1080p vs. 720p

[David Heath]

Originally Posted by Brad Abrahams

DVCProHD horizontal luminance is actually 1280 for 1080p, not 1440. HDCAM and HDV are 1440.

Whoops, sorry. Not that it changes the point - that figure represents 33% higher than 720 DVCProHD, giving some leeway which the HVX should be able to utilise via pixel shifting. Since commonly available displays are typically 1200-1400 horizontally, the difference should be noticeable.

[Barry Green]

In the US version it's 1280; in the EU version it's 1440.

[Glen Johnson]

Does this mean that the PAL version has a better res than the US?

[Barry Green]

Originally Posted by Glen Johnson

Does this mean that the PAL version has a better res than the US?

Probably not, but I'd have to test them side by side to know for sure.

As is, the recorded image on the US version very closely matches the live camera head feed, so it seems like the 1080p mode can effectively record all the detail the camera head can give it. So having more pixels in the recording mode won't necessarily lead to more recorded detail.

[Phil Hover]

Originally Posted by Betsy Moore

Phil, is the 15, 20% improvement for real? I'm filming things for posterity--and concerned about how things'll look 10 years from now so I do want something that'll look the best on a 6' and (much) larger screen.

If you plan on showing your work in a large format, I would go with 1080 but If you are concerned with future proofing, that is a tossup - I run my 720 stuff on a 9' diagonal projector and it still looks great.