Clue me in on deinterlacing video from camcorder

[primus_fan2001]

Hey all. I'm about to take the plunge, and get myself a a consumer-level HD camera. However, there is one thing that has left me with a bit of concern.

You see, two of the models I've narrowed my selection down to are JVC HM300 and HM200. But the one main problem I have with these models is that while they shoot in full HD, the resulting video is 1080i (rather than 1080p, which my other camcorder choices offer, resulting in a somewhat higher price).

Since I plan on recording some sporting events with the camera, and I heard that progressive video is MUCH better than interlaced video on things such as sporting events (or anything with a lot of movement, really), would I be better off getting a 1080p camera; or is there software that can deinterlace the video without too much of a quality hit?

Thanks a bunch in advance.

[edDV]

Hey all. I'm about to take the plunge, and get myself a a consumer-level HD camera. However, there is one thing that has left me with a bit of concern.

You see, two of the models I've narrowed my selection down to are JVC HM300 and HM200. But the one main problem I have with these models is that while they shoot in full HD, the resulting video is 1080i (rather than 1080p, which my other camcorder choices offer, resulting in a somewhat higher price).

Since I plan on recording some sporting events with the camera, and I heard that progressive video is MUCH better than interlaced video on things such as sporting events (or anything with a lot of movement, really), would I be better off getting a 1080p camera; or is there software that can deinterlace the video without too much of a quality hit?

Thanks a bunch in advance.

What you want for sports is 1280x720p at 59.94 frames per second.

Second best is 1440x1080i or 1920x1080i at 29.97 frames per second (59.94 fields per second).

Forget 24p, too jerky unless you geek up on focus follow and shoot from the end zone..

1080p at 59.94 is outside current consumer technology and way expensive.

[edDV]

Any consumer camera claiming 1080p @ 59.94 fps probably is interpolating up and overcompressing to flash RAM. Both are cheats and picture quality killers.

Uncompressed 1920x1080p at 59.94 fps is close to 3 Gb/s (375 MB/s). You would need a very large RAID.

[jagabo]

Some of the Sanyo Xacti models shoot 1920x1080p60. I don't know much about them otherwise.

1080i is fine for sports. It still gives you 60 different images per second -- smooth motion. Modern 1080p TVs are pretty good at deinterlacing in real time. You do sometimes get jaggies on thin lines though.

[greymalkin]

yep if you start with 1080i you can leave it as is or use virtualdub or avisynth if you're really adventurous to deinterlace and get to a 720/60p end product.