ProRes Family

A lot in terms of data rate (and therefore compression quality).

Prores 422 (HQ) at 1080p 23.976fps: 176 Mb/s

Prores 422 at 1080p 23.976fps: 117 Mb/s

Prores 422 (LT) at 1080p 23.976fps: 82 Mb/s

Broadcast standard is usually about 175 Mb/s (which is crazy because the networks almost always compress video down to 40ish Mb/s after receiving it), but the standard does exist.
 
not a single difference when talking about h264 converted to any prores though. the bit rate of prores is not going to magically invent information that was not there in the h264 so realy you should be converting to LT when going from h264 since it will be the lightest file.

 
Its not just quality, its bit rate. For say a RED raw clip to be converted to prores HQ, it would be better "quality" than LT but in terms of grading/flexibility with your image.
 
I'd wager the opposite is true. While using higher forms of ProRes poses no benefits (you can't add something that wasn't originally there), using any form other than ProRes LT can definitely be harmful because it increases the possibility of banding and takes up more hard drive space.
 
true, but from my standpoint editing with a t2i and h264 im not gona notice squat between those. although i prefer lt over the others.
 
well ya obviously I was just emphasizing that the differences between pro res levels doesn't exactly translate to image quality
 
interesting you mention banding because I just converted to ProRes in mpeg streamclip. so using a lower bit rate (ie prores LT) will avoid this?
 
It won't circumnavigate banding implemented by the camera itself, it's just that of the ProRes options, ProRes LT will band the least. Anything higher (ProRes, ProRes 422, ProRes HQ, ProRes 4444) will only add more banding.

The best way to eliminate banding is to set your contrast in-camera (ie not shooting flat) and making little to no adjustments in post. You might be able to get away with shooting flat in some circumstances with irregular tones (trees, busy shapes, etc.), but as soon as a smooth gradient appears on screen (sky, wall, etc.) you're hosed.
 
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