JVCPro-MSIS

FAQs - Questions and Answers

for the model GY-HM100E

Professional

Europe

Text

		1)	There are so many different recording formats I can choose from in the GY-HM100 and GY-HM700 what is the best format for my work?
		2)	I am planning to shoot some sports footage with fast motion and I also often shoot footage of Races, Reports and news. What is the best format I should use for my line of work?
		3)	I have a client who wants me to shoot a drama production with complex scenes with a lot of fine detail, dialogs and mostly slow moving objects. What format is the best choice for my client?
		4)	I am a film producer with a small budget and I have heard that the JVC cameras provide an economical and efficient alternative to shooting on film. I am planning to transfer my finished project onto celluloid film but I would also like to create PAL copies for general distribution. Now I am confused since there seem to be several different “film” modes I can choose from with frame rates of 24p and 25p what is the best choice for my project?
		5)	How can I use the over- or under cranking function provided by the GY-HM700?
		6)	My primary field of work is the creation of online content for the web. And I frequently upload my clips to sites like “Vimeo” or “YouTube”, some of my clients also like to embed videos I produce for them into their own web site. Which format is best suited for my line of work and is it worthwhile to shoot footage in HD for these kinds of projects?
		7)	I am considering using a GY-HM700E and a GY-HM100E I bought in Europe, in a production for a client in the US who will use this footage for later distribution through a US TV network. Can I still use my camera in the US with the 60Hz HD formats there? Or do I need to rent a US version of the GY-HM cameras?

		Question 1:	There are so many different recording formats I can choose from in the GY-HM100 and GY-HM700 what is the best format for my work?

		Answer 1:	There is no single format that can be considered as “the best format” it really depends on what kind of work you do and what your customer’s needs are for a specific production. For detailed recommendations for each format depending on your project please check the following questions and answers.


		Question 2:	I am planning to shoot some sports footage with fast motion and I also often shoot footage of Races, Reports and news. What is the best format I should use for my line of work?

		Answer 2:	We recommend using 720p50. This format provides excellent motion portrayal even with fast-moving objects and is ideal if you need to create smooth slow-motion video from your recordings. The 720p50 format offers an excellent compromise between resolution and motion portrayal and occupies less bandwidth than the typical 1080i formats which makes 720p50 an ideal standard for broadcasting over cable, satellite and terrestrial links. This is the reason why the EBU, the European Broadcasting Union recommends this format. Many broadcasters in Europe have chosen 720p50 as their distribution format among them German ARD and ZDF, Austrian ORF and Swiss TV. If you need to convert your footage to standard definition (PAL) then 720/p50 is also a good choice because it can easily be converted to standard definition.


		Question 3:	I have a client who wants me to shoot a drama production with complex scenes with a lot of fine detail, dialogs and mostly slow moving objects. What format is the best choice for my client?

		Answer 3:	In this situation your client has the choice between 720p50 or 1080i50 the latter gives you a slightly higher resolution if proper de-interlacing techniques are being applied on the receiving end. Especially drama productions with a lot of slow scenery with high detail can benefit from the slightly higher resolution the 1080i format offers. If you need to convert your footage to standard definition (PAL) then 720p50 or 1080i50 are also good choices because they can easily be converted to standard definition.


		Question 4:	I am a film producer with a small budget and I have heard that the JVC cameras provide an economical and efficient alternative to shooting on film. I am planning to transfer my finished project onto celluloid film but I would also like to create PAL copies for general distribution. Now I am confused since there seem to be several different “film” modes I can choose from with frame rates of 24p and 25p what is the best choice for my project?

