What exactly is digital cinema mode?

[pskim]

I just bought a Panasonic HD camera with a digital cinema mode option but I really don't know what exactly it does. I did google some but I really didn't get any answers that I was looking for. Could any one of you kind people explain what this mode is for? Will the video look like something from a movie theater projector?

[guns1inger]

What does the manual say - it will explain what you are getting. It is first and foremost a marketing term, not a real term, so it means nothing outside the context of your camera. As you don't say which model, it is hard to do all your work for you, however digital cinema mode for Panasonic cameras is described here (the second item google returned)

[edDV]

I just bought a Panasonic HD camera with a digital cinema mode option but I really don't know what exactly it does. I did google some but I really didn't get any answers that I was looking for. Could any one of you kind people explain what this mode is for? Will the video look like something from a movie theater projector?

Since you didn't ID your camcorder we can't reply with specifics.

The "digital cinema mode" attempts to fake a film look for interlace or progressive video. It is a fake because video sensors respond differently to light than film. The fakes are getting better but still have a fake look to those that know the difference.

Nothing wrong with shooting video as video. Cheaper cameras need more attention to lighting. Manual exposure settings are used to get highest quality for a given lighting setup. Pro-sumer camcorders add the coveted "knee" that applies a non-linear saturation to bright highlights similar to film.

[manono]

A special Digital Cinema mode allows shooting progressive-scan video at film-like rates -- 25p or 24p, depending on region. Video shot in progressive mode is recorded in interlaced container by using either progressive segmented frame technique for 25p mode or 2-3 pulldown for 24p mode.

(from guns1inger's link above) You've been had. There's nothing progressive about it - it's hard telecined interlaced 29.97fps and needs an IVTC to make it progressive 23.976fps again. It's nothing like what comes out of a movie projector, not without an IVTC.

[pskim]

What does the manual say - it will explain what you are getting. It is first and foremost a marketing term, not a real term, so it means nothing outside the context of your camera. As you don't say which model, it is hard to do all your work for you, however digital cinema mode for Panasonic cameras is described here (the second item google returned)

Sorry folks. I should have been more specific. The camera is Panasonic HDC-TM30 and the manual is all in Japanese and I'm still not very good at Japanese.

[edDV]

A special Digital Cinema mode allows shooting progressive-scan video at film-like rates -- 25p or 24p, depending on region. Video shot in progressive mode is recorded in interlaced container by using either progressive segmented frame technique for 25p mode or 2-3 pulldown for 24p mode.

(from guns1inger's link above) You've been had. There's nothing progressive about it - it's hard telecined interlaced 29.97fps and needs an IVTC to make it progressive 23.976fps again. It's nothing like what comes out of a movie projector, not without an IVTC.

Not sure about Panasonic, but Sony and Canon consumer cams allow "digital cinema" modes independent of 24p, 25p, 25i, 29.97i, 59.94p frame rates. These modes mostly alter the color balance, chroma saturation and luma response.


PS: A quick Google had nothing specific on Panasonic's cinema mode. Just subjective comments like these.
http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/avchd-format-discussion/220361-panasonics-24p-digital-cine...worthless.html

[frlane]

This can be different from camera to camera, but it is essentially a setting that tries to mimic the look a film. It does this by changing normal contrast ratios, saturation and frame rate. If you turn on the camera and switch it from a regular mode to a cinema mode, you should be able to see the change in image. Hope that helps!