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HDV: High Def Value

If you're eager to leap into High Definition production, but prefer to limit your six-figure purchases to real estate, then HDV is for you. In the same way that Mini DV revolutionized standard definition shooting, the not quite four-year-old HDV format is doing the same for Hi-Def. Affordable HDV is available today, but myriad variations can confound a buyer.

At first glance, you might suspect that the video princes have sidestepped their usual format wars. HDV was created by a partnership of Canon, Sharp, Sony and JVC. Much is in common. HDV records in MPEG-2 on Mini DV cassettes. The aspect ratio is wide screen 16:9, while the output is 1080i (1080 pixels horizontally scanned interlace) or 720p (720 pixels scanned progressively). The tape run time for HDV is the same as for Mini DV, so your 63-minute cassette will last more than an hour. Since the throughput of HDV tops out at the same data rate of DV tape, video can be readily loaded to an edit system in real time via FireWire.

However, there are differences: HDV1 from JVC records at 19 megabits per second in MPEG-2 with a resolution of 1280x720 pixels (progressive). HDV2 from Sony and Canon records in MPEG-2 at 25 megabits per second with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels (interlaced). If you shoot JVC's HDV1, you won't be able to transfer through FireWire from a Sony HDV2 deck or camcorder. Sony's HDV doesn't play back on JVC either. Canon adds to the compatibility issues with an "F" setting on its camcorders that won't play back on either a JVC or Sony deck. In practical terms, this means that you'll either be digitizing directly from your camcorder or committing to HDV1 or HDV2 for your complete production and post ch…