Is there a setting that will allow you to shoot without the letterbox being on the recorded footage that's shot with the JVC-HD110u? Just curious as there may be times when I don't need to have the letterbox look. Thanks for your help!

Hi Antwuan,
What exactly do you mean by letterbox? The jvc records in the 16:9 image ratio, the broadcast standard for all hdtv standards. The camera doesn't letterbox the image (thank god). So, if you a need a 3:4 image...

The only way to shoot 4:3 is to shoot in Standard mode.

what i meant by letterbox is the black boxes on the top and bottom of the screen. I'm aware of the 16:9 aspect ratio, just wanted to know if there was a way to shoot in the 16:9 without the black boxes appearing on the top and bottom of the screen. thanks again

I'm aware of the 16:9 aspect ratio, just wanted to know if there was a way to shoot in the 16:9 without the black boxes appearing on the top and bottom of the screen. thanks again

You do understand how aspect ratios work, right? What you're asking makes no sense.

The Hd100 does not shoot/record with the black bars on top and bottom. If you're seeing those bars, it's because the display you're using to view the footage, has a 4:3 aspect ratio....or maybe you're doing something wrong in your editing software.

16x9 is a 1.77 ratio, the only way you can have black bars on top and bottom of the screen in 1.77 is if you shoot 1.85 academy aspect or 2.35 which is liken to anamorphic in standard or 2.40 in super, remember these are aspects.

The HD100 series do not have the option for these. Most if not All HD cameras will shoot a native super (16x9 or 1.77) frame only! In the F900's you can get 4x3, 14x9, 16x9, 1.85 and 2.35 aspect markers, but the HD100 use only 4x3(1.33) and/or 16x9(1.77) aspect markers. Remember these markers are only guides for composition just like ground glasses in film cameras, you are still shooting a full 16x9 frame.

Perhaps he's talking about when he's shooting and the LCD shows black bars? Which I assume is supposed to happen with 24P HDV on the JVC.

I think what he may be asking is if the camera allows you to monitor or play out in the squeezed format - like you see when they show the credit sequences of film to tape transfers of some widescreen films that won't fit into 4:3. I know some Sony's and a few other cameras allow this. It permits seeing the whole frame on a standard tv without the image being shrunk. It helps with focus etc..

I know that the GY-HD100U doesn't have this function and I would be surprised if the 110 did.

I think we need to know what format Antwuan is shooting and what monitor is being viewed.

DV 16:9 will be letterboxed on a 4:3 screen by default.