Playback; Recording Formats- Hdv, Dvcam And Dv Sp - Sony Z1 User Manual

flash if your battery or tape is about to run out in the middle of recording, or if there is another problem with
the camera.
To stop recording, press the 'Record' button again. The camera will go into standby mode.
PLAYING BACK YOUR SHOT
First of all, it is best not to play footage back too often on the Z1. Playing back, rewinding and fast
forwarding wears out the tape heads- the bit of the camera that records the footage for you. So it is
very bad for future footage quality to use your camera as a VCR or for importing footage. The
University has purpose-built decks you can hire out, and if you have shot in DV SP you can even use a
Panasonic camera to play back and import footage.
But- if you just want to quickly check a shot in the camera:
Push the switch to VCR mode.
Open the LCD screen and use the VCR control buttons underneath.
Rewind your footage a little way, stop the tape and play it back, watching it in the viewfinder or LCD screen.
Depending on the format you shot the footage in (HDV, DVCam or DV SP), the VCR settings
may need to be changed in order to play back correctly. The easiest way to make sure the camera will play
back all your footage is by selecting 'auto' in the 'Rec in/out' menu. Then the camera can detect what format
the footage is and alter its own settings to play that back.
RECORDING FORMATS
Before you start filming a project, you should decide which out of the three recording formats on the Z1 you
want to use, as well as the aspect ratio of your project. Here is some information about the options:
HDV
This format is a low-budget version of High Definition footage. Like most HD formats, it is 'native widescreen',
meaning that widescreen (16:9) is the default frame size. It uses some complex maths involving pixel shape and
GOP (Group of Pictures) MPEG encoders. This enables the camera to record a picture onto ordinary DV tape
with a much higher resolution than DV SP or DVCam. It also uses only the same amount of tape as DV SP,
despite the improvements to picture quality. Quite a miraculous format.
Issues to consider- Equipment for editing, outputting and screening HDV footage has yet to catch up with the
technology for filming it.
-You can edit in HDV using Final Cut Pro 5, but things like applying effects and transitions can really slow
down the process. One option that can speed things up is to capture your footage at HDV resolution, edit in a
downgraded resolution and upgrade it all at once later. Then, in theory, you can hit the render button and go off
and have a cup of tea or six while the computer works it out.
-If you want to screen it at HDV resolution you will need a High Def monitor or projector, and a way of
connecting up your tape deck with it. Very few places have this facility, especially for HDV as it is in many
ways quite a strange format.
-High Definition DVD burners are still not widely used in the UK and the college doesn't have any yet.
-The way the data is compressed onto the tape can cause problems if there is any corruption. The GOP format
means that an error in one frame will be spread across at least 9 frames, magnifying any possible errors. Errors
are not likely, but if they occur more of your footage would be spoiled than in another format.
What is the benefit of using this format?
-Future-proofing: when HD DVD's and other HD viewing formats are more widely available, your project
will be ready to be put on one of these in the highest resolution.
-It is better to shoot in the highest quality format available to you, because from then onwards the
capturing, editing and exporting process can gradually degrade your footage in minute ways. If you have started
with crystal clear images you are in a good position to end up with the best quality possible on your Standard
definition DVD at the end.
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