Pixel Count vs. Actual Resolution

Gohanto

Gohanto

Veteran
Hi, I'm just curious what the relation is between the pixel counts given with the camera and the resolution of images when it's recorded onto the computer. The way I understand it is that images are recorded at 720 x 480 no matter how the image is recorded on the camera. But, if that was the case then there's no reason to ever have more than 345,600 pixels (720 x 480) on a camera.

Then a DVX has 380,000 pixels, so I can't understand what the extra pixels are for or if theres a different way to tranfer video that I'm not aware of to get the extra resolution from the camera. Or the Canon Xi which claims 410,000 effective pixels in video.

Any help as to this would be appreciated.
 
Begining with a sharper chip, even when downrezed to SD resolutions, can give you a cleaner, better looking image.
 
Alright, so is 720 x 480 the resolution recorded on the camera, and then it's downsized in the transfer to the computer?

If that's the case any idea if there's a way to grab the extra resolution or is it impossible to get?
 
Gohanto said:
Alright, so is 720 x 480 the resolution recorded on the camera, and then it's downsized in the transfer to the computer?

If that's the case any idea if there's a way to grab the extra resolution or is it impossible to get?
Click to expand...

You get your full 720x480 when capturing at the right setting.
 
There is not a 1:1 relationship between CCD pixels and the recorded frame. The Canon XL1 had 270,000 pixel CCDs to record its 345,600 pixel frame, and many people were very happy with its video.

Then there are some consumer cameras out there with a million pixels on their CCDs to record the 345,600 pixel frame. And their video doesn't necessarily look very good.

Generally speaking there is no direct relationship. CCDs are analog devices that produce analog signals, not digital pixel signals. The camera "digitizes" that analog signal, just like an audio sampling circuit digitizes an analog audio waveform.
 
There is not a direct relationship of chip count to recording. The reason being that the CCD is being used as an analog(light gathering) device. when the image is presented to the DSP it is then transformed to the digitial domain but think of it up till that time as an analog signal. This is true of every camera that is using a CCD. CMOS sorks a little differently but still it starts as an analog signal.

Hope this helps,

Jan
 
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