An interesting digital video nugget I discovered recently has to do with down-converting HDV material to SD.
I had some feedback from a client news agency which transmits in standard definition regarding the quality of footage I provide them versus the quality of footage shot by their own videographers.
The final files I provide the client are standard definition DV-PAL Quicktime movies. The original footage is shot in HDV NTSC and down-converted to SD NTSC while digitizing from the HD deck via firewire. Apparently, the quality of footage shot in HDV and converted to standard DV is better than footage shot in standard DV and kept in standard DV.
The client in question shoots their footage in SD 4:3 DV PAL. I shoot in HDV 16:9 NTSC and down-convert to SD during digitization using edge crop to achieve the 4:3 aspect ratio, before converting to PAL using MPEG Streamclip. The latter achieves a higher quality final SD 4:3 DV PAL file than shooting in that actual format in the first place.
So my recommendation here is to always shoot in HDV widescreen, even if you client doesn't require something that high quality. The final result appears to be better. It also helps to have an archive of footage in HD rather than SD, simply because if you need some library b-roll for an HD project in the future, you're more likely to have it - no crappy up-converting necessary.
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