Bottom line, is that this camera is recording in 16x9, even though, my TV is stone age 4x3, correct?

True, all HD is 16:9. But depending on the camera, you may have the option of converting it to 4:3 when downconverting to regular DV. My Z1 can do this either by letterboxing or chopping off the sides. Yours may not offer these choices.

But if you make the DVD correctly, the player itself will provide the letterbox on a 4:3 screen but send the full 16:9 image to a widescreen TV.

Ok just did some testing today, starting with the Sony DVD Recorder DRD-GX330.

On page 74 of manual it describes 3 modes, 16:9, 4:3 letterbox, and 4:3 pan scan.

It describes the letterbox and having black bars and pan scan as no black bars.

Everything I've recorded to this unit in last few months has NO black bars. ie 4:3 Pan Scan.

So it was odd when I navigated to video output for the first time and the setting was on 4:3 letterbox (which the manual says has black bars) --not pan scan

But more annoying was I recorded/tested in all three modes, 4:3, pan scan, and 16:9, and nothing changed -- all results came out as how I've been always getting same: pan scan ie, the screen all filled up, no black bars

In other words, no matter what I choose I get what they call 4:3 pan scan which fills up the whole screen. I just retested and this is what happens, and i link is on. (I've been dubbing from VHS for last few months and been getting this result too, pan scan which has been fine with me, and the setting has been on 4:3 letter box with black bars) but anyone have any clues why I don't get any change on this? thanks!

Kevin - check the CAMCORDER - there's a setting in there for 4:3 or 16:9 - on my HC7 which should be almost the same, under standard settings there is "TV TYPE"...

Odds are pretty good your camcorder has the SAME setting (sold my 3, so can't check it...).

If you would take a bit of time and at least bring up the camera menus (I don't read manuals EITHER, so I HAVE to poke at the buttons if I want to figure out my toys!!), you'd find these things pretty fast...

OTOH, I just found a setting for LCD color which I'm going to have to toy with since the LCD looks bland compared to the one on the HV20... maybe I can adjust these!

DB>)

thanks Dave, yes, I was going to go to the camera next, regardless of how the recorder worked out, but still curious about these issues with recorder I just mentioned. fairly bizarre or not?

Kevin, we just "aren't reaching each other" for some reason. Please read my post again.

You are looking (in your own words) at the OUTPUT menu. That determines how the playback function will handle widescreen video when it sends the image to your TV. It doesn't affect the way the video is RECORDED.

There should be a separate setting for the RECORD format of the video. You need to set that to 16:9. This will properly encode the widescreen material on the DVD. The other setting you tried may then be used to choose how you want to display the disk after it's recorded.

Hey guys, the torture chamber continues. I thought I had this down.
I'm on page 78 on manaul - hdr-hc3, only explanation I've ever succeeded in dubbing between these two camcorders, I own both.

I set up everything for HDV 1080 as I want that HD quality to be on the copy tape.

I set up record pause.

I have i link cord going between two camcorders, and now I get this message on the copy camcorder:

no output image, in "vcr hdv/dv, change format"

it's greek to me, if anyone can help I'd greatly appreciate it. I'm doing a project and connot continue until I get a safety copy
Now in the VCR HD/DV menu, if I choose, HDV, (which I want right? I shot in HD 1080 and I want my backup tape to be also HD 1080 right?) I get this message, no output image, in "vcr hdv/dv, change format"

But... if go back and choose auto, then I can make the back up tape, but I see "DV" in the upper left of the copy camcorder instead of HDV 1080.

Which, tell me I'm wrong, that the back up tape would not be true HD 1080 like the master tape is.

Can someone please help!!! thanks!

The manual suggests setting the destination device to AUTO. Try setting both cams to AUTO and see if that changes anything. Then try setting them both to HDV.

i.LINK CONV is OFF on both, yes?

What's the 2nd camcorder? Another HC3?

No, i link was On, on the main deck, so I turned it off and now it seems good to go. thanks for saving day here Adam! Man, so many little things to check for...