about 16x9

[mk23]

Hi,

This is a n00b question but I'm wondering howcome dv and dvd always show 16x9 footage as 720x480, wouldnt the maths be wrong? , also when I shoot something at 4x3 it shows up as 720x480 just like 16x9 stuff, how is that?
shouldnt footage of different aspect ratio show up in editing with different numbers, instead I get 720x480 for any type of dv footage.

Thanks

[thecoalman]

It's called anamorphic, 4:3 and 16:9 use the same resolution. The player adjusts the aspect based on whatever it is flagged as.

[edDV]

As you say, both are 720x480. only the shape of the displayed pixel changes (AKA Pixel Aspect Ratio or PAR).

Example:

4:3 Mode (720x480)


DV-Wide Mode (720x480)


16:9 as displayed.
The horizontal expansion is done in the display.


This wide concept applies to all SD recording formats including DV, DVD, ATSC-SD, Digital Betacam on up.

It is also the way HDV (1440x1080) and HDCAM record wide aspect. The picture is recorded 1440x1080 and then expanded to 1920x1080 during playback.

[mk23]

cool... I was goin crazy tryin to figure this out, thought the problem was with my settings or something, but this makes sense.

Thanks guys