Test cards and camera settings

Alan Roberts · 13th February 2008, 21:23

I have two things to announce:

BBC camera settings for HD are at http://www.bbc.co.uk/rd/pubs/whp/whp034.shtml, and include details of the tests and measurements where needed to justify my comments. They are widely used in the BBC and a lot of other places as well. They're free, but copyright marked in the documents.

Broadcast Project Research in Teddington (www.bpr.org.uk) are printing hard copies of some of my test cards for camera use. So far, only a "starburst" focus chart and a "lens test" chart comprising a set of zone plates (at any resolution from SD to 4k digital cinema) for lens/camera/channel analysis. There are others in the pipeline. BPR also make a range of nifty gadgets for video production.

infocus · 13th February 2008, 21:54

Is there a comparable set of settings for SD cameras, Alan?

Alan Roberts · 14th February 2008, 16:51

Sorry, not for SD cameras. The tests I do are mostly for the BBC, and their interest is primarily in HD these days.

Alan Roberts · 9th May 2008, 10:55

I'll add a third thing that I do for money, training. I provide the technical content for training courses. So far, these have been run by BBC and Ravensbourne College, some uder the Skillset banner. I train newcomers to HDTV in the ways of getting the best from cameras, and getting them to understand the limitations of video production in HDTV. I also provide a problem-solving service to productions.

simond83 · 11th June 2008, 14:05

Hi Alan,

Do you know if there is a proper TIFF image of the BBC Test Card 61P??

Many thanks, Simon

Alan Roberts · 11th June 2008, 14:24

As far as I'm aware, there are no full resolution images of any of the BBC test cards, the copyright for all of them belongs with Esser in Germany.

Alan Roberts · 26th August 2009, 16:15

Just raising the profile again. Here's a list of the cameras for which there are BBC test/settings documents. The ones in bold are published but not held on the BBC R&D site yet for reasons that are too involved to go into here. They are all in the public domain (and available ion Daniel Browning's website, see my sig for details), and all will get on to the web at some stage, possibly on a new EBU website. The documents for cameras approved by the BBC for HD use are hosted on the BBC's Commissioning website as well. In the meantime, I'm happy to email copies of the unavailable ones if you send me a PM with your email address (assuming you don't want to put your email address in an open posting).

1: Sony HDWF900
1a: Sony HDWF900/3
2: Panasonic HDC-27V
3: Panasonic HDC-27A
4: Panasonic HDC20A
5: Thomson LDK6000
5a: Thomson LDK6000 version 3.2
6rev2: Sony HDW750P
7rev1: Panasonic HDC20A
8rev7: Panasonic HDC27F/H
9: Sony DVW790WSP
10: Panasonic SDX900
11: Panasonic HC900
12rev1: Sony HDC950/930
13: Panasonic HC900/HRP900
14: Comparison of camera speeds
15rev1: Panasonic HDX400
16rev1: Sony PDW530
17: Sony HDW730S
18rev1: Panasonic HVX200
19: Sony HVRA1/HC1
20: Sony Z1/FX1
21rev2: Panasonic HDX900
22rev2: Sony HDWF900R/790
23: Sony HVRV1
24: Panasonic HPX2100
25: Canon XHG1/A1
26: Panasonic HPX500
27rev1: Panasonic HPX3000
28: Sony PDW700
29: Canon HF10
30rev2: Sony PMWEX1/EX3
31: Panasonic HPX171 (menu values apply to HMC151 as well)
32: RED ONE
33: Panasonic HVX201
34rev1: Sony HVRZ5/Z7
35: Panasonic HPX2700
36: Panasonic HPX3700
37: Sony HDW650
38: Panasonic HPX301
39: Canon 5D
40: Thomson DMC1000 (Infnity)

un-numbered: Canon XF300/305

More cameras are in the pipeline. Altogether, I reckon I've done 65 camera tests now, some of them repeats when the needs of the users got more interesting, like the Varicam (7 revisions). Remember, if it's not in bold, you can simply download it from the BBD R&D site, only the ones in bold need to come directly from me or from Daniel Browning's site or from the BPR site.

And my book 'Circles of confusion' will be published by the EBU, to be launched at IBC 1009.

Alan Roberts · 16th September 2009, 13:51

The book was launched quietly at IBC. There was a copy on the EBU front desk for the duration, 2 copies were nicked from there during the 5 days. Also, about 250 orders were taken (I make that about 1 every 10 minutes for the 5 days)

For details, go to www.ebu.ch, click on Technical, and it appears in a small pane in the top right corner, rotating with several other items - be patient, it will appear eventually. Click on 'place an order' and it goes to a page with all the details.

Also, I have a small number of copies which I can sell directly. The price the EBU charges is 120 Swiss francs, and I have to pay them £72 for each copy sell, which I'm happy to do with no markup. Postage/delivery depends on where you are, relative to me, but the Post Office wants £5.60 to deliver it (it weighs 3lb).

Alan Roberts · 30th June 2010, 10:08

Canon XF300/305 doc recently completed and released for publication June 30 2010. I've sent it to Daniel Browning and BPR to get it on-line,. Since it's not a BBC test, it has no addendum number, that may change if/when a blockage at the BBC is released. I've added it to the list above.

