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

33 replies

Joe Herth Author

Level 1

45 points

Jan 29, 2013 3:02 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

I'm using FCP7. I'm not sure how to set the viewer to show both fields.

A.Y.

Level 1

63 points

Feb 12, 2013 8:56 AM in response to A.Y.

Correction: "WITH THE PROJECT PROPERTIES CUSTOM SET TO 1080 30P" and a 1080 60i clip is added to the timeline and "Shared", FCPX will output a 1080 30p .mov (or .mp4) video like this:

Joe Herth Author

Level 1

45 points

Feb 12, 2013 1:00 PM in response to A.Y.

I'll do the test. Thanks A.Y.

Oh and I liked your comment of 'and play them on the machine you plan to get'. 🙂 How did you know? 😉

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60p vs 60i video quality