MWSF. Various updates on the HD front. I’d rather see FCP5, but the new iMovie/FCE should at least give me a clue how my computer will handle the HDV editing workflow. I’ve been looking at the NTSC FX1, but getting the PAL version would also be interesting. I wouldn’t be able to play back footage on a TV without massive post-processing, but it would give a cleaner 24/25p image.
If only there was only a way to play with the camera for even an hour, I’d have the answers to all my questions about how it really looks. But instead I live in the middle of nowhere so I’m doomed to surfing random websites and reading secondhand reports. People produce tons of technical mumbo-jumbo and charts, but nobody seems willing to actually take a pro or con stance. Except, of course, the cinematographers (who only use 70mm Panavision): anything less is for us peons.
Apple will probably ship FCP5/DSP4/Shake4 @ NAB or after Tiger ships. HD-DVD will become authorable on the desktop. Current rumors have them shipping Blu-Ray DVD-R drives mid year. This is gonna be the year HD takes off. Whether I’m gonna be part of it is the question.