Alan Roberts · 26th August 2010, 13:04

The XF305 document is available via this page , which leads onto the actual document here.

13th February 2008, 21:23	#1
Alan Roberts Moderate Moderator Join Date: May 1999 Location: Mugswell, Surrey, UK Posts: 11,986	Test cards and camera settings I have two things to announce: BBC camera settings for HD are at http://www.bbc.co.uk/rd/pubs/whp/whp034.shtml, and include details of the tests and measurements where needed to justify my comments. They are widely used in the BBC and a lot of other places as well. They're free, but copyright marked in the documents. Broadcast Project Research in Teddington (www.bpr.org.uk) are printing hard copies of some of my test cards for camera use. So far, only a "starburst" focus chart and a "lens test" chart comprising a set of zone plates (at any resolution from SD to 4k digital cinema) for lens/camera/channel analysis. There are others in the pipeline. BPR also make a range of nifty gadgets for video production. __________________ Alan Roberts, happily retired from Auntie Beeb Get my test cards document, and cards for 625, 525, 720 and 1080. Thanks to Gavin Gration for hosting them. My BBC-owned camera settings documents are held at BBC R&D, also mirrored by BPR (under construction, click on NEWS) and Daniel browning. Documents for BBC-approved HD cameras are at BBC Commissioning. My book, 'Circles of Confusion' is available here or directly from me.

14th February 2008, 16:51	#3
Alan Roberts Moderate Moderator Join Date: May 1999 Location: Mugswell, Surrey, UK Posts: 11,986	Sorry, not for SD cameras. The tests I do are mostly for the BBC, and their interest is primarily in HD these days. __________________ Alan Roberts, happily retired from Auntie Beeb Get my test cards document, and cards for 625, 525, 720 and 1080. Thanks to Gavin Gration for hosting them. My BBC-owned camera settings documents are held at BBC R&D, also mirrored by BPR (under construction, click on NEWS) and Daniel browning. Documents for BBC-approved HD cameras are at BBC Commissioning. My book, 'Circles of Confusion' is available here or directly from me.

9th May 2008, 10:55	#4
Alan Roberts Moderate Moderator Join Date: May 1999 Location: Mugswell, Surrey, UK Posts: 11,986	I'll add a third thing that I do for money, training. I provide the technical content for training courses. So far, these have been run by BBC and Ravensbourne College, some uder the Skillset banner. I train newcomers to HDTV in the ways of getting the best from cameras, and getting them to understand the limitations of video production in HDTV. I also provide a problem-solving service to productions. __________________ Alan Roberts, happily retired from Auntie Beeb Get my test cards document, and cards for 625, 525, 720 and 1080. Thanks to Gavin Gration for hosting them. My BBC-owned camera settings documents are held at BBC R&D, also mirrored by BPR (under construction, click on NEWS) and Daniel browning. Documents for BBC-approved HD cameras are at BBC Commissioning. My book, 'Circles of Confusion' is available here or directly from me.

11th June 2008, 14:24	#6
Alan Roberts Moderate Moderator Join Date: May 1999 Location: Mugswell, Surrey, UK Posts: 11,986	As far as I'm aware, there are no full resolution images of any of the BBC test cards, the copyright for all of them belongs with Esser in Germany. __________________ Alan Roberts, happily retired from Auntie Beeb Get my test cards document, and cards for 625, 525, 720 and 1080. Thanks to Gavin Gration for hosting them. My BBC-owned camera settings documents are held at BBC R&D, also mirrored by BPR (under construction, click on NEWS) and Daniel browning. Documents for BBC-approved HD cameras are at BBC Commissioning. My book, 'Circles of Confusion' is available here or directly from me.

