Joe Herth

Q: 60p vs 60i video quality

Sorry for asking a very common question but every thread I've searched tends to go down a tangent that doesn't quite answer my question.

 

I have a Panasonic camcorder that records in 1080 60p or 60i. 

My question is video quality.  Even though all my output is going to be turned into 30 fps for Apple TV viewing or 30i for YouTube distribution, is my video quality going to be higher, shooting in 60p with a data rate of 34 MB/s vs 60i at 17 MB/s whether the subject is fast moving or not.  My thought is to shoot in 60p at the higher data rate even though it will be converted to 30 fps and possible even interlaced for youtube, due to I am dealing with full frames, not interlaced frames and at a higher data rate.  Is my logic correct?

I know the file size is doubled shooting in 60p vs 60i, but if the video quality is higher, then I am willing to make that sacrafic.

 

 

I guess a follow up question would be, how does FCP convert 60p video into 30i video.

 

Thanks for your help.

Posted on Jan 25, 2013 5:18 PM

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Q: 60p vs 60i video quality

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  • by Tom Wolsky,

    Tom Wolsky Tom Wolsky Jan 25, 2013 5:28 PM in response to Joe Herth
    Level 10 (118,353 points)
    Apple TV
    Jan 25, 2013 5:28 PM in response to Joe Herth

    Video for YouTube should never be interlaced. There isn't much point in shooting 60p unless you're planning on doing a lot of slomo.

  • by russ Andris1,

    russ Andris1 russ Andris1 Jan 25, 2013 5:39 PM in response to Joe Herth
    Level 2 (205 points)
    Jan 25, 2013 5:39 PM in response to Joe Herth

    Joe,

     

    Check out this link: http://forums.photographyreview.com/digital-video/60i-vs-60p-79644.html

     

    60p is better then 60i.

     

    Hope this helps.

  • by digibudII,

    digibudII digibudII Jan 25, 2013 6:56 PM in response to Tom Wolsky
    Level 2 (415 points)
    Jan 25, 2013 6:56 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

    or unless you are shooting action...

  • by Tom Wolsky,

    Tom Wolsky Tom Wolsky Jan 25, 2013 7:05 PM in response to digibudII
    Level 10 (118,353 points)
    Apple TV
    Jan 25, 2013 7:05 PM in response to digibudII

    There is no great benefit of shooting 60p for action if you're going to put it into a 30p project or output 30p; half the frames are going to be thrown away regardless.

  • by AppleMan1958,

    AppleMan1958 AppleMan1958 Jan 25, 2013 7:35 PM in response to Tom Wolsky
    Level 7 (27,439 points)
    Jan 25, 2013 7:35 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

    Tom Wolsky is giving you good advice.

  • by Joe Herth,

    Joe Herth Joe Herth Jan 25, 2013 9:49 PM in response to Joe Herth
    Level 1 (40 points)
    Jan 25, 2013 9:49 PM in response to Joe Herth

    Russ, I enjoyed your link.  Tom I appreciate your expertise. 

     

    Does doubling my data rate from 17 to 34 gain me much?

     

    The reason I thought YouTubes file was interlaced was due to, after creating the file for youtube in compressor, I brought it back into FC and it showed a frame rate of 29.97 and field dominance of upper (odd), not none.  I thought that ment it was interlaced.

  • by Tom Wolsky,

    Tom Wolsky Tom Wolsky Jan 25, 2013 10:51 PM in response to Joe Herth
    Level 10 (118,353 points)
    Apple TV
    Jan 25, 2013 10:51 PM in response to Joe Herth

    Doubling the data rate will improve the picture but not if you're doubling the frame rate as well. Data rate is punt per second. You need a higher amount if you're generating twice as many frames.

     

    You should check the fields in FCP with both fields visible in an area of motion to make sure there are no fields. If there are fields Compressor is not processing the material properly.

  • by Tom Wolsky,

    Tom Wolsky Tom Wolsky Jan 25, 2013 10:52 PM in response to Tom Wolsky
    Level 10 (118,353 points)
    Apple TV
    Jan 25, 2013 10:52 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

    That should be amount per second.

