Anyone here shooting with a Z1U? If so, do you shoot in HDV or DV and...
 

... if you shoot in HDV how do you down-convert for the best end-result (camera or software)?

Thanks,
Bill

you should shoot in hdv and then down convert they said but for the web its a waste basically. www.vasst.com has great books on the subject.

Hi Tony, yeah I have been at vasst for a few years. A lot of mixed feelings on the subject there. I am not just shooting for the web, but definitely future-proofing my productions . :) There are a ton of formats this thing will shoot in, I am just curious how others are doing it to get the best results from the down-conversion (hardware or software).

I was too late on my edit -

edit - I am only interested in this particular camera, not the average HD camera. FX1's, PD170's, and the rest of the consumer cameras have different output abilities and those are all pretty common now-a-days in adult. I am specifically looking for anyone using the Z1.

Here is what most guys I know are doing with their Z1 footage.

They simply downconvert upon capture (the camera does the downconvert). The original tape gets stored away for a future HD version if needed.

I have shot a bunch of scenes with that cam. Most of the time I have framed more for 4:3 than 16:9 and when I output I have the camera do a center cut. The FX1 does not do a center cut so you have to take care of that in post.

We shoot with the Z1U, however I do the downconvert in post. The reason is that the best framing isn't always the center and post gives me the freedom to adust the framing. If your camera guy isn't the best, it's worth the trouble to do it in post.

What are you doing the post work with?

I'd like to hear this as well. I bought a Z1U a few weeks ago, but have yet to get it out of the box! I've been working with DV, doing post production with an Avid Xpress, but I just upgraded to the Avid Xpress Pro HD with MOJO, so I am going to be working with the HD soon.