I haven't used one yet, but I've been hearing about these 24fps codecs you can apply in post. Do they actually convert digital video to 24fps without distorting the image quality, or is it something else? Does it just create the "illusion" of 24fps, similar to 16:9 on most of the miniDV cameras out there?

Try to be a little more speific. Which codec are you talking about? Regardless, you can't magically convert footage to 24p just by converting it to a different codec. This is a complicated process involving deinterlacing and frame blending, done only by expensive programs such as After Effects, Magic Bullet and DVFilm Maker. If you have 50i footage you want to convert, usually it is deinterlaced to 25p and slowed down 4% to 24p; 60i, is much more complicated. I use DVFilm Maker for that.

Most codecs are not framerate dependant; that is, there is not a "24p codec." Rather, codecs are compression schemes that work thier magic completely independant of the framerate.

I have magic bullet and after effects, or at least my editor does. Is it something the program itself does, or does it involve painstaking amounts of man labor.

quote:

Originally posted by Nervous Larry:
I have magic bullet and after effects, or at least my editor does. Is it something the program itself does, or does it involve painstaking amounts of man labor.

It's something the program does. It's just algorithms and number chomping.

So is it worth it in most cases? I'm not trying to immitate film, I just want to take it out of that documentary look- Ill be shooting 30fps and dont want to do it if itll easily **** things up or degrade the picture quality a lot.

do you meany you want to change 30p video to 24p video? Because you will get nicer results if you shoot 60i and then change it to 24p.

quote:

Originally posted by Evan:
do you meany you want to change 30p video to 24p video? Because you will get nicer results if you shoot 60i and then change it to 24p.

Very true. 30p to 24p is basically impossible. Larry, shoot interlaced.

So I should shoot 60i and not 30i I'm assuming since I'll get a clearer picture in the end, but what I want to know is, is the 24p converter worth it? Does it give it a film look or is it just sort of slightly better> Is it more hassle than it's worth, etc.

I think it's worth it. It's a lot easier to watch, and adds a professional touch, for me anyway. I'm doing a parody of The Office and with all the shaky camera moves there aren't many ways to set it apart from amateur video; the 24p stutter helps with that.