I understand from the same webpage that maybe I would be best using 720p rather than 1080i for instance. (I understand that one can overcrank in this setting for a start). Should 720p be my standard (it feels wrong to not shoot at the highest possible resolution?). I will be filiming a lot of movement most likely - waves - surfers - runners - shoudl I just leave it on 50 or 60 FPS all the time?
I have & use an EX1 and these parameters depend on your output requirements. Some producers/clients will request 1080p, others 720p, other won't care. The EX1 in 720p gives you over/under cranking abilities, and it consumes less drive space and takes less time to render the final sequence.
As for frame rates, you need to evaluate and decide this for yourself. There is no standard, only opinion. If you want a jump start on the learning curve with this camera, I suggest getting the
Vortex Media DVD on mastering the Sony EX-1. You'll find their playback of various frame rates informative.
In terms of workflow I notice that FCP seems to reference to files rather than suck them into the 'films' one makes. This has a pro being that ones HD usage is not doubled but a con in that the directory structure of ones archive must be carefully managed. How do people handle this. Also the RAW footage seems to need to be prepped/unstuffed before being used with FCP. Whats the workflow for that?
Ingesting footage is a 2-step process. First use the XDCAM Transfer utility to convert the camera data to a QT format that's readable by FCP. This is a very important step because the utility allows you to log each segment with copious notes, and even extract sub-clips from each segment instead of importing an entire segment, saving time. The raw footage can be either copied to a hard drive and then converted, or it can be converted straight from the SxS card when it's plugged into your 'puter. Some people save the raw footage, others save only the QT clips & segments. It depends on your production standards. I look at the QT format as a sort of DNG format for FCP and archive only the QT formatted footage.
Im not into the flicker film look- I want as smooth as possible - I should be going for 30FPS or.. Im in the UK which is 50hz and PAL (I think) so 25 FPS should be my standard this will lead to less interpolation tricks being required by FCP and less lossy editing ?
Produce footage that conforms to your broadcast standards. If your production will never be broadcast or viewed on a TV screen then you're free to choose anything you want.
Is there any value in going for high shutter speeds beyond double the frame rate will this create sharper images in the same way that one goes for higher shutter speed in still photography ?
Increasing the shutter speed creates a subjectively choppy effect and is not suitable for all subjects. (This effect was used to great benefit in the movie
Saving Private Ryan during the D-Day invasion of Normandy beach). The DVD mentioned above shows the effect of high shutter speeds used within a give frame rate.
Typically, you will not have problems with not enough light, but you will have too much. The camera comes with 2 ND filters and even then, on a bright set, you'll find yourself with too much depth of field. For example, if you're shooting at the beach on a nice, sunny day and your interviewing a surfer (perhaps
this bloke who narrowly escaped death), you'll want a wide open aperture to separate him from the background. This can be a challenge with the tools on the EX-1, but it may be easier with the Letus adapter.