I am filming a documentary on Scotland this week and I have a HDR-HC1 High Def video camera to film it on. Not ideal I know, but the best I could get. In any case, I want the documentary to be used in classrooms in the UK but I don't know what standard to film on 16:9 or 4:3. Is it best to capture this in 16:9 and then to change to 4:3 in post production. I don't know enough about the technology to make this call. Does the HD standard depend on it being in 16:9 format? I suspect not, but don't know for sure. Hope someone can help. I presume that I should film in HD even though it is not likely to be played in classroom in HD, I presume that this will just let me capture more data on the tape, and then burning it to a DVD will put it into standard format? Sorry for so many questions.
HD is always 16:9, and most documentaries are shot 16:9 these days (I think the BBC, for example, will no longer buy 4:3 documentaries in mose cases).
Hi Geiger,
While I don't have any expreience with that particular camera (I'm a Z1E user myself) I would suggest you shoot HD 16:9 (Mark is right - HD is 16:9 by default.)
If you have an HD post workflow great, if not downconvert and edit in SD (you'll always have your HD master though ?;)?)
Most schools now have widescreen TVs so there should be no need for a 4:3 version. In fact most things these days are shot 16:9 so go for it!
Oh and I'm based in Scotland, just noticed it may be a bit late but if you need any help let me know ?:)?
All the best,
Ross
Video dept.
XPotential Media
"Photography does not so much confirm our experience of the world as it actively constructs it." AS-G
"Photography does not so much confirm our experience of the world as it actively constructs it." AS-G
