Shooting progressive vs interlaced

[motion]

I'm shooting for many clients, some of them want 50i or 60i, others want 720p or a sd dvd. All of the conversion to my clients is done by the final rendering in my NLE system. For my own I want the highest recording option so the most logical way is to go for 1080p, but is this right? I still see a lot of people shooting in I mode even when there is native P available.

What mode do you usually use? What are the pros and cons between shooting progressive or interlaced?

[psw@elim.org.hk]

I struggle with the same problem. I have been shooting 1080/50i on the EX1 but notice 1080/25p gives better appearance. The footage can appear jerky though on a pan. I just got a PMW 200 and am wondering if I should change to 25p. I've read interlaced is history, seen awesome DSLR stuff that is so clear, and the more I read the more confused I get.

Paul

[psw@elim.org.hk]

Thanks for the picture profiles, a great help.

[alisterchapman]

I have not shot anything interlaced for at least a year.

There are many reasons why you should shoot progressive including:
The use of computer monitors or LCD monitors in the edit suite which will not show up interlace issues.
Web delivery is progressive, computer displays are progressive. Progressive is much easier to standards convert.
Placing progressive material in an interlace stream or wrapper does not cause any issues, putting interlace in a progressive wrapper will cause big problems.
Progressive from the majority of video cameras has higher spatial resolution (interlace has to add some anti-aliasing to prevent line twitter).

The down side is that when you only refresh the image 24/25 or 30 times a second judder on some pans can be an issue. Pan fast and your OK, pan slow and it's OK, but many middle speeds judder. Judder is worst on very sharp images, reducing detail correction a bit helps. Also make sure your using a 180 degree or 1/50 1/60 shutter to keep the image crisp during pans.

[psw@elim.org.hk]

Many thanks. I leave for north India on Monday and will take your advice. I have done some trial shots at 25p with 1/50 shutter and they are excellent except for the pan issue. I will take your advice on that too. I am in Hong Kong and noticed you were filming here, I was trying out the Sony 200 I had just bought the day you were here. Be happy to show you around if you come again.

[michaeljee]

Many thanks. I leave for north India on Monday and will take your advice. I have done some trial shots at 25p with 1/50 shutter and they are excellent except for the pan issue. I will take your advice on that too. I am in Hong Kong and noticed you were filming here, I was trying out the Sony 200 I had just bought the day you were here. Be happy to show you around if you come again.

Hi That is great, That is awesome information, i was also looking for this.
Regards