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Canon HG20 resolutions

post #1 of 4
10/26/08 at 1:13pm
Thread Starter 
I am new to "digital" camcording since my last camcorder was a sony hi-8.
But now I am faced with a few new challenges in understanding how to get the best picture possible.
Here is what I know so far.

The HG20 can record in PF24, PF30, and 60i. PF24, PF30 are in progressive frames 24 and 30 per second, 60i is integrated. But why is it when I play back VIA camcorder it plays in 1080i instead of 1080P mode since it is recorded in progressive frames. Is it different if you download it to PC? then if you play it back VIA camcorder?.

Also I know that you can record in 24Mbps and 17Mbps, but when playing this back I see no difference. I do see some difference when recording in XP+ compression, also I know that the MXP(24Mbps) and the FXP(17Mbps) are the only modes that record in 1920x 1080.

According to the "manual" they say that you are best to record in PF24 and cinematic mode to get a cinema like quality, but why wouldnt this work at PF30? And also I notice that no matter PF30, PF24 or 60i it does not make a difference in record time.

I have also noticed when recording in lower light conditions I get a lot of "snow" like images, is this normal? I have tried playing with the settings some and have a hard time reducing.
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post #2 of 4
10/26/08 at 2:46pm

Re: Canon HG20 resolutions

Quote:
Originally Posted by eracet
I am new to "digital" camcording since my last camcorder was a sony hi-8.
But now I am faced with a few new challenges in understanding how to get the best picture possible.
Here is what I know so far.

The HG20 can record in PF24, PF30, and 60i. PF24, PF30 are in progressive frames 24 and 30 per second, 60i is integrated. But why is it when I play back VIA camcorder it plays in 1080i instead of 1080P mode since it is recorded in progressive frames. Is it different if you download it to PC? then if you play it back VIA camcorder?.

Also I know that you can record in 24Mbps and 17Mbps, but when playing this back I see no difference. I do see some difference when recording in XP+ compression, also I know that the MXP(24Mbps) and the FXP(17Mbps) are the only modes that record in 1920x 1080.

According to the "manual" they say that you are best to record in PF24 and cinematic mode to get a cinema like quality, but why wouldnt this work at PF30? And also I notice that no matter PF30, PF24 or 60i it does not make a difference in record time.

I have also noticed when recording in lower light conditions I get a lot of "snow" like images, is this normal? I have tried playing with the settings some and have a hard time reducing.


The HG20 wraps the 24p frame rate in a 3/2 pulldown 60I wrapper so that it can be played back on a conventional TV.

When transferring this footage to a computer the wrapper is maintained. There are a few software programs that will remove the 3/2 pulldown 60I wrapper and give you true 24p files to work with. One such program is called Neo-HDV, however Neo is designed to work with HDV footage, I'm not sure if it will work with AVCHD or not.

The frame rate doesn't effect the record time, only the data rate does. PF24 gives the most "cinema" like look because movies are shot at 24 frames per second much of that "cinema" look that we associate with movies comes from that frame rate.

In lower light settings the camera automatically increases the gain, making the capture chip more sensitive to light. Just higher speed film is has more grain, so to does the more sensitive cmos chip.

Doug
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post #3 of 4
10/26/08 at 3:43pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Canon HG20 resolutions

So what is the point of using progressive frames over 60i?
If playback is kept at a 60i when playing back?

Also does running 24Mbps have an advantage over 17Mbps?

I did not see any playback details on HDMI so wondering if that would give a playback of 1080P. I used component since I do not have a mini hdmi yet.
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post #4 of 4
10/26/08 at 7:30pm

Re: Canon HG20 resolutions

Quote:
Originally Posted by eracet
So what is the point of using progressive frames over 60i?
If playback is kept at a 60i when playing back?

Also does running 24Mbps have an advantage over 17Mbps?

I did not see any playback details on HDMI so wondering if that would give a playback of 1080P. I used component since I do not have a mini hdmi yet.

The point of shooting 24p or 30p is the fact that you get that frame rate "film" look even when it is wrapped in the 60I wrapper. Also the wrapper can be removed to have a true progressive image.

HDMI will play it back as a 1080I image because that's what the camera puts out, however if you are watching it on a plasma or lcd screen, it is being de interlaced by the TV anyway so what you are seeing in the end is 1080P.

Doug
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