DVX100A Letterbox Mode vs. Manually Masking The Viewfinder

K

Kevin McCallister

Well-known member
After reading the interview with Phil Pharmet, I was left unsure if using Letterbox Mode on the 100A produces different image quality/resolution than manually masking the viewfinder.

Phil said:
"We used the 4X3 format in the camera and masked off the frame. Later we blacked out the 16X9 with a matte in the post. The reason for this was primarily because you cannot view an unsqueezed image in the camera's finder."

Is he mistaken that in Letterbox Mode the image is actually unsqueezed, as I had thought? Or is there a difference between masking the viewfinder in 4X3 and adding bars in post, and having the camera add the bars itself in Letterbox Mode?

Thanks a lot.
 
No difference between doing the letterbox in camera or in post...except doing it in post lets you move it up and down, should you find the need to. Letterboxed in camera...you're stuck with what you have.

Dan
 
The reason I prefer to mask in post - if you letterbox in camera and apply effects to the footage, some effects will be visible on your black bars. Also, if you do any funky transitions, your black bars are affected as well (like a page peel).

Brad
 
Do it in post. GenJerDan and GCM Brad are absolutely dead-on. Being able to cheat things up or down is a blessing!
 
Out of curiosity, does the DVX have ANY way of putting "crop" marks in the viewfinder as a reference point? Every video editor I have ever used has the Safe Zone button, and it just seems like it would make sense to have that kind of feature in the camera for those who want to shoot for widescreen, simply as a convenient reference. Not something that would be put on the tape, just a semi-transparant crop area to get an idea of how to better frame your shot.
 
What you see in the LCD (normal, not squeezed) is pretty much the TV safe zone.

Of course, that doesn't mean the boom mic creeping in won't be seen by some. ;-)

Dan
 
Rapier_100a said:
Out of curiosity, does the DVX have ANY way of putting "crop" marks in the viewfinder as a reference point? Every video editor I have ever used has the Safe Zone button, and it just seems like it would make sense to have that kind of feature in the camera for those who want to shoot for widescreen, simply as a convenient reference. Not something that would be put on the tape, just a semi-transparant crop area to get an idea of how to better frame your shot.
Click to expand...

I don't think the DVX has anything like this built in. I used to use clear tape to do this masking on the LCD, but I don't know how you could pull this off in the viewfinder.

When I say I "used to" use clear tape on the LCD, that was before I found these little peel & stick 3.5" LCD skins with 16:9 framing marks on them. I found them at EVS, but I don't recall the brand name. Very cool - and reusable too!
 
GCM Brad,
They are called Screen Skins, and thanks to a request by Rush at EVS, will soon be available in larger sizes for 4" & 5.6" LCD monitors.
I'm also working on a set for 9" CRT monitors...Sony and JVC.

Hope this helps.

Ken
the Screen Skins guy
 
kplo said:
GCM Brad,
They are called Screen Skins, and thanks to a request by Rush at EVS, will soon be available in larger sizes for 4" & 5.6" LCD monitors.
I'm also working on a set for 9" CRT monitors...Sony and JVC.

Hope this helps.

Ken
the Screen Skins guy
Click to expand...
do you know where i can get some right now (if they are availible)? i searched for "Screen Skins" on evs' site and couldnt find any
 
They have them in the actual store for sure, maybe they don't have them on the website yet. I am sure you can call EVS and order them.
 
Yes sorry folks, we do have them, but for some odd reason they have not made it on the site yet. If you call any of our sales people and ask for the screen skins or SSDVX for $4.95 they will be available. As kplo said, he is making new sizes for us to meet the demand :)
Thanks Ken! Mista Killa D.P. and Thrilla Inventa!


peace!
 
cheer.JPG
 
Jarred great shot! hah! I was wondering, is it possible to remove the letterbox bars put up by DVX later in vegas? Can i export out 720 to say 360 removing the bars? What about if i export the same for DVD?
 
yes of coursae.. you can export it as a 16x9 file with no bars, and your DVD player will automatically add them if required.
 
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