Image quality compared between normal, squeeze and letterbox SD modes

[David Rothstein]

I surmise that both the normal and squeeze SD options provide 720x480 pixels, the difference being the aspect ratio of the pixels, normal being 1:0.9, squeeze being 1:1.2.

If that's right, does shooting 16:9 have a ~30% quality loss compared with shooting in 4:3?

Letterbox mode seems to simply mask part of a 4:3 image to make it 16:9. What is the intended application of letterbox, if any?

Thanks

 

[Barry_Green]

On a DVX, yes there's a loss in res. On an HVX, there's no loss in res for either mode -- it starts from a high-def image and downconverts to either 16:9 or center-extraction 4:3, so you're getting the full resolution possible in a DV frame.

Letterbox is for viewing widescreen-looking footage on a 4:3 TV, such as if you were makin a widescreen tv commercial for over-the-air broadcast in standard-def (which, in the USA, is always done at 4:3).

 

[David Rothstein]

Hi Barry,

I loved your HVX book, particularly the film vs. video comparison. Thanks.

As you noted, the res in 16:9 and 4:3 modes is identical.

I am wondering if the image quality in 16:9 is degraded more than 4:3 due to compression with DVCPro or DVCPro50, or perhaps due to the aspect ratio of the pixels. (0.9 vs 1.2.)