Which DVD recorders support 16:9?

[Lucien]

It seems that Sony is the only that allow you to set recording format to 16:9. Can Philips or other recorders do the same?

Phlips responded the signal is recorded as received but there's no way to tell if the signal is 16:9 (e.g. mini-dv 16:9 recording). So I guess it's always 4:3?

[Gil T Pleasure]

Taken from the dvdplusrw.org DVD+R/+RW Video Recorders FAQ:

Can a DVD+RW video recorder record in 16:9 anamorphic widescreen?

Yes. A DVD+RW video recorder will recognize the 16:9 signalling bit that is included on some video sources (such as camcorder recordings in "wide" mode and most DVD-Video discs), and will encode the video in the original anamorphic format, allowing for the best image quality in terms of resolution when played back on a widescreen TV. Signalling info to set a widescreen TV into "wide 16:9" mode are included for playback on a DVD+RW recorder, so the TV will automatically adjust the aspect ratio when the disc is played back on the recorder itself. Since mixing of anamorphic widescreen and normal 4:3 video within a single title is not permitted by the DVD-Video standard, but recording of both 4:3 and 16:9 video in a single title by a DVD+RW video recorder is (think of a movie broadcasted in anamorphic widescreen which is interrupted by 4:3 commercials, all recorder in one title), the video will not include standard DVD-Video anamorphic signals that allows DVD-Video players to scale down the video to widescreen letterbox format for playback on 4:3 TVs.

[Lucien]

That's interesting to know. I wonder if the Philips DVDR75/77/80 can recognize the signal from firewire. I don't think it can get this signal from s-video inputs (or other).

[Lucien]

Just for the record, I found Philips DVDR-72 did not recognize my 16:9 camcorder input. Well it cheated: it played back fine on the machine but not on any other player since the VOB was showing 4:3.