First, Simple explain AVCHD, AVCHD 3D, AVCHD Progressive and AVCHD 3D/Progressive?
AVCHD (Advanced Video Coding High Definition) is a format for the recording and playback of high definition video.
AVCHD:
Video | ||||
Subtype | High Definition (AVCHD-HD) | Standard Definition (AVCHD-SD) | ||
Frame size in pixels | 1920×1080 1440×1080 | 1280×720 | 720×480 | 720×576 |
Video Signal | 1080/60i 1080/50i 1080/24p | 720/60p 720/50p 720/24p | 480/60i | 576/50i |
Aspect ratio | 16:9 | 4:3, 16:9 | ||
Compression tech. | MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 | |||
Luminance sampling frequency | 74.25 MHz 55.7 MHz | 74.25 MHz | 13.5 MHz | 13.5 MHz |
Sampling structure | 4:2:0 | |||
Quantization | 8 bits (both luminance and chrominance) | |||
Audio | ||||
Compression tech. | Dolby Digital (AC-3) | |||
Bit rate | 64 to 640 kbit/s | 1.5 Mbit/s (2 channels) | ||
Codec | Linear PCM | |||
Audio channels | 1-5.1 channels | 1-7.1 channels | ||
System | ||||
Stream | MPEG-2 Transport Stream | |||
System bit rate | ≤24 Mbit/s (flash/HDD); ≤18 Mbit/s (DVD) | |||
File extension | mts (on camcorder), m2ts (after import to computer) |
AVCHD 3D
AVCHD now supports a true 3D mode. Panasonic started shipping 3D cameras using 'side by side' encoding in 2010 and Sony joined the 3D race in March 2011 with Full HD 3D which means two video channels are used. The Sony approach uses a 50i or 60i video stream capturing 25 or 30 interlaced frames per second, per side.
Tips: A 3D conversion lens is placed on the end of the camcorder, so provides you with the option of recording in 3D and 2D without the lens on. The 3D conversion lens is very compact and lightweight.
Panasonic, Sony, JVC, Canon etc all have its 3D camcorder. Panasonic HDC-SDT750, Sony TD10, JVC GS-TD1 are all record video in 3D AVCHD formats.
For example:
The Panasonic SDT-750 has an advanced 3MOS system to ensure your images have full attention to detail, a Hybrid Optical Image Stabilisation system to combat hand shake and a removable lens converter to record 2D or 3D movie.
AVCHD Progressive
The AVCHD is a format system-on-high definition camcorders and digital cameras that describes a specification. Lately, the system had preconceptions as there had been "recorded" in a form format of new developments on video downloads at 50p (progressive). Panasonic again was first with this format to the camcorder market and now Sony camcorders support 50p and 60p shooting.
AVCHD 3D/Progressive
It may be 3D 50p and 60p support 3D progressive (3D/50p), so that each video channel (one for each eye) is a progressive video stream.
Second, the history about AVCHD.
2011:
Release AVCHD Format Version 2.0 by adding new specifications for 3D and 1080/60p,50p. New trademarks; "AVCHD 3D", "AVCHD Progressive" and "AVCHD 3D/Progressive" are introduced.
2009
"AVCHD Lite" have been added to the Licensed Product Category of "AVCHD Video Camera".
2007
"AVCHD Archivers" has been added and updated the definition of "AVCHD Players".
2007
Updated the Licensed Product Categories of the AVCHD Format and Logo License.
2006
AVCHD Information web site Open.
*1 :1080i one of HD specifications that has 1080 efficient scanning lines by interlace method.
*2 :720p one of HD specifications that has 720 efficient scanning lines by progressive method.
Third, AVCHD video software.
AVCHD video converter and AVCHD converter for Mac supports convert and import MTS, M2TS AVCHD, AVCHD Lite, AVCHD 3D, AVCHD Progressive and AVCHD 3D/Progressive video to MP4, MOV, DV, MPEG-2, WMV, AVI, DIVX, XVID, FLV, 3GP, MKV, SWF, M4V, RMVB, MPG etc to Mac(10.4-10.7) or Windows(7, vista, xp).