Posted: 02/11/2011
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Techie Stuff
There are so many different video formats floating around that it can be confusing knowing which one is right for your production.
To some degree it depends on what kind of 'look' you envisage for your film and also where the film will be seen, i.e web, broadcast, etc. We can shoot on pretty much any digital format you require, from DV to HD and everything in between.
So, what is the right format for you and why?
Well for starters, let's look at DV and DVCAM. These formats have been around for years and have proved popular from consumer video users right through to broadcast TV programmes and with the right cameras and lenses, the results can be impressive and look good for most web content. However, High Definition is the format that most people are using and there are affordable routes to shooting in HD that will raise the production values of your video such as formats like HDV which is a compressed High Definition image recorded to a standard DV tape. Because the media isn't expensive and it's an easy format to deal with in terms of acquisition and editing, this means that the results that can be achieved from this format are fantastic for web content and most corporate films, at a relatively inexpensive cost.
As we move up the HD ladder into the realms of the slightly more expensive XDCAM HD, there becomes a noticeable difference between the formats as the picture quality is clearer still as well as a superb all round image being produced from the excellent cameras available to this format. There is also the added benefit of being able to review the rushes instantly 'in camera' at the touch of a button due to the XDCAM's file based storage system.
The real top dog of the HD formats is HDCAM, a tape based format which is commonly used to shoot high end dramas, commercials and feature films. Whilst this provides the best picture at a stunning resolution, it is also the most expensive of all the formats.
There are of course many other affordable options to consider such as shooting HD footage using an SLR camera with file based video capability. These cameras offer a very 'filmic' look with a shallow depth of field and excellent colour reproduction, this look can also be replicated using a 35mm film adapter connected to another video camera using the aforementioned formats. If you're still confused, don't worry! We are able to help and assist you to choose the best format for your production, whatever it may be.