So why is the sample the lower resolution? Is it because WMV9 can not go better than 720-60p?

Does this mean when we have HD DVD'd or a HD VT player and a HD monitor it will play 1440x1080 and look BETTER than the WMV9 sample?

" I look at the Sony sample video and see it is only 1280x720 (and 25p PAL but never mind that)"

I made the wmv sample you are referring to. I picked that size because we were demoing, in Amsterdam, some HDV output tests on Vaio laptops with 1280x768 monitors. I (and you) could have rendered up to 2048x2048, the Vegas output max.

I shot the footage as 25i using a prototype 25i capable HDV camera, this particular prototype didn't do 60 or 30 i or p.

>that Sony in the FX1/Z1 uses only the highest definition at 1080i.

Just a note, 1080i is not necessarily the highest quality HDV standard, even though it's image size is the largest. Some feel that because 720p is progressive, the quality is equal or better than that of 1080 interlaced.

Sony hates all things progressive, so they went with that standard for the FX1.

I'm curious though, does anyone know if an HDV camcorder can in theory shoot both formats, example flick a switch and you shoot 720p or 1080i?


MB

I'm curious though, does anyone know if an HDV camcorder can in theory shoot both formats, example flick a switch and you shoot 720p or 1080i?

Nothing on the market that does this at this time, no. Maybe the new JVC monster, if they ever get it off the ground.

"Sony cams are 1440 x 1080i, but it is anamorphic, meaning the pixels are squished. This means that when viewed at the correct aspect ratio of 1.333, the picture is 1920 x 1080."

I'm new around here, just a DV enthusiast at this point, and one of the things perplexing me most is aspect ratios - both display and pixel. Still trying to get a handle on it.

So, I'm a little confused with your statement, Spot. 1440/1080=1.33. Wouldn't the correct aspect ratio for 1920/1080 be 1.78? The squished pixels of the 1440x1080 frame need to be stretched horizontally to appear normal, right?

If you multiply 1440 by 1.333 you get 1920, which is the correct number of horizontal lines of resolution you need for square pixel display at 1920x1080, or 1080i resolution.

Generally,

HDV 1080i refers to 1440x1080 resolution with pixel aspect ratio (PAR) of 1.333 to achieve 16:9 screen aspect ratio, as described above.

HD 1080i refers to 1920x1080 resolution with PAR of 1.0 to achieve SAR of 16:9.

So, since HD monitors (and computer monitors) use square pixels, HDV 1080i must be upscaled to 1920x1440 upon playback. The 1.333 PAR of HDV 1080i "instructs" the playback device to scale the 1440x1080 video to 1920x1080 upon playback so it is (properly) viewed at 16:9 SAR.

HDV 1080i is referred to as anamorphic because back in the 50's anamorphic lenses were used to squeeze widescreen footage down to 35mm film, and then expand it back to widescreen upon playback. It was cheaper to develop the lenses for cameras and movie theaters than develop all of the hardware and film for a native widescreen film format.

Sony probably choose this anamorphic version of HD 1080i to keep the total pixel count reasonable for CCD's, editing, storage requirements, and all of the other costs associated with higher resolution formats, while still using ALL of the 1080 vertical lines of resolution available to HD playback devices that support this resolution. HDV 1080i is a NICE jump from NTSC DV, having 4.5 times the resolution of NTSC DV.

Perhaps in a few years, after hardware and software have a chance to "catch up" with current HDV specs, we may see a HD 1080i format in prosumer/consumer cameras.

I haven't seen my computer (3GHz) work this hard (editing HDV) since back in the days when I was editing full frame SD video on my Celeron 300a, overclocked to 450 but of course!

Thank you, Hulk.

I guess my confusion came from being used to thinking that anything 1.333 related to a 4:3 SAR.

Thank you Hulk a good well explained but simple reply. I have never seen HDV except for the Sony sample but have HDTV at home. Seeing the same footage in HDV vs. HD on a HDTV how noticable is the difference?

For those of you who don't know Hulk, he is not only an IronMan Triathalon champ, and winner of many awards for endurance and strength, he's also a graduate of MIT and the co-author of "HDV: What You NEED to Know."
http://www.vasst.com/printproducts/hdv.htm

Always nice to see you hangin' around, Mark!