to Frank, about 16x9 at DVinfo.net

Joe Carney · November 2nd, 2002, 11:48 AM

Frank I"ve read the pdf manuals, and looked at info on your site.

I'm still confused as to what almost true 16x9 means. Does that mean true 16x9 recording, 16x9 anamorphic (4x3 streched), or cropped 4x3 (thats what is done traditionally).

Thanks in advance for clearing this up.

Joe Carney · November 2nd, 2002, 08:35 PM

Frank, hope I haven't offended you with the question.

Frank Granovski · November 2nd, 2002, 10:47 PM

From the MX500A user manual posted at:
http://www.dvfreak.com/pana_mx5.htm:

There is the Cinema Function and the Wide Mode Function. In Cinema, "black bars appear at the top and the bottom of the screen. In Wide Mode, "the picture stretches vertically."

* Using the Cinema Mode or Wide Mode does not widen the recording angle.
* If you play back tape recorded in Cinema Mode or Wide Mode on a wide-screen (16:9) format TV, playback size is automatically adjusted to fit the TV screen format. Please refer to the TV's operating instructions for details.
* When images are displayed on a TV screen, the Date/Time indication may be erased in some cases.
* Depending on the TV, the picture quality may be deteriorated.
* In Cinema Mode is cancelled when a Title is displayed.
* The Cinema Mode and Wide Mode cannot be set at the same time.
* It is not possible to record pictures onto a Card in the Cinema Mode and Wide Mode.
* It is recommended not to set the [ASPECT] to [16:9] when using the regular 4:3 formatted TV. (The picture will be displayed stretched vertically.)
* Using the Cinema Mode deactivates [MULTI] and [P-IN-P] of [EFFECT1].
* Depending on the software in use, the imported Cinema picture may not be displayed correctly.

From the MX500 information slides posted at:
http://www.dvfreak.com/pana_mx5.htm

Wide-Screen Mode image captures from an area of 934 pixels horizontal and 768 pixels vertical, then it's processed down to 720 pixels horizontal, 576 vertical (Vertical resoluton: 576 TV lines).

From the Panasonic AU Tech department, posted at:
http://www.dvfreak.com/pana_mx5.htm

There is something different with the Wide Screen Mode from the MX300. The MX300 converted 720 x 576 to 720 x 432. Then x 1.33 zoom applied to vertical. MX500 starts with 934 x 768 then converted to 720 x 576 without zoom. Almost appears natural!

From me:

The pixels used are from the CCDs' left to right sides. Top and bottom are sliced off. Then the image is processed to the wide format (like the way the new Sony Pro "hand-held" does it). From 934 X 768 to 720 X 576. What I mean by "near true" is that this is the closest way of getting 16:9 without 16:9 CCDs or using a 16:9 lens.

November 3rd, 2002, 09:48 AM

Have a look at the Power Point slides at...
http://www.dvfreak.com/pana_mx5.htm

as they have a graphic explanation of the 16:9 mode.

Yours sincerely,
Michael Offe,
South Australia.

Joe Carney · November 3rd, 2002, 11:17 AM

>>From me:

The pixels used are from the CCDs' left to right sides. Top and bottom are sliced off. Then the image is processed to the wide format (like the way the new Sony Pro "hand-held" does it). From 934 X 768 to 720 X 576. What I mean by "near true" is that this is the closest way of getting 16:9 without 16:9 CCDs or using a 16:9 lens.
<<

thats the part I needed help with. thanks. The rest sounded like marketing doubletalk.

Frank Granovski · November 3rd, 2002, 11:53 PM

Re: "the rest sounded like marketing doubletalk."

Well, er, yes. I can just post what I got and what I know. Hopefully I'll get more info from Pana and elsewhere---then I'll post that too.

November 2nd, 2002, 11:48 AM	#1
Joe Carney Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Centreville Va Posts: 1,828	to Frank, about 16x9 Frank I"ve read the pdf manuals, and looked at info on your site. I'm still confused as to what almost true 16x9 means. Does that mean true 16x9 recording, 16x9 anamorphic (4x3 streched), or cropped 4x3 (thats what is done traditionally). Thanks in advance for clearing this up.

November 2nd, 2002, 08:35 PM	#2
Joe Carney Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Centreville Va Posts: 1,828	Frank, hope I haven't offended you with the question.

November 2nd, 2002, 10:47 PM	#3
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	From the MX500A user manual posted at: http://www.dvfreak.com/pana_mx5.htm: There is the Cinema Function and the Wide Mode Function. In Cinema, "black bars appear at the top and the bottom of the screen. In Wide Mode, "the picture stretches vertically." * Using the Cinema Mode or Wide Mode does not widen the recording angle. * If you play back tape recorded in Cinema Mode or Wide Mode on a wide-screen (16:9) format TV, playback size is automatically adjusted to fit the TV screen format. Please refer to the TV's operating instructions for details. * When images are displayed on a TV screen, the Date/Time indication may be erased in some cases. * Depending on the TV, the picture quality may be deteriorated. * In Cinema Mode is cancelled when a Title is displayed. * The Cinema Mode and Wide Mode cannot be set at the same time. * It is not possible to record pictures onto a Card in the Cinema Mode and Wide Mode. * It is recommended not to set the [ASPECT] to [16:9] when using the regular 4:3 formatted TV. (The picture will be displayed stretched vertically.) * Using the Cinema Mode deactivates [MULTI] and [P-IN-P] of [EFFECT1]. * Depending on the software in use, the imported Cinema picture may not be displayed correctly. From the MX500 information slides posted at: http://www.dvfreak.com/pana_mx5.htm Wide-Screen Mode image captures from an area of 934 pixels horizontal and 768 pixels vertical, then it's processed down to 720 pixels horizontal, 576 vertical (Vertical resoluton: 576 TV lines). From the Panasonic AU Tech department, posted at: http://www.dvfreak.com/pana_mx5.htm There is something different with the Wide Screen Mode from the MX300. The MX300 converted 720 x 576 to 720 x 432. Then x 1.33 zoom applied to vertical. MX500 starts with 934 x 768 then converted to 720 x 576 without zoom. Almost appears natural! From me: The pixels used are from the CCDs' left to right sides. Top and bottom are sliced off. Then the image is processed to the wide format (like the way the new Sony Pro "hand-held" does it). From 934 X 768 to 720 X 576. What I mean by "near true" is that this is the closest way of getting 16:9 without 16:9 CCDs or using a 16:9 lens.

November 3rd, 2002, 09:48 AM	#4
Michael Offe Posts: n/a	Have a look at the Power Point slides at... http://www.dvfreak.com/pana_mx5.htm as they have a graphic explanation of the 16:9 mode. Yours sincerely, Michael Offe, South Australia.

November 3rd, 2002, 11:17 AM	#5
Joe Carney Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Centreville Va Posts: 1,828	>>From me: The pixels used are from the CCDs' left to right sides. Top and bottom are sliced off. Then the image is processed to the wide format (like the way the new Sony Pro "hand-held" does it). From 934 X 768 to 720 X 576. What I mean by "near true" is that this is the closest way of getting 16:9 without 16:9 CCDs or using a 16:9 lens. << thats the part I needed help with. thanks. The rest sounded like marketing doubletalk.

November 3rd, 2002, 11:53 PM	#6
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	Re: "the rest sounded like marketing doubletalk." Well, er, yes. I can just post what I got and what I know. Hopefully I'll get more info from Pana and elsewhere---then I'll post that too.