Link: https://youtu.be/1Ah_UFTItYc
Monday 7 December 2015
Sunday 15 November 2015
Thursday 9 July 2015
Video Codecs & FCPX Workflow & Field Tests
A codec is software that compresses and decompress audio and video data.
Files are stored in a container, .mov, this can be with codecs such as H.264
AVCHD
Originally created for Blu Ray Disc (1080p). For best results transcode to ProRes 422 for editing in FCPX.
MP4
Less desirable as won't capture high quality, low to medium which maybe ok for web use only. Bonus for this format is that it is compatible on multi platforms.
Container .MOV = better compression, normally H.264
iFRAME
Least desirable as video size is reduced. Output is very similar to the old VHS style quality.
MKV files are video files in Matroska format, which is a free, open multimedia format. Matroska is like AVI or MP4, but not covered by patents or restrictive licenses.
Further clarification
. MOV is not a video format. It has no quality. MOV is a file format produced by QuickTime and native to the Mac. You can have a MOV file with AVC/H.264 video in. You can have a a MOV file with MPEG-2 video in it. You can have a MOV file with DV video or Motion-JPEG, etc. It's just a file format.
Quality comes from the CODEC that is used to encode the video inside the file and the BIT-RATE used to encode it, for example, if your camera shoots at a higher bit-rate when writing to MOV files than MTS files. That means you are sacrificing quality by shooting AVCHD @ 24Mbps instead of AVC/H.264 @ 73Mbps because you will have less bits to represent your image.
Quality is determined by two factors: codec and bit-rate. If your camera uses the same codec for MTS and MOV files there will be no quality difference from the codec. That leaves the bit-rate. All you have to do is look at the numbers: 72Mbps can represent 3x the information of 24Mbps.
In post production, the most likely reason that footage is not playing back smoothly is because 72Mbps takes 3x the bandwidth to playback than 24Mbps does, which will cause footage to stutter and freeze whilst editing.
For further, in depth information see:
http://www.dr-lex.be/info-stuff/mediaformats.html
https://www.videomaker.com/article/c10/15362-video-formats-explained
https://www.learningsolutionsmag.com/articles/1203/video-compression-secrets-smaller-files-better-quality
FIELD TEST
Rechargeable Batteries Test
When using in flash.
On average 2400 mAH has proven to power flash for approx 400 photo's.
Panasonic VX870 Settings
Use 4K MP4 Setting even if finishing as a HD project. Best indoor mode is "Night Scene" as this appears to give the best result for no/low noise. Use internal light and also external lights if possible. Shoot close to subject for best low noise results. Or in full manual mode use Iris setting on zero and increase exposure in post editing.
Essential Features to look for in Video Cameras
Zebra
Zebra stripes give an indication of exposure levels. When activated, diagonal lines appear across any part of the picture which is approaching over-exposure. These lines appear only in the viewfinder — they are not output from the camera or recorded.
If the camera has the option to change between different zebra settings (eg 75% or 100%), make sure you know which setting you're using, and the resulting effect.
Use the zebras to guide your iris settings. In general, a small amount of zebras on the hottest part of the subject is desirable. Practice and experiment with this feature.
Be aware that zebras aren't foolproof — they should be used as a guide only.
Histogram - Exposure indication
Auto Slow Shutter (allows shooting at 1/25, good for low light situations)
Low Lux (1 Lux ideal)
ND (Neutral Density) Filter
Files are stored in a container, .mov, this can be with codecs such as H.264
AVCHD
Originally created for Blu Ray Disc (1080p). For best results transcode to ProRes 422 for editing in FCPX.
MP4
Less desirable as won't capture high quality, low to medium which maybe ok for web use only. Bonus for this format is that it is compatible on multi platforms.
Container .MOV = better compression, normally H.264
iFRAME
Least desirable as video size is reduced. Output is very similar to the old VHS style quality.
MKV files are video files in Matroska format, which is a free, open multimedia format. Matroska is like AVI or MP4, but not covered by patents or restrictive licenses.
Further clarification
. MOV is not a video format. It has no quality. MOV is a file format produced by QuickTime and native to the Mac. You can have a MOV file with AVC/H.264 video in. You can have a a MOV file with MPEG-2 video in it. You can have a MOV file with DV video or Motion-JPEG, etc. It's just a file format.
Quality comes from the CODEC that is used to encode the video inside the file and the BIT-RATE used to encode it, for example, if your camera shoots at a higher bit-rate when writing to MOV files than MTS files. That means you are sacrificing quality by shooting AVCHD @ 24Mbps instead of AVC/H.264 @ 73Mbps because you will have less bits to represent your image.
Quality is determined by two factors: codec and bit-rate. If your camera uses the same codec for MTS and MOV files there will be no quality difference from the codec. That leaves the bit-rate. All you have to do is look at the numbers: 72Mbps can represent 3x the information of 24Mbps.
In post production, the most likely reason that footage is not playing back smoothly is because 72Mbps takes 3x the bandwidth to playback than 24Mbps does, which will cause footage to stutter and freeze whilst editing.
For further, in depth information see:
http://www.dr-lex.be/info-stuff/mediaformats.html
https://www.videomaker.com/article/c10/15362-video-formats-explained
https://www.learningsolutionsmag.com/articles/1203/video-compression-secrets-smaller-files-better-quality
FIELD TEST
Rechargeable Batteries Test
When using in flash.
On average 2400 mAH has proven to power flash for approx 400 photo's.
Panasonic VX870 Settings
Use 4K MP4 Setting even if finishing as a HD project. Best indoor mode is "Night Scene" as this appears to give the best result for no/low noise. Use internal light and also external lights if possible. Shoot close to subject for best low noise results. Or in full manual mode use Iris setting on zero and increase exposure in post editing.
Essential Features to look for in Video Cameras
Zebra
Zebra stripes give an indication of exposure levels. When activated, diagonal lines appear across any part of the picture which is approaching over-exposure. These lines appear only in the viewfinder — they are not output from the camera or recorded.
If the camera has the option to change between different zebra settings (eg 75% or 100%), make sure you know which setting you're using, and the resulting effect.
Use the zebras to guide your iris settings. In general, a small amount of zebras on the hottest part of the subject is desirable. Practice and experiment with this feature.
Be aware that zebras aren't foolproof — they should be used as a guide only.
Histogram - Exposure indication
Auto Slow Shutter (allows shooting at 1/25, good for low light situations)
Low Lux (1 Lux ideal)
ND (Neutral Density) Filter
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