  • by Karsten Schlüter,

    Karsten Schlüter Karsten Schlüter Jan 25, 2013 10:56 PM in response to Joe Herth
    Level 7 (32,713 points)
    Video
    Jan 25, 2013 10:56 PM in response to Joe Herth

    my thoughts on i or p from me with some illustrations:

    https://sites.google.com/site/karstenschluter/i-or-p-this-is-the-question

     

    in a few words:

    i feels 'smoother' due to the forced blurring on final display.

    but p is 'better' if done correcty (asks for cinematography skills/unrderstanding)

  • by A.Y.,

    A.Y. A.Y. Jan 26, 2013 12:47 AM in response to Joe Herth
    Level 1 (64 points)
    Desktops
    Jan 26, 2013 12:47 AM in response to Joe Herth

    Avoid shooting interlaced videos!

     

    I work in the entertainment industry and only shoot 60p to be displayed at 60fps for maximum smoothness - not for slow-motion playback.

     

    Shooting 24p or 30p: 1/60sec or slower shutter speeds must be used to introduce motion blur to lessen, not eliminate, the choppy appearance. Shooting with slow shutter speeds under bright sunlight, ND filters are required to control depth of field and to prevent sensor dusts from showing up prominently at F11 on up.

     

     

    60p: Since 60fps videos will turn out smooth even with shutter set well above 1/60sec, Aperture Priority can be used to control depth of field under bright sunlight without an absolute need for ND filters. Filmmakers - James Cameron, Peter Jackson, and George Lucas - have all produced 60-frame-per-second projects when they are not required to shoot 24fps - Avatar 2 & 3, King Kong Universal attraction, and Star Wars Star Tours attraction - because they believe 60fps delivers a more lifelike and immersive experience.

     

    Once again - avoid shooting interlaced videos!

  • by Tom Wolsky,

    Tom Wolsky Tom Wolsky Jan 26, 2013 3:14 AM in response to A.Y.
    Level 10 (118,353 points)
    Apple TV
    Jan 26, 2013 3:14 AM in response to A.Y.

    I don't think the OP has those delivery options.

  • by innocentius,

    innocentius innocentius Jan 26, 2013 6:39 AM in response to Tom Wolsky
    Level 4 (1,885 points)
    Jan 26, 2013 6:39 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

    I always shoot in 720p 50. The reason is as you named is I like to to do slow down now and then, and more important do smooth pan and tilts. The other option is to shoot in 25 or 24. What is the benefit of shooting in the 25 mode insted of 50. I mainly deliver my video to you Vimeo.

  • by A.Y.,

    A.Y. A.Y. Jan 26, 2013 10:20 AM in response to Joe Herth
    Level 1 (64 points)
    Desktops
    Jan 26, 2013 10:20 AM in response to Joe Herth

    Some more explainations:

     

    1080 60p = 60 1920X1080 frames per second - the smoothest and the future of HD video.

    1080 60i = 60 1920X540 interlaced fields recorded on 30 frames per second - half the resolution.

    1080 60i can also = 30 1920X1080 frames recorded in 60i progressive segmented frame format - how many consumer AVCHD camcorders and digital cameras record 1080 30p.

     

    Apple TV, YouTube, and Vimeo WILL eventually support 60p videos in the near future since more and more cameras shoot 60p!

     

    Vimeo 1080 60p group: http://vimeo.com/groups/native1920x108060pclips

     

    By the way, the latest iMovie and FCP already can output 60p videos and the newer Adobe Flash Player can play them smooth from the internet on the newer computers.

  • by Tom Wolsky,

    Tom Wolsky Tom Wolsky Jan 26, 2013 10:58 AM in response to A.Y.
    Level 10 (118,353 points)
    Apple TV
    Jan 26, 2013 10:58 AM in response to A.Y.

    "1080 60i = 60 1920X540 interlaced fields recorded on 30 frames per second - half the resolution."

     

    This is a misrepresentation. It's not 1920x540 at 30fps, but 1920x540 in 1/60th of a second. 1920x1080 in 30fps.

     

    The current delivery for no devices even Blu-ray supports 60p. You can put 60p on the web and probably half your viewers or more will get stuttering playback or long downloads or caching delays.

     

    Your choice: produce for what's deliverable now or for what will be deliverable in the future. Personally I prefer 720p30 for production for web delivery.

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