Aspect Ratios

[coalclear]

Hey guys I have a question thats been bugging me for a LONG time. I am obsessed with aspect ratios and yet it seems I dont even understand them. When I export my footage in 16x9 widescreen it says it is (under export settings/video) 720x480. That DOESNT MAKE ANY SENSE?!?! 16x9 is 1.78:1 and 720x480 does not match that.

Those do not match so I dont understand. Furthermore, when I play my footage on my PC or TV it is not 16x9, it is less wide.

I know this is probably a stupid question but I will GREATLY GREATLY appreciate some feedback.
THANKS:beer:

[David Jimerson]

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showpost.php?p=1479503&postcount=12

[coalclear]

aha thanks. I kinda get it...... So Is getting an anamorphic adapter a must for shooting 16x9? Is a 35mm adapter compatible with an anamorphic adapter?

And why when I export it, why does it say 16x9 (aspect ratio) if it is not 16x9?
maybe im missing something
Thanks for answering these questions!

[David Jimerson]

1) It will get you the best resolution for 16:9, but it's not really worth the hassle. Squeeze mode is close.

2) Can't use both.

[coalclear]

So getting a 35mm adapter would be the smartest bet for milking the best footage out of the dvx?

So the DVX never really shoots 16x9?

Thanks a ton

[David Jimerson]

1) Depends on what you're after. "Best" is a subjective term.

2) The DVX has 4:3 chips; there's no "native" 16:9. But squeeze is very good.

[coalclear]

1. Ha true

2. Indeed, but Ive been hearing a lot of people "shooting the dvx in 16x9", technically this is impossible without an anamorphic adapter, correct? I just want to clear up the fact that the DVX in fact cannot shoot 16x9, squeeze mode is CLOSE, however not exactly 16X9.

Correct? no more questions I promise.

[David Jimerson]

Squeeze takes a 16:9 portion of the 4:3 image, so it's 16:9. It just doesn't have the full resolution that native 16:9 chips would have.

Remember, as I said in the post I linked to above, 16:9 is an image shape, not a resolution in and of itself.

[coalclear]

Ya, im not talking about resolution. Strictly talking image shape here. Ive exported my squeezed footage on my pc and 4x3 tv, alas it is not 16x9 footage (screen size). It is less wide, maybe Im missing something. hmmm....

[coalclear]

i think its just that maybe i need a widescreen tv to display it in 16x9 size correctly?

[David Jimerson]

If you play it from the tape, yes. Otherwise, it'll look stretched vertically, because it is.

On the computer, if it's squeeze footage, anything that recognizes a widescreen flag should display it properly.

[coalclear]

aha thanks, i did some measuring and my eyes are just playing tricks on me it seems. Thanks for the help. I just wish these cameras would shoot wider. Like maybe 2.39:1 :)

[David Jimerson]

It could, if it had a 2:1 anamorphic adapter. That's how they shoot scope on 35mm film, which is 4:3.

That, or they matte it on projection, which is just like letterboxing.

[coalclear]

interesting... im guessing 2:1 anamorphic adapters for the dvx arent easy to come by though right?

[David Jimerson]

There are none that I am aware of. But even if there were, there's no digital standard for that aspect ratio, so you'd be working in 16:9 anyway.

Although . . .

The 16:9 adapter and squeeze mode combined would be pretty close, once you figured out the pixel aspect ratio. Would not be full-res, though.