360 Replays HD TEST ZONE

.: TEST ZONE :.

Welcome to the HD TEST ZONE.
This section contains information about HD camera comparison tests.

In the following tests, we have captured HD footage from 2 comparison cameras, the JVC HD250U and the Canon XL H1. Both are HDV pro-sumer market cameras, with JVC's suited more towards studio use. In these tests, we used a Sony PD150 Standard-Def camera as a good base comparison for high-quality standard def video. We did not use higher-end cameras as they would not be feasable in use for this project due to price concerns. Other cameras were considered, including JVC's HD110U and HD200U. The disadvantage to those two units is they don't support external timecode, and the HD110U doesn't support 720p60 out via firewire. If a solution for external timecode can be resolved at a price less than the cost of the HD250U, then the HD200U can be considered.

The goal of these tests is to determine which HDV camera is suitable for using in the 3D 360 effect for HD. The requirements are:

Total cost of camera and lens must be less than $10,000 USD. The less the better.

Must support either 720p60 or 1080i30. The higher frame rate 720p60 is being preferred for sports applications.

Must support a lens that has a mechanically connected zoom ring, or it must have electronic control / position readout that can be accessed. This rules out most prosumer cameras.

Must have good quality picture in full-auto mode. Cameras with remote configurability will be preferred.

Camera should have removable lens, allowing for different configurations for different sports.

Camera must have firewire/1394 video out, and should have HD-SDI out although not required. Cameras must output timecode via firewire.

How the format standards compare in resolution:

SD/HD Format Comparison

HDV Visual Test 1 (Slow Speed)

This test involved a golf cart travelling very slowly across the frame to establish clarity with slowly moving objects.
The cart traveled a few feet per second. All cameras were left in full-auto mode, and were left to decide on white-balance, and exposure settings for themselves. Lighting is entirely flourescent, around 3-5 foot candles (poor lighting).

Sony PD150 (480i)

JVC HD250U (720p)

Canon XL H1 (1080i)

HDV Visual Test 2 (Fast Speed)

This test involved a golf cart travelling quickly across the frame to establish clarity with FAST moving objects.
The cart traveled at max speed of about 15-20 feet per second. All cameras were left in full-auto mode, and were left to decide on white-balance, and exposure settings for themselves. Lighting is entirely flourescent, around 3-5 foot candles (poor lighting).

Sony PD150 (480i)

JVC HD250U (720p)

Canon XL H1 (1080i)

SDI Visual Test 3 (Slow Speed)

We mixed it up a bit here, but the cameras and environment are the same. Instead of capturing via HDV/Firewire/1394, we used a BlackMagic Decklink HD Extreme via HD-SDI.

Sony PD150 (480i)

JVC HD250U (720p)

Canon XL H1 (1080i)

SDI Visual Test 4 (Fast Speed)

Same as SDI Visual Test 3, but moving faster. Instead of capturing via HDV/Firewire/1394, we used a BlackMagic Decklink HD Extreme via HD-SDI.

Sony PD150 (480i)

JVC HD250U (720p)

Canon XL H1 (1080i)

HDV Zoom Test 1

Testing the lens capabilities (not similar lenses)

JVC HD250U (720p), Fujinon 13x3.5 (Wide)	Canon XL H1 (1080i), Canon 20X (Wide)
JVC HD250U (720p), Fujinon 13x3.5 (Tele @ 170ft)	Canon XL H1 (1080i), Canon 20X (Tele @ 170ft)

HDV Zoom Test 2

Testing the lens capabilities (not similar lenses)

JVC HD250U (720p), Fujinon 13x3.5 (Wide)	Canon XL H1 (1080i), Canon 20X (Wide)
JVC HD250U (720p), Fujinon 13x3.5 (Tele @ 170ft)	Canon XL H1 (1080i), Canon 20X (Tele @ 170ft)

HDV Outdoor Wideshot

Testing the outdoor picture quality

JVC HD250U (720p), Fujinon 13x3.5 (Wide)

Canon XL H1 (1080i), Canon 20X (Wide)

HDV Outdoor Zoom Test 1

Testing the lens capabilities outdoors (not similar lenses)

