A FEW HI DEFINITIONS
HDCAM - Half-inch format developed by Sony for recording high definition signals. Allows realtime recording of 2k x 1k progressive (P) or Interlaced (I) images at various frame rates.

1080 / 24P - The high definition signal with 1080 vertical active scanning lines and 1920 horizontal active pixels at 24 progressive frames per second.

1080 / 25P - As above but producing 25 frames per second

24P - Short for 1080 / 24P, the digital equivalent to 24 frames per second film.

Interlace / Progressive - Manner in which images are captures. Film is progressive, the entire picture frame content is captured at the same time. Video is interlaced, each frame consisting of two fields (odd and even lines) with different time content. The 24P camera captures pictures in the same manner as film, the progressive signal has the same motion artifacts as film due to temporal aliasing whereas interlace appears smoother motion portrayal due to the image being captured at twice the rate of progressive image.

The preceding information is taken from Sony's Digital Cinematography Production Guide.
Copies of the booklet may be obtained free by
phoning 01932 816380.

FILM FINALE?
Star Wars' creator George Lucas committed himself and all his future film-making to digital cinematography at the NAB2001 Convention in Las Vegas.
He was a 'surprise' visitor to the Sony press conference, where he talked of his experiences with the Sony CineAlta system while shooting Star Wars: Episode II. He talked of the way the film world was trying to catch up with the broadcast world when shooting HD 24P, and when asked if he would ever use film again, he said unequivocally: "I will never shoot another film on film."
"The Sony system has caused us no problems when filming in five countries in all kinds of temperatures."
This will be seen as a great boost for the new Sony system, and Sony itself sees HDCAM as the future mainstay, not for films especially, but for episodic TV. Sony Electronics' Deputy President (US), Ed Grebow, predicted that, a year from now, nearly half of all US episodic TV will be shot on HDCAM.

From a Sony press release

special high quality lenses and kits specifically designed to suit feature movie making.
Technically shooting and post producing with Digital 24P Cinematography presents a new challenge. Complicated by the similarity with television HD media formats and Digital Video, coupled with the standards conversion between PAL and NTSC it is all too easy to create confusion, particularly with the number of different frame rates in use. Obviously the designated name 24P was intended to identify this digital format to compare only with cinema film. However, in reality at the touch of a button it can change speed...this is nothing new providing everyone is absolutely clear when and why it is necessary. AMPS can help to clarify some of these anomalies. We intend to address such matters with other Associations supported by the Manufacturers, by group discussion and with the help of these columns. We hope that AMPS membership will join in.

LIONEL STRUTT

What Is CineAlta ? What is 24P?

CineAlta high definition is a growing family of products that will enable you to make a 2k production digitally and in realtime. The main CineAlta camera is the HDW-F900 HDCAM. For the first time, digital cameras are able to deliver picture quality comparable with 35mm film, offering extremely high image quality and a choice of frame rates at which to acquire those images. CineAlta also has the advantages of cost benefits, convenience and high speed working, as well as extremely high picture resolution and the ability to manipulate the image in a similar way to film. The CineAlta recorded 2k x 1k image is made up of precisely 1920 pixels horizontally by 1080 pixels vertically - over four times as many pixels as in current standard definition images and more than twice that of American 720P DTV. This 1920 x 1080 pixels is known as the Common Image Format and is endorsed by the international standards body, the ITU, and many manufacturers, The CineAlta camera can operate at a number of different frame rates, usually described by a number to tell you how many pictures per second, and a letter to tell you whether the pictures are interlaced (i), or progressive (P) scanned. For example, in 24P mode the camera will generate 24 progressively scanned images per second. Different frame rates are appropriate for particular applications. 24P is particularly useful as a worldwide interchange standard, as PAL and NTSC versions can be easily created for European and US/Japanese television standards, in a similar way to film.

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