Panasonic AG-HMC150 User Manual page 28

skipping frames as it counts up (not dropping video
frames, only the time code numbers) in order to
compensate for the spread of the NTSC television
system running at 29.97 frames per second.
Otherwise, the running time code would not match
real time. Non-Drop Frame (NDF) time code refers
to time code that does not drop numbers and
therefore does not align with real-time.
Drop out. Loss of a portion of an audio or video
signal, usually caused by an imperfection in the tape's
coating or dirt covering a portion of the tape. HDV,
due to its long GOP format is particularly susceptible
to drop outs because an drop out is likely to affect
multiple frames. Hi8 was a format notorious for drop
outs.
D-SLR (Digital Single Lens Re ex). Among
videographers, refers to digital still single-lens-re ex
cameras capable of shooting video. In the past two
years professional SLR still cameras have added video
recording capability, offering a serious challenge to
video cameras. Videographers praise the images due
to the shallower depth of eld made possible by the
use of a much larger imager chip compared to
prosumer video cameras. Current digital SLR models
use one of three sensor sizes: 1. Four irds, 17.3mm
by 13mm, developed by Olympus and Kodak and
available in Olympus and Panasonic D-SLRs; 2. APS,
varies from 14mm by 21mm to 16mm by 24mm,
approximately the size of one of the various APS lm
formats, most digital SLRs have imagers in this size,
including most Nikon, Sony and Canon (e.g
EOS-7D) models; and 3. 35mm- lm format, 24mm
by 36mm, a.k.a. full frame, a sensor the same size as a
35mm frame, cameras with these large sensors are
expensive, however, they provide the shallow depth of
eld " lm look" that many lmmakers prefer,
available in cameras from Nikon and Canon (e.g.
EOS-5D).
DTV. Digital Television. Another acronym for the
new digital television standards. See HDTV.
Dutch-angle. A tilted camera angle obliquely slanted
to the frame's vertical axis so that the horizontal
frame line is not parallel to the horizon. Also called
an oblique angle shot or a canted frame.
DV (Digital Video). A digital video format developed
by Sony, Panasonic, and JVC using a small tape that
became a widely used standard among consumers and
documentary videomakers. e DV speci cation
(IEC 61834) de nes both the codec and tape format.
e intraframe DCT codec with a bit rate of 25
Mbit/sec provides good image quality and simpli ed
editing. DV cameras are easy to connect to non-linear
Introduction to the Panasonic AG-HMC150 AVCHD camcorder (rough draft)
editing systems via a FireWire (IEEE 1394) interface.
Unlike Hi8, which was notorious for video dropouts,
DV provided excellent image and audio quality
acceptable for video documentaries intended for
broadcast and theatrical distribution. Sony also
introduced DVCAM which uses a wider track pitch
for increased reliability. While still a viable format for
web video and teaching video, documentary
lmmakers are rapidly moving to HD formats since
the cost of HD cameras has dropped precipitously
and demand for HD material is high and HD is a
more "future-proof " format. See also HDV,
DVCPRO HD, AVCHD.
DVCPRO HD. A digital video format developed by
Panasonic using an intraframe DCT codec with a
higher bit rate than HDV. e format down-samples
HD, 1280 x 720 is stored as 960 x 720 and 1920 x
1080 is stored as 1280 x 1080. In spite of not being
"true HD" the format looks pretty good due to not
using intra-frame compression techniques and is also
very easy to edit with.
Dynamic range. e difference in decibels between
the loudest and quietest portions of audio that a
system is capable of processing.
Electronic Image Stabilization. A technique in
which the video image is shifted frame to frame,
enough to compensate for the motion due to camera
shake. It uses pixels outside the border of the visible
frame to provide a buffer for the motion. e quality
is not as good as Optical techniques. See also Optical
Image Stabilization.
Establishing shot. A camera shot, usually a long
shot, which identi es, or establishes, the location of a
scene.
Ethnographic lm. An anthropological lm that
records and perhaps comments on a group of people
and their culture of which the lmmaker is not a part
of.
Exposure index (E.I.). Film sensitivity denoted as a
number, for example, EI 100 is relatively slow lm,
EI 800 is relatively fast lm. often used to express
sensitivity of a video camera but the comparison in
tenuous.
Extreme close-up (XCU). A very close view of a
person or object which features speci c details. An
extreme close-up of a person typically shows only
their eyes or mouth.
Extreme long shot (XLS). A panoramic view of a
scene, photographed from a great distance.
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