About 1080i
 

So this might be a dumb question... But I am a little confused...

The XH-A1 has a maximum output of 1080i, which is high quality but a lesser quality than 1080p. But, here's my question:

If you are shooting at 24F, which isn't interlaced, than the picture should not be 1080i, right? So is it 720p or 1080p? Or am I totally confused right now...

Thanks!

Z

Hi Zachary,
Congrats on your first post. You'll find a number of existing threads discussing the finer points in this forum and the XL H1 forum but here's the basics. The HDV pixel count is 1440x1080 at 23.976 progressive frames per second with a pixel aspect ratio of 1.3; the HD-SDI signal will be put out at 1920x1080 square pixels at 60i with 2:3 pulldown. Static resolution on standard rez charts will be a little less than the 60i mode.

Sorry but that's not right. 1080i isn't necessarily a "lesser quality" than 1080p. For example, 1080p at only 15 frames per second definitely would be worse than 1080i at 60 fields per second.

Frame rate has a lot to do with it. In short: 1080i60 is the same bandwidth as 1080p30.

There is no 720p in this camera. Shooting at 24F is 1080p24.

Any reason canon put "1080i" on the cam instead of "1080P" ?

Russ

Because it's first and foremost a 1080i camera with 1080i chips and a 1080i format (HDV2).

Is the A1's 30F the same as 1080p30?

Yes. On FCP, you can edit 30f in a 1080/30p timeline.