16:9 Native?  Loss o Quality?  Same as S

S

savethestars

Active member
Hi everyone.

Letterbox format is even more important to me than 24p. I think most people will have widescreen TVs soon enough, and I can't stand the thought of doing work now that will have two gray bars running along it on widescreen TVs now and even more later.

Knowing that, can you tell me if the DVX100A is capable of doing true letterbox?
Is there a loss of quality when you switch to that mode? Does it letterbox in the viewfinder and LCD when you switch so you can accurately frame your shots? Does it give you a wider angle shot?

Is the DVX100A as good as the Sony PDX10 when it comes to true letterboxing 16:9?

I am doing documentaries and do not plan to do a film blow up, so maybe the PDX10 is better if the 16:9 is truer and the 24p on Panasonic is not needed.

Please fill me in on this. I read the other posts regarding it but got lost in the technicalities. Also, given my considerations, which camera do you recommend?

Please bear with me, as I am new to this site and 3ccd cameras in general.

Thanks!
 
Re: 16:9 Native?  Loss o Quality?  Same as S

Re: 16:9 Native?  Loss o Quality?  Same as S

The PDX10 is not in the same class as the DVX100A. They're very different types of cameras, and the PDX10 is half the price of the DVX100A.

When you're saying "letterbox", I believe what you really are asking is "does it do true 16:9"?

There is no camera available under $15,000 that has a native 16:9 CCD. All cameras under $15,000 make do by one of two methods: either they electronically re-scale the 4:3 image to be 16:9-shaped (like the DVX, PD170, XL1, etc.) or they have megapixel CCD's, and they sample a smaller 16:9-shaped patch off of the megapixel CCD (PDX10, PV-DV953, etc). Or, the third option is to use an optical anamorphic adapter on a 4:3 camera to get a 16:9 image on tape.

If you're shooting 60i, the PDX10 may deliver higher resolution than the DVX in electronic 16:9 mode. The DVX with optical anamorphic adapter will smoke the PDX10. In progressive-scan mode, the DVX will beat the PDX10 in every conceivable image quality measurement, whether using the optical anamorphic adapter or using the in-camera 16:9.

The DVX has no provision for viewing a 16:9 image un-stretched. It will always be compressed in the viewfinder. If you want to see it unstretched, you need an external monitor with 16:9 capability, or the Century Precision Optics viewfinder de-anamorphosizer attachment.
 
Re: 16:9 Native?  Loss o Quality?  Same as S

Re: 16:9 Native?  Loss o Quality?  Same as S

Thank you very much, Barry. You addressed the heart of the matter. However, let me put a quote from BHPhoto.com's web page regarding the PDX10:

"Widescreen CCD's, Analog to Digital Converter and Digital Signal Processing
The DSR-PDX10 is a special camera. Being a 3 CCD design put it in the range of professional acquisition devices. Having 16:9 native chips puts it with only the highest range of video cameras today. It is perfect as a "B" camera along side a widescreen broadcast, Digital Betacam or HDTV camera.

The DSR-PDX10 uses a 14-bit analog to digital converter, which eliminates rounding off errors in lesser bit rate processors. And for a DSP, the camcorder uses a 14-bit design for capturing rich detail in the brightest and darkest portions of the scene.

The camcorder is switchable into 4:3 mode also, making it one of the smallest, lightest camcorders for any type of viewing requirements. The DSR-PDX10 packs a big punch for professionals who don't have room to spare."


You'll notice that it lists the PDX10 having "native 16:9 chips". This runs contrary to what you wrote. Who's right?

Thanks!
 
Re: 16:9 Native?  Loss o Quality?  Same as S

Re: 16:9 Native?  Loss o Quality?  Same as S

The chips are 4:3. They claim to deliver "native 16:9 resolution" because they subsample a 16:9-shaped patch off the CCD.

The full size of the chip is 1/4. They use a smaller 1/4.7" section for 4:3 video, and an even smaller 16:9-shaped section for 16:9 video.

You can see a diagram of how Sony extracts 16:9 from the 4:3 chip in the PDX10 brochure. http://www.sharbor.com/products/assets/SON/500/SONN5000002/attachments/dsrpdx10.pdf
 
Re: 16:9 Native?  Loss o Quality?  Same as S

Re: 16:9 Native?  Loss o Quality?  Same as S

Thanks again, Barry. You've been really helpful!
 
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