26th August 2009, 16:15	#7
Alan Roberts Moderate Moderator Join Date: May 1999 Location: Mugswell, Surrey, UK Posts: 11,986	Just raising the profile again. Here's a list of the cameras for which there are BBC test/settings documents. The ones in bold are published but not held on the BBC R&D site yet for reasons that are too involved to go into here. They are all in the public domain (and available ion Daniel Browning's website, see my sig for details), and all will get on to the web at some stage, possibly on a new EBU website. The documents for cameras approved by the BBC for HD use are hosted on the BBC's Commissioning website as well. In the meantime, I'm happy to email copies of the unavailable ones if you send me a PM with your email address (assuming you don't want to put your email address in an open posting). 1: Sony HDWF900 1a: Sony HDWF900/3 2: Panasonic HDC-27V 3: Panasonic HDC-27A 4: Panasonic HDC20A 5: Thomson LDK6000 5a: Thomson LDK6000 version 3.2 6rev2: Sony HDW750P 7rev1: Panasonic HDC20A 8rev7: Panasonic HDC27F/H 9: Sony DVW790WSP 10: Panasonic SDX900 11: Panasonic HC900 12rev1: Sony HDC950/930 13: Panasonic HC900/HRP900 14: Comparison of camera speeds 15rev1: Panasonic HDX400 16rev1: Sony PDW530 17: Sony HDW730S 18rev1: Panasonic HVX200 19: Sony HVRA1/HC1 20: Sony Z1/FX1 21rev2: Panasonic HDX900 22rev2: Sony HDWF900R/790 23: Sony HVRV1 24: Panasonic HPX2100 25: Canon XHG1/A1 26: Panasonic HPX500 27rev1: Panasonic HPX3000 28: Sony PDW700 29: Canon HF10 30rev2: Sony PMWEX1/EX3 31: Panasonic HPX171 (menu values apply to HMC151 as well) 32: RED ONE 33: Panasonic HVX201 34rev1: Sony HVRZ5/Z7 35: Panasonic HPX2700 36: Panasonic HPX3700 37: Sony HDW650 38: Panasonic HPX301 39: Canon 5D 40: Thomson DMC1000 (Infnity) un-numbered: Canon XF300/305 More cameras are in the pipeline. Altogether, I reckon I've done 65 camera tests now, some of them repeats when the needs of the users got more interesting, like the Varicam (7 revisions). Remember, if it's not in bold, you can simply download it from the BBD R&D site, only the ones in bold need to come directly from me or from Daniel Browning's site or from the BPR site. And my book 'Circles of confusion' will be published by the EBU, to be launched at IBC 1009. __________________ Alan Roberts, happily retired from Auntie Beeb Get my test cards document, and cards for 625, 525, 720 and 1080. Thanks to Gavin Gration for hosting them. My BBC-owned camera settings documents are held at BBC R&D, also mirrored by BPR (under construction, click on NEWS) and Daniel browning. Documents for BBC-approved HD cameras are at BBC Commissioning. My book, 'Circles of Confusion' is available here or directly from me. Last edited by Alan Roberts : 30th June 2010 at 10:49. Reason: To add thre Canon 305

13th February 2008, 21:54	#2
infocus Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: London, UK Posts: 3,287	Is there a comparable set of settings for SD cameras, Alan?

11th June 2008, 14:05	#5
simond83 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 1999 Location: London Posts: 403	Hi Alan, Do you know if there is a proper TIFF image of the BBC Test Card 61P?? Many thanks, Simon

16th September 2009, 13:51	#8
Alan Roberts Moderate Moderator Join Date: May 1999 Location: Mugswell, Surrey, UK Posts: 11,986	The book was launched quietly at IBC. There was a copy on the EBU front desk for the duration, 2 copies were nicked from there during the 5 days. Also, about 250 orders were taken (I make that about 1 every 10 minutes for the 5 days) For details, go to www.ebu.ch, click on Technical, and it appears in a small pane in the top right corner, rotating with several other items - be patient, it will appear eventually. Click on 'place an order' and it goes to a page with all the details. Also, I have a small number of copies which I can sell directly. The price the EBU charges is 120 Swiss francs, and I have to pay them £72 for each copy sell, which I'm happy to do with no markup. Postage/delivery depends on where you are, relative to me, but the Post Office wants £5.60 to deliver it (it weighs 3lb). __________________ Alan Roberts, happily retired from Auntie Beeb Get my test cards document, and cards for 625, 525, 720 and 1080. Thanks to Gavin Gration for hosting them. My BBC-owned camera settings documents are held at BBC R&D, also mirrored by BPR (under construction, click on NEWS) and Daniel browning. Documents for BBC-approved HD cameras are at BBC Commissioning. My book, 'Circles of Confusion' is available here or directly from me. Last edited by Alan Roberts : 11th February 2010 at 16:09.

30th June 2010, 10:08	#9
Alan Roberts Moderate Moderator Join Date: May 1999 Location: Mugswell, Surrey, UK Posts: 11,986	Canon XF300/305 doc recently completed and released for publication June 30 2010. I've sent it to Daniel Browning and BPR to get it on-line,. Since it's not a BBC test, it has no addendum number, that may change if/when a blockage at the BBC is released. I've added it to the list above. __________________ Alan Roberts, happily retired from Auntie Beeb Get my test cards document, and cards for 625, 525, 720 and 1080. Thanks to Gavin Gration for hosting them. My BBC-owned camera settings documents are held at BBC R&D, also mirrored by BPR (under construction, click on NEWS) and Daniel browning. Documents for BBC-approved HD cameras are at BBC Commissioning. My book, 'Circles of Confusion' is available here or directly from me. Last edited by Alan Roberts : 30th June 2010 at 10:42.

26th August 2010, 13:04	#10
Alan Roberts Moderate Moderator Join Date: May 1999 Location: Mugswell, Surrey, UK Posts: 11,986	The XF305 document is available via this page , which leads onto the actual document here. __________________ Alan Roberts, happily retired from Auntie Beeb Get my test cards document, and cards for 625, 525, 720 and 1080. Thanks to Gavin Gration for hosting them. My BBC-owned camera settings documents are held at BBC R&D, also mirrored by BPR (under construction, click on NEWS) and Daniel browning. Documents for BBC-approved HD cameras are at BBC Commissioning. My book, 'Circles of Confusion' is available here or directly from me.

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