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Hi-Def?

To GO High Def or not to Go High Def?  THAT is the Question!

 

If you’re planning to buy one or more video cameras in the near future, you may be wondering if you should go hi-def at this time or wait a few years.  Hopefully I can help you answer this pretty important question with a little logic and common sense.

 

The first thing I will tell you is that HD is definitely here and all the major manufacturers are committed to it.  Just about every new camera that has come out in the last few years has had some kind of HD format, and as far as they are concerned, there is no turning back.  Every year for the last four years at the National Association of Broadcasters Convention, all the major camera manufacturers have been pushing HD with full force with catch slogans like “HD for Everyone” and “HD is Everywhere”.  But…some of the old favorite cameras in standard def are still being manufactured and still available.

 

If you feel that the cost of going HD may be prohibitive, you may be pleasantly surprised.  Sony, JVC, Panasonic and Canon have all brought out pro and consumer HD cameras with pricing that is in line with their old standard def cameras, making it easier to get into the HD explosion.  But I will tell you if you are looking to get into some “over the shoulder” or broadcast and studio cameras, there seems to be a mid range price gap.  But we here at MoreSalesWithVideo.com, have ways to make the lower priced cameras work for you.

 

First let’s take a look at what hi-def, means and the different types available.  I will try to explain it in layman’s terms.  If you can believe it, one of the first TV’s made in 1926 by John Baird had only 30 lines of resolution at 5 frames per second.  That moved to 343 lines in 1940.  But your typical TV from yesterday (which most of us still have a few left around the house) with a cathode ray tube was made in the NTSC format (standard in the U.S.A.) which should give you 525 horizontal lines.  But for a standard definition picture we can only see 480 of those lines, and those lines were interlaced.  That means that although every frame came to us in a split second, and faster than the eye can see, if we slowed down time, you would see the lines showing up in an unorderly fashion.  This was fixed in the last decade with progressive scan.  Again if we watched the lines show up in slow motion with progressive scan, they would appear to show up one by one in a very orderly fashion.  This would make our TV’s and especially our DVD picture much clearer. 

A word about frame rates.  Some camcorders have the ability to switch between 30 frames per second and 24 frames per second.  In case you are not familiar with frame rates, 30 frames per second gives you a video look while 24 frames per second is the true frame rate of film.  Why switch between the two?  Every time you start a project, there should be a decision as to your frame rate.  The viewing public is used to certain “looks” when watching video.  If you mix up your frame rate and use the wrong setting, you run the risk of your video, not looking right and losing your audience.  For example, most commercials are made in the 24 frames per second frame rate.  The public is used to this.  So when local commercials air in the 30 frames per second video rate, it feels cheap.  Now that doesn’t necessarily mean that these “cheap” commercials aren’t always effective.  Even a cheaply made commercial can move people to buy if made right, but it’s the exception.  Here are some examples of media and their frame rates:

 

Types of media made with 30 frames per second video rate:

-News

-Sports

-Live shows

-Variety Shows

-Soap Operas

-Game Shows

-Certain Situation Comedies

-A few commercials

-Reality TV

-And most Religious shows

-Some Infomercials

 

Types of media made with 24 frames per second film rate:

-Movies

-Documentaries

-Most commercials

-Most situation Comedies

-TV Dramas

-Music Videos

-Some Infomercials

 

Now most HD video will support either frame rate, so this shouldn’t pose a big problem when picking an HD camcorder.  But regardless if you are going HD or not, make sure you know what frame rates you will need and whether the camera you’re thinking about has that frame rate.  For more info on frame rates, read our article on frame rates.

 

Some words about aspect ratio.  In the beginning…of television that is…the decision was made to standardize the size (or aspect ratio) of video and the TV screen to 4:3.  If you think about it, they could have made it any size.  Like square (4:4) or even round.  Actually round was the shape of many of the first TV’s.  But 4:3 was eventually agreed upon.  As you probably know that has now changed with the wide screen standard aspect ratio of 16:9.  And this 16:9 is the standard for HD.  So bear in mind, if you switch to HD, you will need to change your monitors and make sure your projectors can handle it.  YouTube recently made the change from 4:3 to 16:9 which shows you that the web video market is definitely heading in the HD direction.

 

So with all this knowledge I have just pointed out, the question is, should you go for HD or stick with standard definition?  Obviously the answer will be different for each person and business depending on what they are out to achieve.  Yes you may be able to save a few dollars by staying with standard definition, but the truth is most of the newest HD Pro camcorders are actually very nicely priced.  

 

We also need to consider the future of video.  I will tell you that the HD format is moving very quickly!  
 

A word about DVD’s - If you are planning on making DVD’s, remember that DVD’s do not support HD; only standard def.  Only Blu-ray discs can support HD.  The Blu-ray craze has only just begun.  If you don’t know, Blu-ray is the newest disc format and is the standard in the industry for playing hi-def discs.  There are more and more Blu-ray players entering consumer’s homes daily.  And only a few types of editing software and computer disc drives can create Blu-ray discs.  I’ve also seen more and more internal Blu-ray burners and players for computers come out, to burn your HD Blu-ray videos.  Although I've only had a few customers ask me for Blue-Ray Discs, I’ve got a feeling; the Blu-ray explosion is very close.

 

What is the time expectancy for a camcorder?  Maybe 7 years?  My guess is if you expect to be buying new cameras in about 7 to 10 years, you can probably still get away with standard def.  But I will say this, if your budget can take it, I say go now.  We are presently on the cusp of HD completely taking over.  Most of the consumer and pro HD camcorders have the ability to record in either HD or SD.  And if you record in HD, most of the latest camcorders have the ability to down convert to SD.  In other words, film everything in HD.  Then when you capture the video to your hard drive, you bring the signal in, in standard def.  Then years from now, once you are doing everything in HD, you will have most of your historical footage on the shelf in HD.

 

So my advice?...If you can afford HD, go with it!  It’s only a matter of time before everything is in HD.  But if it’s not in the budget?…and you’ll hear me say this alot…”Good is good enough!”  Remember the quality of your video picture is not as important as the emotion evoked in your viewers that increases sales (see our article on “The Greatest Secret to Producing Great Quality Videos for Your Website”).  

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