Why do my 1440x1080 clips look exactly the same output to 1920x1080?
 

I know this is a simple question but I asked a similar question elsewhere and was more confused by the answer. If I film a video with my Sony FX-1 and edit the captured 1440 x 1080 clips in Premiere 1.5.1 with Aspect HD, output to a 1440 x 1080 CF AVI file and then encode to a wmv file in say, Cleaner XL. When the end user watches the video why does it look exactly the same as a 1440 x 1080 wmv in WMP as compared to if I output the finished video directly from Premiere Pro as a WMV at 1920 x 1080?

Neither looks distorted, they both ostensibly are 16x9 aspect ratio in WMP properties and they both take up the same space on my monitor screen. You answers will help me understand. Thanks! :-)

Hi Jim,
this has to do with aspect ratio. With 1440x1080, the pixels are not square; rather, they are 1.3333 times as wide as they are tall. This is the pixel aspect ratio of HDV. Therefore, it only takes 1440 pixels to reach the correct width. When made 1920x1080, you are converting the pixels into squares, meaning there are now 1920 pixels required to make up the same width.

If you notice, 1920 / 1440 = 1.33333 ...

Hope this makes sense.

Ben thanks. So if the finished video looks okay at 1920 x 1080 in WMP and also looks okay at 1440 x 1080 in WMP, would you say that either video can be called correct or is one preferable as an end product?

I like to export my finished product as square pixel so whoever gets it doesn't have to guess what aspect ratio it's in. Plus it's just generally more compatible in that sense.