Optura Xi anamorphic question

Tom Hardwick · June 4th, 2004, 01:00 AM

If the Optura Xi is the MVX3i in PAL land, then I can help as I tested it in the May 2004 issue of Computer Video magazine. Here's what I said about the widescreen mode:

When the camcorder is switched to 16:9 mode, the view widens slightly as more of the 1632 x 1224 chip is being used. And, the image is noticeably distorted - in the viewfinder and sidescreen - as black bars are not used to show the new aspect ratio. Confusingly, when the letters ‘WS’ appear in the display, this denotes that the wind-screen filter is turned on, not wide-screen mode is activated.

Graph-paper-filming tests show that the 16:9 mode uses 20 per cent fewer vertical CCD pixels than in the 4:3 mode but seven per cent more horizontal pixels (see diagram). Canon’s widescreen solution is a small step in the right direction and better than simply losing 25 per cent of the vertical resolution - as was typical just two years ago.

Low-light sensitivity and image stabilisation are unaffected by the switch to widescreen, though the telephoto reach is somewhat reduced and the wide-angle increased slightly. On a side-by-side screen test with a Sony VX2000, the widescreen mode of the MVX3i was just noticeably superior.

tom.

Chris Hurd · June 4th, 2004, 08:36 AM

Tom is right, the Optura Xi and the MVX3i are NTSC and PAL versions of the same camcorder.

I agree that the LCD display information can be confusing at times. "WS" is wind screen, and "16:9" is wide screen in Canon land.

The pixel spread on the Optura Xi / MVX3i in 16:9 mode is 1632 x 918.

Other Optura models such as the Optura 300 / MVX10i and the Optura 40 & 30 / MVX25i & 20i utilize a smaller area, but still high-res, at 1280 x 720. See my CCD recording graphics at http://www.dvinfo.net/canonoptura/ar...0elura70-2.php -- hope this helps,

June 4th, 2004, 08:36 AM	#17
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	Tom is right, the Optura Xi and the MVX3i are NTSC and PAL versions of the same camcorder. I agree that the LCD display information can be confusing at times. "WS" is wind screen, and "16:9" is wide screen in Canon land. The pixel spread on the Optura Xi / MVX3i in 16:9 mode is 1632 x 918. Other Optura models such as the Optura 300 / MVX10i and the Optura 40 & 30 / MVX25i & 20i utilize a smaller area, but still high-res, at 1280 x 720. See my CCD recording graphics at http://www.dvinfo.net/canonoptura/ar...0elura70-2.php -- hope this helps, __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

June 4th, 2004, 01:00 AM	#16
Tom Hardwick Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Billericay, England UK Posts: 4,711	If the Optura Xi is the MVX3i in PAL land, then I can help as I tested it in the May 2004 issue of Computer Video magazine. Here's what I said about the widescreen mode: When the camcorder is switched to 16:9 mode, the view widens slightly as more of the 1632 x 1224 chip is being used. And, the image is noticeably distorted - in the viewfinder and sidescreen - as black bars are not used to show the new aspect ratio. Confusingly, when the letters ‘WS’ appear in the display, this denotes that the wind-screen filter is turned on, not wide-screen mode is activated. Graph-paper-filming tests show that the 16:9 mode uses 20 per cent fewer vertical CCD pixels than in the 4:3 mode but seven per cent more horizontal pixels (see diagram). Canon’s widescreen solution is a small step in the right direction and better than simply losing 25 per cent of the vertical resolution - as was typical just two years ago. Low-light sensitivity and image stabilisation are unaffected by the switch to widescreen, though the telephoto reach is somewhat reduced and the wide-angle increased slightly. On a side-by-side screen test with a Sony VX2000, the widescreen mode of the MVX3i was just noticeably superior. tom.