IS my HDV video 1080 or 720?

[jeffscottnb]

Hi,

I am so new to this. Recently our school was given some amazing tv cameras that use DV tape. I bought a firewire card and cable and began transfering our footage.

The camera tells me that I shot in HDV at 1080p, but no matter what I do when transfering my footage, I always end up with 720p. Is there a trick to this, or am I stuck with 720p?

Sony HVR-Z1U and windows 7.

Thanks,

Jeff

[DB83]

It might help is you describe your method of transfering the footage from the camera and the software used.

[jagabo]

That camera shoots 1080i with a 1440x1080 frame, standard for HDV.

[jeffscottnb]

I just turn on the camera, and a tranfer window pops up. I'm not using any software.

If the cam shoots in 1080, why is my file 720 on the PC?

[johns0]

Upload a mediainfo pic.

[jagabo]

If the cam shoots in 1080, why is my file 720 on the PC?

What makes you think it's 720? What type of file are you getting (MPG, WMV, M2TS, etc.)? What does MediaInfo say about the file?

[jeffscottnb]

[Attachment 49095 - Click to enlarge]

It tells me it is a Window Media File. Under details it says 720

[DB83]

That's not 720p.

That is 480p (SD)

Either on of two possibities here.

1. You did not record at 1080p as you thought.

2. The transfer from the camera did an intermediate conversion

or even

3. It was not a HDV recording

[DB83]

So do another transfer but this time under the control of your PC.

Use HDVSplit and check the specs of that resultant video

[jeffscottnb]

When I bring up the camera menu, under REC FORMAT, it says HDV 1080i.

[jeffscottnb]

If I use HDV Split, it just says camera is not recognized or connected, yet I can transfer video with the default window that pops up.

[DB83]

Also read this topic

https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/384804-Any-firewire-capture-software-for-Windows-1...-actually-work

And check your camera settings before a pc-based transfer

[JVRaines]

When I bring up the camera menu, under REC FORMAT, it says HDV 1080i.

That means your camera is set to record at 1080i. It doesn't mean the tapes you are playing back are at that resolution.
In the menu system, ensure IN/OUT REC - i.LINK CONV - HDV→DV CONV is set to OFF.

[jagabo]

When I bring up the camera menu, under REC FORMAT, it says HDV 1080i.

Just because it's currently set to record 1080i doesn't mean what's on your existing tapes is 1080i. When you play a tape on the camcorder it should show you whether it's playing HDV1080i, DVCAM, or DV -- on the camera's LCD display. The latter two are both 480i (576i for PAL). I don't know if the camera can convert from 1080i to 480i on the fly. Look for an output setting that would control that.

[JVRaines]

I don't know if the camera can convert from 1080i to 480i on the fly. Look for an output setting that would control that.

That is precisely what I posted.

[jagabo]

I don't know if the camera can convert from 1080i to 480i on the fly. Look for an output setting that would control that.

That is precisely what I posted.

I started writing my post before you posted, paused to walk the dogs, then completed my post.

[jagabo]

Also...

I just turn on the camera, and a tranfer window pops up. I'm not using any software.

Of course you're using software. You just don't know what it is. Do not let it capture to WMV (Windows capture module will recompress to a poor quality WMV codec). Standard definition DV should be captured as DV in AVI. HDV should be captured as MPEG 2 in M2T.

[jeffscottnb]

Ok, thank you all for the information. This is helpful. I will have to play with it some more, but I think I understand it better now.

[jeffscottnb]

HEY HEY HEY!!!

HDV to DV converter was set to ON. I switched it OFF, and then HDV Split recognized the camera and I was able to download my footage at 1440 x 1080.

Whoo hooo!

Thank you JVRaines for posting that!

Jeff