JVC HD250U (720p), Fujinon 13x3.5 (Wide)	Canon XL H1 (1080i), Canon 20X (Wide)
JVC HD250U (720p), Fujinon 13x3.5 (Tele @ 170ft)	Canon XL H1 (1080i), Canon 20X (Tele @ 170ft)

Misc. Shots

Testing of different shots

JVC HD250U (720p), Fujinon 13x3.5 (Wide)

Canon XL H1 (1080i), Canon 20X (Wide)

IR Sensitivity
Neither camera is sensitive to light in the Infrared Spectrum, even around the 850nm range. We will need to examine if there is an IR Cutoff filter being used internally, and if it can be disabled or not.

Focal Length Requirements
It seems the Canon 20X lens is more appropriate for our purposes, a 20x zoom works out to around 108mm (or with the 7.2x magnification factor its about 777mm in 35mm terms). I'm not sure how accurate the math is here as I understand it's not a linear calculation.

Test Results

Overall, the JVC had better picture clarity, but it's images looked like they had too much contrast. The Canon did looked very poor in flourescent lighting, not that I can blame it entirely as it looked very close to what our eye sees. The lens on the Canon seemed very slow to autofocus, and often needed help manually.

JVC GY-HD250U

Pros

Cons

- Very clear picture, even in poor lighting and fast motion.	- Images in auto-exposure have a lot of contrast.
- 60 frames per second!	- 60 frames per second. (No native support for Premiere yet)
- 60 frames per second! (this gets two, fair isn't it?)	- No apparent support for auto-focus lenses.
- Full resolution Progressive imager	- Difficult to focus quickly even with LCD screen.
- Supports standard 1/2" ENG lenses with an adapter.	- CCU controls not accessable via Firewire.
- Lower HDV bitrate at 19Mbits/Sec
- Focus Assist to help in determining sharp focus
- Outputs timecode via Firewire
- Remote CCU control
- JVC's camera lineup allows for 3 choices depending on needed features

Canon XL H1

Pros

Cons

- High resolution 1080i	- Very noisy image when there's not enough light. Setting gain to 0 instead of auto helps.
- Auto-focus works fairly well, a little slow.	- 30 frames per second
- Outputs timecode via Firewire (and they said it didnt work!)	- Types of HD lenses available are limited using the Canon XL mount
- Lighter weight than JVC	- No progressive images
- Remote Control software via Firewire	- Auto-whitebalance doesn't work well under flourescent lighting

Overall we prefer the image quality, and operation of the JVC HD250U camera. I think it's biggest setback for our purposes is the lack of remote control via Firewire, but to it's credit it does have a CCU communication port. The biggest reason we prefer the camera is because it's a progressive 60 frames per second imager, which does see huge benefits for sports applications, even with the reduced resolution of 720p. It supports standard lenses which is a big plus, but it doesn't seem to have any auto-focus support as it's designed more like an ENG camera. The Canon is an excellent HDV camera, but it seems it's not quite a studio camera, and not quite a consumer camera. It's biggest setback for our purposes is the lack of higher frame rates and a progressive imager. If we had been able to run it outside of full-auto mode, we might have been able to improve the quality of the image depending on the lighting situation.

Videos coming soon. Lens Tests

Testing of lenses on the JVC HD250U

Fujinon Th17x5BMDU (Wide)

Canon YH16x7 (Fully Wide)

Fujinon Th17x5BMDU (Tele)

Canon YH16x7 (Tele)

Fujinon Th17x5BMDU (Fully Wide)

The two lenses are very comparible, except on price. Canon's comes in a full $1500 cheaper than the Fujinon lens. The Canon lens is designed as a 1/2" SD lens, whereas the Fujinon is a 1/3" HD lens. Both have servo focus, servo zoom, and servo iris, and perform similarly. The Fujinon does not have a zoom button, but for remote applications it's fine. The Fujinon lens is much wider however, with almost the same zoom range. Canon's you get a bit more magnification on because I assume of the SD designation and possibly even the 1/2" to 1/3" adapter. Also final note, the color aberration is slightly higher throughout the radial surface of the lens, where as color aberration is slightly less on the Fujinon lens.