shooting in Progressive mode Sony HVR-Z7e

[studioman]

Hi - I am about to shoot some classic car races and a few indoor interviews on the Sony HVR-Z7e.

I will be recording in HDV mode to tape and will down convert later for editing in EDIUS 3.xx

I am wondering about the pro's and con's of shooting in Progresive mode.

People say it's more filmic but I wonder has anyone here shot Progressive as opposed to normal dv mode?

What were the results?

For fast car action vs talking heads which mode suits what scene best?

many thanks Chris

ps does EDIUS 3.xx permit editing in Progressive mode? Dumb question I know.

[tingsern]

I have been shooting 720p on HVX202 (and now, HPX172) for about 2+ years now.

If you want to do progressive shooting - you have to treat your videocam like a real film camera. This means -

a) Zoom real slow (or don't zoom at all),
b) Pan really slow.

So - this mode excludes shooting fast action when you might need to pan fairly quickly.

Talking heads - progressive is fine.

[studioman]

I have been shooting 720p on HVX202 (and now, HPX172) for about 2+ years now.

If you want to do progressive shooting - you have to treat your videocam like a real film camera. This means -

a) Zoom real slow (or don't zoom at all),
b) Pan really slow.

So - this mode excludes shooting fast action when you might need to pan fairly quickly.

Talking heads - progressive is fine.

Thanks for that. Pity in one way as talking heads hardly needs Filmic look but action shots sort of do?

[tingsern]

Progressive mode in HPX172 (and HVX202) is really making the video camera behave like a film camera (and you have to treat it as such).

I am not certain about the Sony - but, you can test it out. I am certain that you won't be able to pan fast without getting into problems with progressive mode.

[Khoi Pham]

Like he said, don't fast pan on a scenary shot, but you can fast pan if you are following the car, just have to keep the car in the same position inside the frame, if you do that then it is like the car is not panning at all only foreground and background will be stuttering, if you could keep your apperture wide for shallow depth of field then the viewer will focus more on the car than anything else. It takes alot of practice, might not be a good idea doing this the first time on a important project, I would shoot in 60i to be safe, plus better slomo if you need slomo in post later.

[studioman]

Like he said, don't fast pan on a scenary shot, but you can fast pan if you are following the car, just have to keep the car in the same position inside the frame, if you do that then it is like the car is not panning at all only foreground and background will be stuttering, if you could keep your apperture wide for shallow depth of field then the viewer will focus more on the car than anything else. It takes alot of practice, might not be a good idea doing this the first time on a important project, I would shoot in 60i to be safe, plus better slomo if you need slomo in post later.

Yeah I think you're right. At least you can always add filters but you can't turn bad footage into good footage. cheers

[tingsern]

Most of the "affordable" video cameras using 1/3" to 1/2" CCD or CMOS cannot auto-focus fast enough to cope with a high speed car going round a bend. Manual-focus will be the saviour - but, unless you have the latest cameras (like my HPX172 or the HVX202A) - with enhanced aids to ensure accurate manual focusing, you are unlikely to get pin sharp images on your video needed for such an event. Worse - if the aperature is wide open - a slightest misfocusing will throw the car out of focus. It is not easy - and requires lots of practice beforehand.

You won't be able to judge accurately from the camera's viewfinder or LCD that the image is out of critical focus - they are too small for that (unless it has enhanced focusing aids). If you have an event you can't repeat, and must get it right first time, I suggest you bring an external 8" portable LCD monitor as a focusing aid.

[Blast1]

but, unless you have the latest cameras

Sony hdv camcorders pro/prosumer have always had a expanded focus of some kind

[studioman]

Most of the "affordable" video cameras using 1/3" to 1/2" CCD or CMOS cannot auto-focus fast enough to cope with a high speed car going round a bend. Manual-focus will be the saviour - but, unless you have the latest cameras (like my HPX172 or the HVX202A) - with enhanced aids to ensure accurate manual focusing, you are unlikely to get pin sharp images on your video needed for such an event. Worse - if the aperature is wide open - a slightest misfocusing will throw the car out of focus. It is not easy - and requires lots of practice beforehand.

You won't be able to judge accurately from the camera's viewfinder or LCD that the image is out of critical focus - they are too small for that (unless it has enhanced focusing aids). If you have an event you can't repeat, and must get it right first time, I suggest you bring an external 8" portable LCD monitor as a focusing aid.

I'll try and go for a zoom lens so that tight focus won't be too much of an issue??

[tingsern]

Don't zoom in too tight when you are shooting ... then you don't get depth of field problem with wide aperature settings.

Have you tried setting progressive scan on your camera and pan fast - did you see shutterings? That's exactly the reason why I said pan really slow.