Two questions about F330
 

The HD cam seems to suit my next produccion requirements and budget. But after reading all the specifications, I still have two questions:

1. The CCD's have 1440x1080 (4:3) how do they convert to the 16:9 ratio a) By cutting or squeezing the 1080 horizontal lines or b) By streching the space between 1440 vertical lines ?

2. About the stock lens 19x Canon lens sold with the F330 a) Does focusing provoke breathing b) How wide is its widest angle (in 35mm equivalence) ?

Melvin,

Since I have the 350, I can't comment on the Canon lens characteristics. However, in answer to your first question, the 1440 horizontal resolution is upsampled to 1920. The 1080 vertical resolution is like you said, the native CCD resolution.

-gb-

Can I use a Apple iBook for monitoring the recorded footage without having FCP installed and use the sonys own software ?

You would need to have the XDCAM HD or HDV codecs that only come with a purchase of FCP.

Technically you could copy those codecs over yourself, but if I read you right you're trying to avoid the purchase.

I do have one copy of FCP on my G5 dual 2.7 but i'm not sure wether i can install FCP on several mac's with only one license... also to save hard disc space would be great. thank you for your replies.

I belive under the FCP licence you can install one copy of FCP on a home/base unit plus a second copy on a laptop, however you can only use one at a time.

The pixels on the F330/F350 are rectangular (or at least spaced) to get the correct 16:9 aspect ratio. The image is recorded 1440 x1080 and if you use avid or FCP you edit it as 1440x1080 with rectangular pixels (this is the same as HDV and HDCAM). The component/HD-SDi output is 1920x1080 as this is the standard for HD. If you wanted to export from FCP or Avid to HDCAM or D5 you would create a 1920x1080 file to export.

If you have an intel macbook then you could install boot camp and windows and install the Sony PDZ1 software and MXF viewer to play back clips.

So if I would capture using HD-SDi I would get 1920x1080 in square pixels ?
Does this apply also when capturing later through the media recorded in the disc or to get 1920x1080 I need to capture while shooting ?
The F330 comes without HD-SDi but with component so either one will give me the same results with better quality than using firewire ?

Yes, you'd have a square pixel file, but you wouldn't actually gain anything from that.

You can get your 1920 file that way too, but like above, you won't gain anything.

The camera chips are 1440x1080, and the signal is decimated to 4:2:0 right away.

I say this in the kindest way possible...if you have to ask the questions of would this or that be better because you don't know the difference, then chances are you're not going to see it either.

Well I guess my doubts are solved. Thanks for all the info, it's been helpfull.