JamieG Analysis

Philip Hodgetts and I are arguing over H.264 again….

Philip comments on H.264 for consumer cameras:

> It’s nice to have high quality codec choices, but I don’t see AVCHD as
> it is currently implemented in the cheap HD camcorders reaching the 
> appeal of HDV.  Cheap and convenient seems to sell more than great 
> quality. For the majority. There are definitely those who want and 
> will pay for the best possible quality.  That would be a niche 
> business for someone.

Yes, I agree, probably in the current format AVCHD is not as good as HDV.  Especially at the ulta low bitrates currently in use.

If it was at the same bitrate as HDV.  It is better.

I also expect it to improve over time like HD and MPEG2 did.

It is also firmware upgradable for a lot of cameras. (Not that many would bother I suppose but worth mentioning)

H.264 WILL do, under profile High 4:2:2 and High 4:4:4, 10 or 12 bit colour and up to 4k resolutions.

All very likely feature sets considering that variable Camera/videoCamera that came out at CES that does super high frame rates at variable resolutions. It was a big hit at the CES.

CMOS chips are likely to keep getting better very quickly. A standard for recording these resolutions and quality is required.

This, to me, is the long term, well medium term as I expect this to happen fast, as this is a key technology that will bring domestic cameras up to touching quality that we see the ulta hi end with uncompressed 10bit HD, which is the standard for most DI’s.  And as we know, the Consumer electronics for cameras is just improving every day. (Sells more cameras as you upgrade)

I wouldn’t be surprised in RED adopted this as, really they, when they decide to make money and get of the HYPE train, will look towards returns.  And that is most likely consumer electronics.  And you want to be using some type of SMPTY standard then.  And H.264 with more recent profiles are the only SMPTE standards that fit well with what RED are doing.