FDR-AX33: Video file size difference between 1080i and 1080p

[ioagount]

Hallo everyone.

I'm new in the community and I use FDR-AX33 for two months.

This is a nice camera with great stabilization and great resolution too. I record videos using AVCHD format, 1920x1080, 50i and 25Fps.

If I record in 1080p (progressive scan) instead 1080i (interlaced scan) for the same duration, will my m2ts-video file be larger, and what happens with the battery autonomy?

I use the camera to record family moments and watch the videos on Full HD Samsung smart TV. Which of the two scan types do you suggest me to use?

Thank you.

[IamNic · Accepted solution]

Hi @ioagount,

recording interlaced won't make you happy, since you will have artifacts in the video.

Use progressive scan and purchase a bigger memory card, since memory space should NEVER be a concern in the  times of digital recording technology.

Regarding your question about filesize - you can find the info on the spec-sheet here: https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/handycam-camcorders/fdr-ax33/specifications

There is says

XAVC-S:

1920x1080 24/25p - 50Mbps

AVCHD:

1920x1080 50p - 28Mbps approx.

1920x1080 25p/50i - FX 24Mbps approx. | FH 17Mbps approx.

 With these bit-rates you can calculate the filesize for any given amount of time by simply dividing the bit-rate given in Mbps (Megabits per second) by 8 to convert the value into MBps (MegaBytes per second) and then multiplying it by the amount of time in seconds.

Example - recording duration 2 hours and 21 minutes (=8460 seconds) while filming in 1920x1080 AVCHD FH-Mode:

17Mbps/8bits=2.125MBps

2.125MBps+8460seconds=17977.5MB

17977.5MB/1000MB=17,98GB

- Nic

[ioagount]

This is quite helpful for me to calculate the size of the film. 

I use a 32GB SDHC card and if I shoot at AVCHD 50p and 28Mbps I'm ok. I will follow your advice.

I would like to make some questions, to understand how it works:

1) If I shoot at XAVC-S: 1920x1080 24/25p - 50Mbps -> it means 25Fps by default or 24Fps ("cinematic look" from settings menu) ?

2) AVCHD 1920x1080 50p - 28Mbps approx. -> it means 50Fps ?

3) AVCHD 1920x1080 25p/50i - FX 24Mbps approx. | FH 17Mbps approx -> It means 25Fps ?

4) What is the difference between 25Fps and "cinematic" 24Fps. Does 1Fps make the difference? 

5) Can I create an AVCHD 1920x1080 at 28Mbps video at "cicematic" 24Fps or is this aveilable only in XAVC-S Format ?

6) If I shoot at the second quality of the above, my camcorder says that I will not be able to create an AVCHD DVD. If I wish to create a normal DVD (no bluray), isn't it possible to convert and burn it using a typical DVD creator software?

Thank you in advance.

-John

[IamNic]

Hi John,

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@ioagount schrieb:

I use a 32GB SDHC card and if I shoot at AVCHD 50p and 28Mbps I'm ok. I will follow your advice. 

---

 for a Camcorder which can record in 100Mbps 4K and 50Mbps 1080p, 32GB is a little undersized. 

I recommend to get 64GB SDXC at least (or even better 128GB), since 32GB is definetly a SDHC card, which splits up files after 4GB of size.

SDXC does allow for a exFAT format and therefore allows unlimited individual file sizes.

---

@ioagount schrieb:

1) If I shoot at XAVC-S: 1920x1080 24/25p - 50Mbps -> it means 25Fps by default or 24Fps ("cinematic look" from settings menu) ? 

---

That simply means that the 25fps and the 24fps mode (which is not the default mode) use the same bitrate, so the calculation is the same for both.

---

@ioagount schrieb:

2) AVCHD 1920x1080 50p - 28Mbps approx. -> it means 50Fps ?

---

Yes, the term "50p" means 50 frames per second recorded with progressive scan.

---

@ioagount schrieb:

3) AVCHD 1920x1080 25p/50i - FX 24Mbps approx. | FH 17Mbps approx -> It means 25Fps ?

---

It means 50 frames per seconds interlaced or 25 frames per second recorded with progressive scan. Both modes use the same bitrate and can be choosen from the menu individually.

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@ioagount schrieb:

4) What is the difference between 25Fps and "cinematic" 24Fps. Does 1Fps make the difference?  

---

If you go for the real cinematic look, use 24fps, for everything else use 25fps.

---

@ioagount schrieb:

5) Can I create an AVCHD 1920x1080 at 28Mbps video at "cicematic" 24Fps or is this aveilable only in XAVC-S Format ? 

---

If I recall correctly AVCHD does not support any framerate besides 25fps (p), 50fps (i/p). Therefore 24fps is only available in XAVC-S.

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@ioagount schrieb:

6) If I shoot at the second quality of the above, my camcorder says that I will not be able to create an AVCHD DVD. If I wish to create a normal DVD (no bluray), isn't it possible to convert and burn it using a typical DVD creator software?

---

Yes, this warning referrs to AVCHD being able to be burned on a DVD directly with certain disc drives which you can directly plug into your camera. I am not sure though if these are still being produced.

You can convert any format into a suitable format to burn onto DVD, though in this day and age I would not use DVDs but Blu-Ray discs to be honest.

- Nic

[ioagount]

Thank you very much, Nic.

I have more questions but I will start new threads.