JamieG Analysis

Today I came across some documents from Panasonic that cover their implementation of AVC-Intra (An I-frame only, 4:2:2 10bit at 100mbit) implementation for their P2 system.

See Panasonic Technical Overview, and AVC-Intra-FAQ

Scanning the net, there is mixed reviews for this technology.  I read an interesting blog post about asking why we would bother with this standard considering RED1 is now available.  Defiantly a good question, but one that is easily answered.  Use the right tool for the right job.

AVC-Intra will be a great standards based codec.  (Ie as RED has a proprietary codec which only runs on certain systems etc)  AVC-Intra, may not have all the advantages of a RAW codec, but like JPEG, or MP3 etc.  It least it will be a codec we can all agree to ensure it is tested and works an any particular Camera, Editor, etc.

In the past, I have said a lot about AVCHD and how it will affect film making. Let me be clearer on this. I believe this will have a large effect on the budget film maker.  The Hi-End will always tend towards the harder, more expensive, but proven work flows like good old Viper and DPX files to the new RED1 and RED-raw codec.

Still, as AVC gets adopted by prosumer cameras, we will be able to get better pictures with better colour out of sub $5000 cameras that will be hard to pick from today’s $250,000 cameras.  It will come down to the glass that matters most.

From talking to my contacts, I expect codecs for Mac and PC to be widely available to the general public towards the end of the year.  After that, I expect prosumer cameras to start adopting this technology.

If you’re trying to make a film on a limited budget, this is all good news. However, it will probably be 1-2 years before cost effective cameras show up.

(Ie, imagine the Canon HDV cameras revamped with a cheap solid state express card and AVC-Intra/AVCHD codec support at 100mbit.  Even for green-screen they would rock.)