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View Full Version : 4:3 vs 16:9 CCDs & 2/3" Interchangeable Lenses



eclaire
05-31-2007, 10:42 AM
A definite "noob" question here.

If/when I buy the 500, it will be my first camera with native 16:9 chips. I shoot now on a DVX and a Sony DSR-300 (1/2" CCDs, 4:3).

I see indications on interchangeable lenses for the format of the image, either 4:3 or 16:9, and I presume that means you must have the corresponding (or a switchable) format lens to fit a given camera. Can someone confirm this for me?

Also, why is this necessary? Wouldn't any lense that is transmitting a natural, un-altered picture aspect ratio suffice, regardless of the shape of the sensors? I would think some combination of masking and CCD pixel aspect ratio manipulation would account for the various recording formats and screen raitos that a camera like the 500 could produce.

Alex Leith
05-31-2007, 11:24 AM
If I remember correctly all 2/3in lenses should provide coverage for both 4:3 and 16:9 sensors, but some lenses are switchable so as to maintain the same field of view for both aspect ratios...

eclaire
05-31-2007, 02:22 PM
So I could use any standard 2/3" Canon or Fuji lens (whether originally designed for 4:3 cams or 16:9 cams) and get full coverage on the HPX CCDs in the proper aspect ratio?