As first covered here in ProVideo Coalition by Matt Jeppsen, Sony has just announced the NEX-VG10 as a first response to HDSLRs which have been used for HD video productions for quite a while already, despite their well known limitations. Fortunately, the NEX-VG10 eliminates several of those HDSLR limitations, while establishing some of its own, with its initial segregated progressive policy. This article will establish the details of these limitations, their workarounds, and the way a professional “big sister” will likely make them unnecessary, although certainly at a higher price.
Some HDSLR known limitations
So far, many producers have used HDSLRs despite the following known limitations, while others have avoided them for some of the same reasons:
- Lack of electric zoom in commonly available lenses
- Short recording time per clip (model dependent)
- Lack of manual audio level control (model dependent)
- Lack of off-camera audio headphone output
- Line-skipping method of downscaling the sensor’s higher-resolution to HD (model dependent)
- Cumbersome hand-held use (without extra accessories)
- Difficult manual focus (without extra accessories)
With the NEX-VG10, Sony has fortunately eliminated these limitations.
Beautiful Bali captured with the Sony NEX-VG10 Handycam camcorder from SonyElectronics on Vimeo.
Initial segregated progressive policy
As most (or perhaps all) consumer video cameras from all manufacturers, the NEX-VG10 (as published so far by Sony) will be a segregated camera. When I say that, I mean that the version of the camera made and officially marketed for 60Hz countries will offer only 60Hz type mode(s), while the version camera made and officially marketed for 50Hz countries will offer only 50Hz type mode(s). The official information already available from Sony indicates (by omission) that no NEX-VG10 will offer any 23.976p (aka “24p”) recording mode. Although the official press release and (so far) incomplete listing at SonyStyle.com doesn’t mention it, several other people have received raw footage and have conversed with Sony have affirmed that the NEX-VG10’s 60Hz version will actually record progressive 29.97p (“30p”), although embedded in an interlaced transport over 59.94i, similarly as the HVR-V1U and HVR-V1N 60Hz models do in one particular mode… and that the NEX-VG10’s 50Hz version will actually record progressive 25p, although embedded in an interlaced transport at 50i, as the HVR-V1E 50Hz model does in one particular mode.
Just as has occurred with other segregated video cameras in the past (and others which promised “24p”, but are really 24p-challenged), potential NEX-VG10 purchasers who are located in a 60Hz country -who seek the specific benefits of 23.976p (“24p”) type recording in the camera- will likely be tempted to import a 50Hz version of the NEX-VG10, or to purchase it in their country via a video dealer who imports 50Hz versions and (hopefully) offers an international extended warranty, at least as an option. For in-depth explanations about the benefits of 25p production even in 60Hz countries (when a “24p” type result is desired), see my 2008 article When 25p beats 24p, which also covers the workflow to deliver 23.976p versions from a 25p master. Higher-end cameras from Sony -starting from the EX1(R) and up- already come as universal. Other, lower cost Sony cameras -like the HVR-V1- are segregated, so many users in 60Hz countries with a 23.976p desire would acquire a 50Hz version via unofficial channels. Starting the the 3rd generation professional HDV series, Sony began offering a WorldCam upgrade to make cameras like the HVR-S270, HVR-Z5 and HVR-Z7 to become universal, as I covered in this 2009 article. Sony then offered a similar WorldCam upgrade for the HXR-NX5 (the first of the Sony NXCAM family of cameras), as I covered here.
Who needs “24p” or 25p anyway?
As I covered back in the When 25p beats 24p article in 2008, here are some reasons why someone might want to shoot normal scenes with a low framerate:
- To achieve one of the many aspects of the “film on video” look (This is equally feasible whether you shoot at 23.976p or at 25p, since the look is the same).
- To have an easier path to filmout (This is equally feasible whether you shoot at 23.976p or at 25p, since both will require a slight audio pitch adjustment when exporting for filmout at true 24.000p with a 1:1 frame relationship).
- To be able to deliver on NTSC “24p” DVDs or “24p” Blu-ray disks, both of which are really 23.976p (Both are equally feasible whether you shoot at 23.976p or at 25p using a similar audio pitch adjustment upon export).
