shooting HD in wide angle - bad idea?
 

I thought I read somewhere, can't remember where now, that when shooting in HD, you shouldn't use a wide angle lens? Although, if that's true, why is it I see so much stuff shot in HD with wide angle??

The aspect ratio of HD is different than that of standard resolution. This might be why you think you're seeing HD through a 'wide angle'

No, I understand it's 16:9 for wide screen, but this is actually shot with an HD camera and wide angle lens... not quite the same thing I don't think... although maybe I'm wrong.

no one knows the answer??

Ive shot using a wide angle lens on my FX1 and I didnt have any problems with quality. You only run into problems during editing if you are using other camera footage that isnt 16:9.

I use a wide with my FX1 too

if the wide angle lense is and add on on top of the existing camera lense, then yes.

Then yes you shouldn't do it? or then yes it's ok?

The question should be why do you want to shoot with a wide angle lens ...

Wide angle lens are used for different reason by different Shooters .. one of the most common reasons for a wide angle (nothing under .o6) would be for stability. a wide angle lens help stabilize an image.
Another reason would be for distortion ... the wider the lens the more the distortion ..
and lasty, the reason why pornographers use a wide .. is for stability when shooting Gonzo/flying camera ... and to get closer to the action with out losing the field of vision or getting to much of the set in the frame ...

What ever your reasons, shooting HD with a wide will not lower the quality of your image ...HOWEVER .. you do need to choose your Wide angle lens carefully. Because of the 16:9 aspect ration chances are you'll get clipping (see the edge of the lens in the corners of the frame) now this isn't a problem if your end product is for Television. safe area framing will eleminate that. But when Web is your final product you see the whole frame so this might be a problem .. just stay away from after market or Grey market lens. Or add yourself a step in Post and Crop the Video before rendering.

Vicious

Informative answer and good tips... :thumbsup

ADG Webmaster

Main problem can be vignetting like Vid said. The outer corners get fookered up a bit. But the right lens camera selection should handle it fine. We use wide angle lenses on our HV-10s for POV stuff. Reason being say you are shooting a HJ or BJ scene and doing pov. Unless you are really tall you would have to hold the camera a few feet above your head in order to catch all the action properly. With the wide angle lenses we dont have that problem at all. For the HV-10s we use http://raynox.co.jp/english/video/hd5000pro/index.htm raynox HD-5050 designed for HD video. Loss of quality is undetectable at least on a web format from my tests.

if 'clip on' then do not use.. you will lose quality :thumbsup

k cool, thanks for clearing that up :thumbsup

You end up with fucked up edges.