Posted by P.C. Ford on 07/11/07 04:59

On Tue, 10 Jul 2007 07:44:37 +0100, Spex <No.spam@ta.com> wrote:

>P.C. Ford wrote:
>> Nobody seems to be answering this part of my post from above, so I
>> will make it more obvious:
>>
>>
>> I have the probability of a job related to the Beijing Olympics. Not
>> the sports events, but documenting the development of a pavillion for
>> the event, and video content within it.
>>
>> I have a PD 150 right now. I am assuming that I will need a hi-def
>> camera somewhere down the road. Untill the time that I have another
>> camera, would it be possible to shoot 16x9 on the PD 150 and upsample
>> it to high def? The content would be planning sessions, talking heads.
>
>It is amazing someone needs to ask this question.
>
>The PD150 in 16x9 mode has a vertical res of less than 400 lines. It
>doesn't matter how clever the up-scaling algorithm is no extra
>resolution is going to be created and it will look out of focus compared
>to any HD content shot at a future time. You mix up-scaled pd150
>footage with even one of the poorer budget HD cams and you are asking
>for trouble let alone a XDCAM HD camera or better.
>
>Take Martin's advice re the HV20. If you then went on to purchase a
>Canon HDV camera like the XL-H1 or XH-A1 you could use the HV20 as a deck.
>
>Hope that answers your question.

"Amazing someone needs to ask this question."

Well, you seem to be well informed. Or at least consider yourself
thus.

Here is some more information for you. The film, "Iraq in Fragments"
was shot on a AG DVX100, an SD camera as you know. The footage was
upsampled to hd....not sure what variety. It was then nominated for an
Academy Award. It is a beautiful movie by, I think, anyone's
standards. It was nominated for an Academy Award. It lost to "An
Inconvenient Truth." Gore's movie, in my humble opinion was far less
of a movie; it was mainly an extremely well done Powerpoint
presentation. But its political sentiments carried the day.

The point is, contrary to your opinion, it is possible to shoot a
compelling film on upsample SD. I talked with the video engineer at
Victory Studios (one of the leading post houses here in Seattle) and
he said that it was possible as well.

By the way, the guy had some excellent comparisons between the various
competing flavors of HD these days. Best I have ever seen or heard.

I am certanily well aware that upsampling does not add resolution. But
it is possible to create good stuff with it. Contrary to your opinion.
If someone has direct experience instead of mere opinions, I would
look forward to hearing it.

Oh, the HV20, XL-H1, XH-A1 are less than I was expecting to spend,
but they are worth a look. Thanks.

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