- To be able to deliver full-raster 720p-HD to the current AppleTV device. [Despite the imprecise information posted at Apple’s USA, UK, Spain, Latin America, and Australian websites, the current AppleTV will actually accept full raster 1280×720 at a maximum framerate of 25p. Those four Apple websites imprecisely indicate that the maximum supported HD signal is 1280×720 @24p. (Apple is underrating the product.) I have personally verified with several AppleTV units in the USA, and they have always worked fine with full raster 1280×720 @25p footage, even when matched with a 60Hz-only monitor or projector via HDMI. With anything higher than 25p, the current AppleTV needs you to downscale the spatial resolution of your HD footage to 960×540 to keep up with the higher framerate. If you have clicked the above links and it now says 1280×720@25p (or 25fps), it means that Apple has now corrected their websites
On the other hand, many people may prefer their normal scenes in a medium (29.97p) framerate for a smoother look, or high (50p or 59.94p) framerate, for a smoothest look, although be careful about 50p and 59.94p for your normal scenes if the final program will likely reach an iPad. (See Why the iPad will dictate your shooting framerate.)
When to make the framerate choice
Since Canon’s HDSLRs are not framerate segregated, no matter where you are in the world, you can choose any framerate you please, for any particular shot. With the 7D and T2i, that can be 23.976p, 25p, 29.97p, 50p, or 59.94p. With a 5D at present, it can be any of the first three. So you don’t have to make the framerate choice at time of purchase, just at time of shooting. On the other hand, the NEX-VG10 consumer model (as currently described by Sony, and barring any possible hacks, as have been made for the Panasonic Lumix GH1), you’ll have to make your decision at time of purchase.
What I expect from the pro version
Although at the publication date of this article, I have absolutely no inside information from any of my friends at Sony’s professional division, I do expect the following additional features to be offered in a pro-version of the NEX-VG10:
- Balanced XLR audio inputs
- 23.976p native recording mode
- 25p native recording mode
- 50p and/or 59.94p recording mode
- Overcranking modes
What I hope from the pro version
Beyond expectations, I hope that the pro version will also offer higher bit recording (lower compression), and the possibility of recording standard H.264 (without the AVCHD structure), as well as the capability of formatting media either in HFS+ or NTFS, so we can finally leave FAT32 in the museum. The raw footage might as well either be a single-file per clip, either .mp4 or .mov.
The term DSLR and HDSLR
I realize that some cameras called DSLR and HDSLR are technically not really what the name states, since many of them don’t use a mechanical mirror system and pentaprism to direct light from the lens to an optical viewfinder on the back of the camera. However, I have found myself forced to use the term, since the term hybrid camera takes too much space in a headline. I hope no one is offended 🙂
Please also see Matt Jeppsen’s article
Please also see Matt Jeppsen’s article Sony NEX-VG10 interchangeable lens camcorder announced.
Allan T©pper’s policy on model nomenclature
Since I know we have an international audience and we are living in the global village (thanks Marshal McLuhan!), I am constantly researching the possible variants among model numbers in the international marketplace. Often, video equipment manufacturers restrict certain functionality in regional versions, and sometimes they use a strict regional warranty system. Sometimes the manufacturers do this to avoid grey marketing (i.e. to encourage purchasing of products in a local region, to protect local distribution), and sometimes it’s to avoid extremely high import tariffs in a specific market. When they do this, the manufacturers often add a regional suffix to the model number.
When I mention model numbers, I purposely omit regional suffixes when they make absolutely no difference in a product’s features or functionality worldwide. I include these suffixes only when making specific reference to differences among regional variants. So if you see a model number I mention and you are used to seeing that same model number with an “E”, “J”, “N”, “U”, or “P” suffix, what I am writing is applicable to any version, with any suffix. Those few times I do include the suffix, it’s because I am specifically describing features which are specifically added or missing from that version of the product. I encourage all journalists in all media to do the same.
Allan T©pper’s consulting, articles, seminars, and audio programs
Contact Allan T©pper for consulting, or find a full listing of his articles and upcoming seminars and webinars at AllanTepper.com. Listen to his TecnoTur program, which is now available both in Castilian and in English, free of charge. Search for TecnoTur in iTunes or visit TecnoTur.us for more information.
Disclosure, to comply with the FTC’s rules
No manufacturer is paying Allan T©pper or TecnoTur LLC specifically to write this article. Some of the manufacturers listed above have contracted T©pper and/or TecnoTur LLC to carry out consulting and/or translations/localizations/transcreations, and some of them have sent him equipment for evaluations or reviews. So far, none of the manufacturers listed above is/are sponsors of the TecnoTur programs, although they are welcome to do so, and some are, may be (or may have been) sponsors of ProVideo Coalition magazine.