waiting or pass now to HDV?

Hi divers!

I'm shooting with L&M Bluefin and TRV950 + a PDX10 for DVCAM shots..

Good videos and quality. I'm reading your posts and very unsure: i would like to buy new A1E with new Bluefin but i don't know if is the good think to do....maybe will be better to wait?

Anyone could suggest me? Any help me to decide?

I like

- HD resolution

- Just one cam to shot in different formta: hdv, dvcam, dv

I don't like

- more dissicult to shot in low light

- big files to edit on pc or mac

- Blue ray not ready for the moment just 1 or 2 divices on the markrt ables to read this new format. Dvds readers don't read HD format.

Thank you

ERIK

Hi Erik,

Hopefully this might help you a little..

I am at the moment using a TRV950. I have been on different forums (underwater and topside) with the same questions. Basically I am up for the A1E, as I live in the middle of England the prospect of HDV with the option of DVCAM and DV in a light weight, small camera is a good thing. Its about the same size as a TRV950 but lighter.

If you live near the coast and do not intend to travel much maybe the FX1 or the Z1E will be a better option as the low light level is better. I think the Z1E is 3lux compared to the A1E which I'm lead to believe is 5-7lux (which is better than the TRV950, 9lux, anyway).

HDV takes up a 'shhh' load of 'files' but you have the option of DVCAM and MINI DV until you can upgrade your computer. The DVCAM is also "apparently" better than the PDx10.. And you can keep your raw HDV footage for later use.

Housing wise I would look at Amphibico and Gates as well as L & M and weigh up the options...

Hope this helps a little B)

Dive safe

DeanB

Amphibico have just posted information on their EVO HD and EVO PRO HD housings for the SONY A1 and C1 cameras. Would suggest the manual white balance adjustment option if you are going for the EVO HD. Just think, HD footage can be obtained without having to pay excess baggage fees every time you go near an airport.

HDV takes no more space on the hardrive than SD.

HDV takes no more space on the hardrive than SD.

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Just to add that HDV files are the pretty much the same as SD (standard definition) DV files. SD can come in compressed or uncompressed. HDV is very compressed, I think about 25:1 compression vs 5:1 DV.

Hi guys, thank you for posts and sorry i was in holidays.

Someone using A1e and Light & Motion Bluefin Housing?

Thanks

ERIK

Hi Erik,

Did you get to see any of the footage ??

Can you give us a small review ??

Dive safe

DeanB

Someone here had the Bluefin the other day, same as the 950 Bluefin, i assume just a different plate and electronics.

Looked nice, but didn't see any of his footage

hi guys, i don't have at the moment the cam and the housing, still thinking if right to start with HDV, maibe someone have UW A1 footage on line?

Many thanks :-)

ERIK

I found a lot of posts in video forum that speak very bad about A1e.

Very low light sensibility and no goog stibilyzer.

Anyone tried the cam on land and also especially underwater?

Before to buy it i would like to have some news, maybe it will be bettere tu wait more time before to buy an HD system.

I would like to have a confortable HD system to carry and to use underwater ....like the one i have (L&M + TRV950).

Thank you alls :-)

ERIK

Don't forget there is also the higher incidence of drop outs on HDV. It is a fact of life and unlike DV where you get artifacting, it's a big 0.5 sec blackout. Can you imagine if you are about to shoot an orca eating a giant squid which is wrestling a dolphin and it's blacked out for the 0.5 seconds it happens in.

About the same time you would sneeze, burp, cough or blink or achieve orgasm...!!!! What ever ???

Happy Xmas

DeanB

Ah dean, if you sneeze then cough then have a dropout and miss the whole scene, I doubt the orgasm will be very nice. Just another thing to worry about during acquisition. And much animal behavior may not be put on a repeat button.

I take you point..

Soon as you've given the A1E a good roasting ?? Let us know what your feelings are..

Dive safe

It's boxing day, lets get bladdered

DeanB

Anyone have some A1 footage links? I'm very interested to see how A1 works underwater. Low light ability could make difference but with mi trv950 (that don't have a very good low light ability like Pd170) i was making very good videos.

Thank you all

ERIk

& MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

I take you point..

 

Soon as you've given the A1E a good roasting ?? Let us know what your feelings are..

 

Dive safe

 

It's boxing day, lets get bladdered

 

DeanB

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I pretty much have done what I want to know how it performs. Only thing I want to try one more time is black stretch with nightshot on. I don't even know if it works but I'll see tomorrow when I pick up my camera. It's a nice little camera and the resolution is very cool. It's more functional than the JVC HD10. HDV is still HDV but for $2200 it's a good deal.

Hello Scubadru :-)

Do you have some news about A1 uw footage? How A1 works underwater? Good experiences? In low light? Very interested about your considerations about A1 underwater, better than TRV950?

Many thanks

ERIK

I recently corresponded with Eric Henningsen, who did a 24 minute documentary on the Hector's dolphin that is posted on Ocean.com and inquired as to what he worked with on this project - ie; was he working in HD, etc. In a nutshell he stated that he shot the project in SD and is still getting plenty of projects in SD and that if a client want's to shoot HD, he bills that into the project proposal. I'm kind of wondering if people are enamored by the "IDEA" of HD, but that in the real world, SD is still readily an acceptable format.

I recently corresponded with Eric Henningsen, who did a 24 minute documentary on the Hector's dolphin that is posted on Ocean.com and inquired as to what he worked with on this project - ie; was he working in HD, etc.  In a nutshell he stated that he shot the project in SD and is still getting plenty of projects in SD and that if a client want's to shoot HD, he bills that into the project proposal.  I'm kind of wondering if people are enamored by the "IDEA" of HD, but that in the real world, SD is still readily an acceptable format.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Depends on usage really. FOr the stuff i do to give to clients (daily vids) its all SD. I shoot in HD then downconvert out of camera into computer. Quickest and easiest way for me.

HD still problematic for playback for most people (ie no DVDs)

I think the only real outlet for HD is for certain tv (ESPN in HD! sort of thing) or cinema stuff (at the moment) most others would still want SD

Well the big advantage of HD is actually the down conversion quality that can be had but I agree that distribution is still a sketchy thing. It's either computer playback (on a fast machine) to monitor or attached HDTV or a data disk played back on a new media player to HDTV. A DL DVD9 disk can store 2 hours of HD footage encoded properly so HDDVD/Bluray is just something for the studios to beat their heads against the wall.

Problem being that no one is releasing the complete software standard until the hardware one is resolved. Technically you don't need the hi capacity disks to distribute. The problem being that a feature length movie with all the extras and higher chroma footage won't fit on a DVD9. HD content can/could be stored on any DVD video compliant disk. Same Video_TS folders and all. Just the frame size and added encoding formats will confuse the average DVD player. All HD material will allow the use of MPEG2 (like currently), MP4 (h.264) or WMV as the underlying format. Current HD media players are actually smarter than this standard as they can read DVD data disks, play all three of those formats from any filename/folder and in addition playback jpg and a bunch of still stuff out the HD port. They'll need a firmware update when the new Video_TS structure is made compliant. They'll also need a new high capacity reader for the new disks so that's why they haven't jumped out yet is my guess.