An upcoming project needs to be output in both 4:3 & 16:9. Is this better filmed in one or the other, then convert? or film in both formats and use separate edits.
Cheers guys.
What I'd do is shoot and edit in 16:9 with a proper 16:9 camera. Then, at the export/save stage, output the 16:9 version, then make a 4:3 and output that. The only issue is whether you do this stage as a centre cut-out, or 14:9 letter box.
Cheers Alan. Anyone with experience of either method?
Hi Branny,
I haven't had such a split requirement to-date.
My Z1E has 4:3 guides, so I can film in HDV with subject matter aligned within guides and capture/edit as SD widescreen.
For 4:3 project, the 16:9 footage on pc can be imported maintaining pixel ratio and side verticals cropped. This would mean a quality loss.
This could be worked around by re-importing the HDV content, with the 4:3 downconvert option, so no quality loss, but would need to re-edit content - or circumvent by using batch list or EDL from 16:9 project.
I would make 16:9 the 'main' project as that's the standard our industry has imposed upon us. In filming with the 4:3 guides, you will be tempted to film to the edge of the guide, so the 16:9 perspective doesn't look silly with all subjects in centre. BUT, need to allow for overscan in the 4:3 for CRT etc., though for pc's you know detail is seen right to very edge.
If 4:3 screen is pda's etc, then resolution loss isn't really a concern - and could even use NLE or after affects to cut out 4:3 variant from 16:9 and be able to left/right bias when required.
HTH
I would make 16:9 the 'main' project as that's the standard our industry has imposed upon us.
There are also very good technical reasons for going with 16:9 as the main route, and deriving 4:3 from it, and that's due to interlace. Rescaling along the horizontal (as when deriving 4:3 from 16:9) is a fairly simple process - the line structure is unaltered - doing the equivalent vertically isn't.
As others have said, a true 16:9 camera should have the ability to display 4:3 markers in the viewfinder. When shooting, make sure that no ESSENTIAL detail is to the side of these
lines.
And if burning to DVD, if a 16:9 version is burnt, any player can then output either the original 16:9, a 4:3 centre cut, or a letterbox version. Make a 4:3 DVD and that's it. There is really no reason now to ever set out to produce a 4:3 only version.