		Answer 4:	When shooting cinematography projects electronically there is a choice between frame rates of 24 frames per second or 25 frames per second (fps) both modes give the typical filmic motion portrayal with the associated motion judder seen in fast-moving objects or rapid camera pans. The modes using 25 fps, however, can be converted very easily to a PAL TV standard definition (SD) signal while the modes using 24 fps are far less easily convertible to a PAL compliant SD signal. Therefore, for cinematography projects that require distribution in standard definition in a country using PAL, the best choice is a frame rate of 25 frames per second. This footage can still be transferred to film, due to the typical 24 fps rate used in film; however, such footage would be presented at a slightly slower speed of -4% when shown on film. It has also been common practice over many years that film material shot at 24 frames per second is shown on TV at a 4% higher speed of 25 frames per second in the 50 Hz countries. Changing the frame rate by a moderate 4% is the easiest and cleanest conversion process that can be performed and has been well accepted by viewers over many years. One side effect of such conversions is that the Audio pitch will also change by +/- 4% and proper adjustments need to be made in the editing software in order to compensate for the pitch change. Footage that is intended primarily for film distribution should be shot at modes with a 24 fps frame rate. Please take note, however, that while projects shot in 24 fps can easily be converted to SD NTSC by using a 3:2 pull down it is very difficult to convert these to a SD PAL compliant 50Hz signal. So the primary distribution channel for the finished project should be considered before making a choice for a particular format. Another consideration is that the modes supporting 24 fps are actually using 23.976 fps which is 24 x 1000/1001. This slightly lower frame rate is needed for NTSC compatibility and can result in numerous problems like time code drop frame/non drop frame choices and difficulty to sync e.g. DAT audio equipment running at a sample rate of 48 kHz. The 25 and 24 fps modes are available in both 720p and 1080p resolutions. Given the availability of a suitable editing system priority should be given to the 1080p24 or 1080p25 HD format due to its higher resolution. In cases where special effects such as over- and under cranking are to be used within the project then the 720p modes have to be used as these special functions are only available in the 720p24 and 720p25 modes in the GY-HM700. The GY-HM100 does not support over- and under cranking.


		Question 5:	How can I use the over- or under cranking function provided by the GY-HM700?

		Answer 5:	Over- and under cranking modes are available only in the 720p24 and 720p25 HQ modes selectable in the GY-HM700. In order to activate them proceed as follows; in the “Record Format Menu” select “1280x720” as the resolution, then select either “25p HQ” or “24p HQ” in the “Frame & Bit Rate” menu. Now if you open the “Rec Mode” menu you can select “Variable Frame” and choose the desired frame rate.


		Question 6:	My primary field of work is the creation of online content for the web. And I frequently upload my clips to sites like “Vimeo” or “YouTube”, some of my clients also like to embed videos I produce for them into their own web site. Which format is best suited for my line of work and is it worthwhile to shoot footage in HD for these kinds of projects?

		Answer 6:	Most IT displays such as CRTs, flat screens or projectors run at 60 Hz or multiples of this frame rate. Video footage using a frame rate which is equal to or a fraction of 60 Hz plays most smoothly on these displays. Internet sites aimed at distributing video clips are becoming more and more popular, sites such as “Vimeo” or “YouTube” have gained a tremendous popularity in the past few years. While most of these platforms only support resolutions lower than a typical 720p or 1080p/i HD signal provides, it is still worthwhile to shoot footage in high-definition for these sites because bandwidth is increasing rapidly and it is just a matter of time before footage shot at 720p or 1080p will become a standard for distribution on the Internet. Due to the native 60Hz refresh rate of most IT-based displays footage created at frame rates of 30 fps or 60 fps is ideal for Internet distribution. The best compromise is the use of 720p30 which gives relatively smooth motion while economizing on Internet bandwidth. In cases where bandwidth is no concern then 720p60 can be used for footage with rapid motion and 1080p30 is ideal for distributing footage containing high detail and only moderate motion. All 30 and 60 Hz formats can easily be converted to SD NTSC signals but are quite difficult to convert to SD PAL in a clean manner because of the different frame rates of 30/60 vs. 25/50.


		Question 7:	I am considering using a GY-HM700E and a GY-HM100E I bought in Europe, in a production for a client in the US who will use this footage for later distribution through a US TV network. Can I still use my camera in the US with the 60Hz HD formats there? Or do I need to rent a US version of the GY-HM cameras?

		Answer 7:	All GY-HM series cameras are multi format and offer full support of all 60Hz HD formats, therefore, you can use both your GY-HM700E and GY-HM100E cameras in 1080i60 or 720p60 in the US without any problems. Should you, however, need to convert some of your footage to NTSC DV via the real time conversion function of the IEEE1394 port on the GY-HM700E camera then you will have to borrow a US model GY-HM700U. The European GY-HM700E only supports DV down conversion to PAL but not to NTSC. HD footage shot on the European model in 60Hz HD formats can, however, be played in the US version of the GY-HM700, so all you need to do is borrow a US GY-HM700U for the conversion to NTSC DV. Acquisition of your footage can be done with your own GY-HM700E and GY-HM100E. Please take into account that the US uses different Mains Power than Europe. While the power supply and charger of the GY-HM100 are Multi Voltage some other equipment in your possession may not work on 110V and 60Hz in the US.