Capture Resolution from Analog to Digital
 

Ok, I'm bringing my HI-8 tapes into Vegas 4 via S-video and RCA stereo jacks for sound through ATI Radeon All-in-Wonder 7500 analog inputs. I have a choice as to the capture resolution. The final product is destined for DVD. The default capture resolution is 320x240. I've experimented capturing at different resolutions and it's noticebly true (duh) that (a)320x240 < (b)640x480 < (c)720x480 in quality. (a) to (b) is same "aspect ratio (?) and the only result is better looking video; however, jumping up to (c) resolution also widens the picture (again, duh) but I don't know if I'm stretching it out of natural shape, or if (a) and (b) are squashing the vid from original or none of the above. I've tried Studio 8 in the past and was disappointed at the distortion outputting to SVCD (I forget what res that was), it fattened the pics considerably. I'm not quite understanding the options here, I guess I'm used to digi pics where higher res means better pics without worrying about distortion, any resizing can be done proportionately in editing, and the cam just takes whatever pic it sees in the res you command it (again without distortion). Please advise what the right combo should be for the best quality vido with no distortion.
Thanks
P.S. Another project is to convert VHS tapes from VCR through ATI AIW also, so would the same choices apply there also?
Thanks again :-)
P.P.S. Also, is there a danger at capturing at a different resolution than the final output due to interpolating upwards if needbe at time of rendering or throwing away pixels if downsizing?
Thanks, thanks, thanks!

I believe capture at 720x480 NTSC.

I capture from VHS at 720x576 PAL and it gives me about the same quality back than if I were playing a VHS cassette

Ed

Thanks, that's the level I'd like to record at, both for quality's sake and I think that perhaps it's less rendering when the DVD is burned (I think that's 720 x 480, MP2), thereby less interpolation or throwing out of info. However, do you have a comment on the apparent difference of proportions (width-wise) in comparing the 3 resolutions. I don't want to stretch out someone's face any more than I wish to squish them. Have you noticed such effect?
Thanks