HDV question to DR. Mordrid

[Mikele]

Well, I´m still testing the SONY FX1-E, HD CAM.
But I have a question: why there are two format, NTSC & PAL? Why not to unificate it this time?
Another Question: There is a SONY HVR-Z1, the DVCAM version. It can record PAL or NTSC. But I don't undestand how. If I Record PAL the numbers are= 1440x1080 pixels at 25 FPS. OK. But if I record NTSC the numbers are=1440x1080 at 30 FPS. Well, obviusly in NTSC I'm loosign quality, no?.
If I buy the Z1, is better to record always in NTSC and if you need convert it to PAL ? It seems the same resolution and the difference is 25 or 30 FPS? This seems more easy than SD resolution = 720x576 versus 720x540.
I'm wrong?????

Thanks a lot.

[Hulk]

AC, or alternating current in the US is 60Hz, 50Hz in Europe. Some CRT monitors will only do 50Hz in Europe, or 60Hz here, as is the case with SD TVs. You are right in that this isn't a major concern as most HD displays, including plasma, lcd, and projection are inherently progressive devices that refresh with the signal. But converting to SD TV from HDV will be easier going 50Hz to 50Hz, or 60Hz to 60Hz. This is becoming less and less of an issue since HD monitors will accept a variety of signals.

Your second question is a bit more involved but I'll give you the short answer here.

Don't confuse spacial resolution with temporal resolution. While NTSC has better temporal resolution and HDV PAL, the same 25Mbps bandwidth is used for both signals. This means that with heavy motion PAL HDV may be prone to macroblocking and other artifacts for SOME video, but it may also display smoother motion.

BUT, and it's a big but, the difference from frame to frame is GREATER with PAL than NTSC, which is of course harder on the encoder, which could then lead to greater artifacts. So this really depends greatly on the video being shot.

I have compared some slow pans of very detailed scenery of HDV 1080/50i and 1080/60i and in a few scenes noticed less macroblocking with the PAL footage. Keep in mind in this slow panning/high detail footage, having more info (bits) per frame was obviously more important than temporal resolution.

- Mark

[Dr Mordrid]

Lke Mark said

Dr. Mordrid