How does 16:9 on the XL2 work? at DVinfo.net

Tony Hall · November 10th, 2004, 07:09 PM

Ok, on the XL1s, if you shot in widescreen the camera squeezed all the info into all of the pixels on the sensor and then could be stretched back out in a NLE.

What does the XL2 do? Does it take the info from the sensor and squeeze it into the 720x480 pixels available in NTSC so that it will have to be stretched out in an NLE also?

Is that pretty much how it works? And the same thing happens with PAL, but the PAL format has more pixels available so it has higher resolution, right? Also, is the default PAL aspect ratio 4:3 also?

Boyd Ostroff · November 10th, 2004, 08:04 PM

Tony: have a look at this thread.

Mark Sasahara · November 10th, 2004, 08:06 PM

The XL2 is 16x9 native. you loose a little bit when you swith o 4:3.

Go here

http://www.dvinfo.net/canonxl2/articles/article06.php

for the info on the XL2 chip block. Good info, plus comparisons to some other 1/3 " chip cameras

Sorry I forget how to make active links.

-M

Dave Perry · November 10th, 2004, 10:09 PM

Tony,

Yes, 16:9 DV is 720x480. The XL2 is native 16:9 meaning it does not cut the top and bottom of and strech the image to fit 720x480, rather it captures a wider field of view and squishes it horizontally to fit 720x480.

Tony Hall · November 11th, 2004, 05:57 AM

thanks, that explains everything... and pretty much what I suspected

Rob Lohman · November 11th, 2004, 06:04 AM

Just to make it ultra clear to everyone:

1. the DV spec only allows for two resolutions: 720 x 480 (NTSC) and 720 x 576 (PAL)

2. 16:9 anamorphic is always stored in that format on any camera (pixel aspect ratio differs)

3. PAL 720x576 = 4:3 = 720x480 NTSC (the difference in resolution can be explained by a different pixel aspect ratio)

4. instinct usually says that your horizontal resolution increases (since Field-of-View is also changing), which is true before it is being DV compressed. However, after the DV compression the increase is in VERTICAL resolution, *NOT* horizontal. Ofcourse you might also have a sharper picture horizontally since it samples more pixels originally (you can call that resolution as well), but in the end, the horizontal pixels will always be 720 (the same goes for DVD)

November 10th, 2004, 07:09 PM	#1
Tony Hall Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: springfield, OH Posts: 344	How does 16:9 on the XL2 work? Ok, on the XL1s, if you shot in widescreen the camera squeezed all the info into all of the pixels on the sensor and then could be stretched back out in a NLE. What does the XL2 do? Does it take the info from the sensor and squeeze it into the 720x480 pixels available in NTSC so that it will have to be stretched out in an NLE also? Is that pretty much how it works? And the same thing happens with PAL, but the PAL format has more pixels available so it has higher resolution, right? Also, is the default PAL aspect ratio 4:3 also? __________________ Tony "Good taste is the enemy of creativity" - Picasso Blog: http://www.tonyhall.name

November 10th, 2004, 08:06 PM	#3
Mark Sasahara Major Player Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: NYC Posts: 649	The XL2 is 16x9 native. you loose a little bit when you swith o 4:3. Go here http://www.dvinfo.net/canonxl2/articles/article06.php for the info on the XL2 chip block. Good info, plus comparisons to some other 1/3 " chip cameras Sorry I forget how to make active links. -M __________________ Mark Sasahara Director of Photography

November 10th, 2004, 10:09 PM	#4
Dave Perry Major Player Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Roanoke, VA Posts: 796	Tony, Yes, 16:9 DV is 720x480. The XL2 is native 16:9 meaning it does not cut the top and bottom of and strech the image to fit 720x480, rather it captures a wider field of view and squishes it horizontally to fit 720x480. __________________ Dave Perry Cinematographer LLC Director of Photography • Editor • Digital Film Production • 540.915.2752 • daveperry.net

November 11th, 2004, 05:57 AM	#5
Tony Hall Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: springfield, OH Posts: 344	thanks, that explains everything... and pretty much what I suspected __________________ Tony "Good taste is the enemy of creativity" - Picasso Blog: http://www.tonyhall.name

November 11th, 2004, 06:04 AM	#6
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	Just to make it ultra clear to everyone: 1. the DV spec only allows for two resolutions: 720 x 480 (NTSC) and 720 x 576 (PAL) 2. 16:9 anamorphic is always stored in that format on any camera (pixel aspect ratio differs) 3. PAL 720x576 = 4:3 = 720x480 NTSC (the difference in resolution can be explained by a different pixel aspect ratio) 4. instinct usually says that your horizontal resolution increases (since Field-of-View is also changing), which is true before it is being DV compressed. However, after the DV compression the increase is in VERTICAL resolution, NOT horizontal. Ofcourse you might also have a sharper picture horizontally since it samples more pixels originally (you can call that resolution as well), but in the end, the horizontal pixels will always be 720 (the same goes for DVD) __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

November 10th, 2004, 08:04 PM	#2
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,788	Tony: have a look at this thread.