Looking for higher resolution output on a DV camcorder at DVinfo.net

Stephen Cordner · February 4th, 2007, 02:28 PM

I'm unicast encoding using an old Sony DV which is giving an output to the encoder of 720 x 576. I couldn't actually find the output spec on the literature but would like a higher resolution if I change cameras soon

Can someone please advise me what to look for - ie, the terms used to describe this and possible suggest another camcorder (not too expensive) which would output around 1000 x 800

Thanks, Stephen

Boyd Ostroff · February 4th, 2007, 02:59 PM

Welcome to DVinfo Stephen! I'm afraid that 720x576 is the only resolution (other than NTSC 720x480) which DV supports. Of course there's a whole range of quality in terms of actual cameras though. Are you shooting 16:9? If so then be sure to get a camera which supports it properly (like the XL2) or you'll lose resolution there. However 16:9 is also 720x576 with wider pixels.

But it sounds like you'll really want to get one of the newer HDV cameras which output either 1920x1080 or 1280x720. See our Affordable 3-chip HD camera forums for lots of info: http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/forumdisplay.php?f=61

Federico Lang · February 4th, 2007, 03:07 PM

Yep, the other thing you can do is get a PAL camcorder. PAL (european spec for TV for those who dont know) is 25 fps and 720 x 546.. that's about the best you can get in DV...

Boyd Ostroff · February 4th, 2007, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Federico Lang

PAL (european spec for TV for those who dont know) is 25 fps and 720 x 546

If you read the original question you'll see that Stephen already has a PAL camera, with resolution of 720 x 576. :-)

Stephen Cordner · February 25th, 2007, 02:24 PM

Hi guys, thanks for the response and apologies that I wasn't aware of them as I hadn't set my 'Default Thread Subscription Mode' to recieve notifications <Doh!>

Thanks in particular to Boyd for confirming a newer HDV cameras which output either 1920x1080 or 1280x720' is what I need and that '720x576 is the only resolution' is the only other resolution Im going to be able to get on any DV camera which is indeed dissapointing

However, the HDV cameras look interesting with the resolution suggested. I'm about to start a trial project in unicast encoding but could really do with a better quality / higher resolution to give bigger and better clarification to the stream. My bandwidth is 1 Meg both up and down. I imagine thats not nearly enough to run even the lower end HDV at even 12.5 fps which I'm currently using

Is it just DV which has the limits on the resolution? Would another camera do my job? (although I really need the digital connection provided by the DV. Any other suggestions appreciated

Thanks, Stephen

Ervin Farkas · February 25th, 2007, 04:26 PM

Stephen, SD resolution is plenty for broadcasting/unicasting. I don't think today's technology can support an HD transmission on your 1 MB/sec internet line. If you increase your resolution, you will have to also increase your compression rate, so at the end of the day you will have a picture that's worse than what a good DV camera can offer you today.

Unless you're doing something special (slow scan TV type thing), get a better, preferably professional of semi-professional DV camcorder and live with it until the internet gets up to at least 4-5 MB/sec.

Robert M Wright · February 25th, 2007, 04:59 PM

If it were me, I'd be more interested in raising the temporal resolution (up from 12.5fps).

February 4th, 2007, 02:28 PM	#1
Stephen Cordner Tourist Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Northern Ireland Posts: 4	Looking for higher resolution output on a DV camcorder I'm unicast encoding using an old Sony DV which is giving an output to the encoder of 720 x 576. I couldn't actually find the output spec on the literature but would like a higher resolution if I change cameras soon Can someone please advise me what to look for - ie, the terms used to describe this and possible suggest another camcorder (not too expensive) which would output around 1000 x 800 Thanks, Stephen

February 25th, 2007, 04:26 PM	#6
Ervin Farkas Inner Circle Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Atlanta/USA Posts: 2,515	DV is plenty! Stephen, SD resolution is plenty for broadcasting/unicasting. I don't think today's technology can support an HD transmission on your 1 MB/sec internet line. If you increase your resolution, you will have to also increase your compression rate, so at the end of the day you will have a picture that's worse than what a good DV camera can offer you today. Unless you're doing something special (slow scan TV type thing), get a better, preferably professional of semi-professional DV camcorder and live with it until the internet gets up to at least 4-5 MB/sec. __________________ Ervin Farkas www.AtlantaLegalVideo.com

February 4th, 2007, 02:59 PM	#2
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,787	Welcome to DVinfo Stephen! I'm afraid that 720x576 is the only resolution (other than NTSC 720x480) which DV supports. Of course there's a whole range of quality in terms of actual cameras though. Are you shooting 16:9? If so then be sure to get a camera which supports it properly (like the XL2) or you'll lose resolution there. However 16:9 is also 720x576 with wider pixels. But it sounds like you'll really want to get one of the newer HDV cameras which output either 1920x1080 or 1280x720. See our Affordable 3-chip HD camera forums for lots of info: http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/forumdisplay.php?f=61

February 4th, 2007, 03:07 PM	#3
Federico Lang Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: San José, Costa Rica Posts: 52	Yep, the other thing you can do is get a PAL camcorder. PAL (european spec for TV for those who dont know) is 25 fps and 720 x 546.. that's about the best you can get in DV...

February 25th, 2007, 02:24 PM	#5
Stephen Cordner Tourist Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Northern Ireland Posts: 4	Hi guys, thanks for the response and apologies that I wasn't aware of them as I hadn't set my 'Default Thread Subscription Mode' to recieve notifications <Doh!> Thanks in particular to Boyd for confirming a newer HDV cameras which output either 1920x1080 or 1280x720' is what I need and that '720x576 is the only resolution' is the only other resolution Im going to be able to get on any DV camera which is indeed dissapointing However, the HDV cameras look interesting with the resolution suggested. I'm about to start a trial project in unicast encoding but could really do with a better quality / higher resolution to give bigger and better clarification to the stream. My bandwidth is 1 Meg both up and down. I imagine thats not nearly enough to run even the lower end HDV at even 12.5 fps which I'm currently using Is it just DV which has the limits on the resolution? Would another camera do my job? (although I really need the digital connection provided by the DV. Any other suggestions appreciated Thanks, Stephen

February 25th, 2007, 04:59 PM	#7
Robert M Wright Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Minnesota (USA) Posts: 2,171	If it were me, I'd be more interested in raising the temporal resolution (up from 12.5fps).