3:2 Pulldown , Drop & Non-Drop Frame

[sp_key]

Hi all,

I hope this is the right forum for such a question.

Basically, I have had a disagreement with a guy from work who supports that drop frame tapes cannot have 3:2 pulldown material on them and that only non drop frame tapes can have 3:2 pulldown.

From my point of view, as drop and non-drop are only related to clock timecode and not actual video information, 3:2 pulldown can exist on both timecode formats. However, he insists on his view and his explanation only adds confusion to me.

I would love to prove him wrong even though I might not tell him if I'm right, as he is a senior and I am only a poor new-comer

Anyone knows the answer to this one?

Thanks in advance

 

[David Mullen ASC]

I'm not an authority in this, but I've always heard that drop vs. non-drop frame has nothing to do with image capture or frame rate, just time code.

However, most people shoot non-drop anyway, adding drop frame only to the finished product TC if needed. At least, I've never been asked to shoot drop-frame....

 

[smanches]

I can confirm with full authority that there is no difference in the video data between non-drop and drop time code. The only difference is that every 10 minutes one fram is skipped in the time code for drop-frame. This is to make up for the 29.97 frame rate of NTSC.

In other words, when you hit 9:59;29 the next timecode will be 10:00;01. But this does not affect the video data at all. Both can have 3:2 pulldown in them.

 

[DBXMe2]

its just for the frames on screen.. if you have 3:2 pull down it will make it look as if its running at 24 frames per second...

because its running 2 frames of the same then 3 frames of the same. The time code will be the same because its still the same number of frames.

29.97 is basicly a 1:1 ratio of frames.. so every frame is a new frame, none are repeated.

So ofcourse the frame rate is the same, its compensating by keeping extra frames on screen... as so it runs 24 frames every second... and regular NTSC 29.97 is every second... time code doesnt change.. they are both running PER SECOND?

so its just to say that the Pull down is to give it a more cinematic feel by reducing the frames per second... but its still the same amount of time....

So to concure with your previous statement.. yes.. lol nothing is changed in time code... or shouldnt be... in theory