM

How you do the downconvert can have a major impact on the result. Downconverting HD to SD sounds trivial but it's not. I only have to look at a lot of OTA SD broadcasts that are downconverted HD to see problems and they've got some pretty expensive boxes doing the conversion.

Joel Klein · January 20th, 2008, 05:10 PM

well; i'm using final cut studio2
and the medhood I learned from vortex media Mastering the PMW-EX1, and some do's 'n' dont's here in this forum. and after all my afford, the final picture still looks edgy at the corners, the almost the entire ex1 smoothness is lost.

Dennis Schmitz · January 20th, 2008, 05:28 PM

Joel Klein:
Could you please upload some original and downsized footage?
Would like to see/test how it compares to a convertion using avisynth (with spline36 resize).

regards Dennis

Joel Klein · January 20th, 2008, 05:30 PM

I can do that the moment I know how and were to host it...
as af now i'm working on compressor and trying this and that to get a beter result

Dennis Schmitz · January 20th, 2008, 05:47 PM

You can upload 100Mb files at rapidshare.com

regards Dennis

Joel Klein · January 20th, 2008, 05:50 PM

wow is that free? any hidden tricks? is it a SAFE site (no viruses bug's)?

Joel Klein · January 20th, 2008, 05:59 PM

I’m working now on it.

The funny part of the story is, that I asked vortex media how they did the down convert... and Mr. Douglas Jensen reply’s with the setting he used. It’s the same I did, but for some hidden reason my footage looks crappy

Dennis Schmitz · January 20th, 2008, 06:00 PM

free, no viruses, no tricks ;)

regards Dennis

Joel Klein · January 20th, 2008, 06:04 PM

give me a couple minuts to creat the samples, i'm doing it now

January 19th, 2008, 01:12 PM	#1
Dave Allan New Boot Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: vancouver canada Posts: 8	ex questions re: autofocus, hd to sd quality We shoot with a variety of cameras including the f350 and z1 along with sd gear. I have an ex1 on hold for purchase next week and would like feedback before we take the jump: 1. How well it downcoverts (final cut or vegas) to sd dvd video which still represents the vast majority of our final product. I read somewhere that the z1 actaully does a noticeably better job downcoverted to sd. 2. Without a lanc control what are the options to operate from a jib. 3. Autofocus versus other hand held cameras ie: the z1. thanks in advance dave Last edited by Dave Allan; January 20th, 2008 at 03:27 AM.

January 19th, 2008, 11:26 PM	#3
Joel Klein Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Brooklyn Posts: 51	I’m using auto focus allot... the auto focus will work great as long you point it center in the frame, in other words the ex1 auto focus is limited, and will only look for the center to focus... if you keep this in mind when composing your shot, auto focus will work real fast, until you zoom in all the way, then it will take more time... so be ready to assist manually! __________________ Go for 16 gig Ram its worth!

January 20th, 2008, 04:25 PM	#6
Joel Klein Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Brooklyn Posts: 51	Oh!... I'm Asking The Same For My Self! I was about to buy the dsr 400-450, but the size was a problem for what I need it, so I got the ex1 for the size and quality. I also got the vortex media: Mastering the PMW-EX1, and believe me "ITS WORTH EVERY PENNY" when I ran into extra deep questions about down convert, I emailed Mr. Douglas Jensen <douglas@vortexmedia.com> and the great fast support I got from him was amazing. Dear Dave, I have lots of footage, and I’m willing to put it up somewhere so people can judge, I just don’t know were I can upload it. I can maybe mail you a sd DVD. So far about how it looks and what I thing is like this: No SD camera this price and size will give you the control and image touch the ex1 holds on after down converting. When I see the final sd DVD, the dsr 400/450 in my opinion looks like original pro. great footage and the ex1 looks like down converted stuff which is pretty nice too... and I’m almost certain, I will be able to withstand a test for my self, and with out knowing before, identify original footage, vs. down converted footage... and this fact really bothers me! Got the idea? And If any one on this forum things I’m wrong, I’m willing to hear why… Regards __________________ Go for 16 gig Ram its worth!

January 20th, 2008, 05:10 PM	#8
Joel Klein Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Brooklyn Posts: 51	well; i'm using final cut studio2 and the medhood I learned from vortex media Mastering the PMW-EX1, and some do's 'n' dont's here in this forum. and after all my afford, the final picture still looks edgy at the corners, the almost the entire ex1 smoothness is lost. __________________ Go for 16 gig Ram its worth!

January 20th, 2008, 05:30 PM	#10
Joel Klein Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Brooklyn Posts: 51	I can do that the moment I know how and were to host it... as af now i'm working on compressor and trying this and that to get a beter result __________________ Go for 16 gig Ram its worth!

January 19th, 2008, 01:56 PM	#2
Craig Seeman Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Brooklyn, NY, USA Posts: 3,841	Auto Focus seems a bit slow but that's not necessarily a bad thing. It you're tracking a moving object such as people walking past trees in front of them, it'll keep tracking the people and not refocus to each tree. On the other hand, if you jump from object to object it'll take time to lock . . . but that's when I'd use manual focus anyway. There are controllers on the way.

January 20th, 2008, 03:22 AM	#4
Dave Allan New Boot Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: vancouver canada Posts: 8	Thanks for the input, any expereince in downcoverted footage quality to sd? Does it hold up to quality sd cameras such as the dsr 450/500? Or for that matter the f330 or f350?

January 20th, 2008, 04:44 PM	#7
Bob Grant Trustee Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 1,570	How you do the downconvert can have a major impact on the result. Downconverting HD to SD sounds trivial but it's not. I only have to look at a lot of OTA SD broadcasts that are downconverted HD to see problems and they've got some pretty expensive boxes doing the conversion.

January 20th, 2008, 05:28 PM	#9
Dennis Schmitz Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Viersen, Germany Posts: 120	Joel Klein: Could you please upload some original and downsized footage? Would like to see/test how it compares to a convertion using avisynth (with spline36 resize). regards Dennis

January 20th, 2008, 05:47 PM	#11
Dennis Schmitz Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Viersen, Germany Posts: 120	You can upload 100Mb files at rapidshare.com regards Dennis

January 20th, 2008, 05:50 PM	#12
Joel Klein Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Brooklyn Posts: 51	wow is that free? any hidden tricks? is it a SAFE site (no viruses bug's)? __________________ Go for 16 gig Ram its worth!

January 20th, 2008, 05:59 PM	#13
Joel Klein Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Brooklyn Posts: 51	I’m working now on it. The funny part of the story is, that I asked vortex media how they did the down convert... and Mr. Douglas Jensen reply’s with the setting he used. It’s the same I did, but for some hidden reason my footage looks crappy __________________ Go for 16 gig Ram its worth!

January 20th, 2008, 06:00 PM	#14
Dennis Schmitz Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Viersen, Germany Posts: 120	free, no viruses, no tricks ;) regards Dennis

January 20th, 2008, 06:04 PM	#15
Joel Klein Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Brooklyn Posts: 51	give me a couple minuts to creat the samples, i'm doing it now __________________ Go for 16 gig Ram its worth!