16:9 playback at DVinfo.net

Joe Kramer · July 14th, 2005, 06:54 PM

Hey everyone,
I just recently shot some footage at 24p 2:3:3:2 on 16:9, but when I hook it up to my TV to play it back it's showing it at 4:3. When I look in the viewfinder I can see the full 16:9 image, but on the TV it's chopping it down. I'm sure there's a simple solution to this, but I haven't been able to figure out why. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Chris Hurd · July 14th, 2005, 09:04 PM

Hi Joe,

That's annoying, isn't it? Unfortunately the answer might not be off much help to you. See the XL2 owner's manual under "playing back on a TV screen" (page 87). In order for a 16:9 recording to be automatically displayed in letterboxed widescreen on a 4:3 monitor or television, that television needs to have a "Video ID-1" system, and it sounds like your set doesn't have it.

Paul Matwiy · July 16th, 2005, 12:03 PM

If you have a 16x9 TV or one that is 4x3, but collapses the raster for a hi-rez "letterbox" image, you may have to manually switch to the Full or 16x9 mode. DVDs carry a flag in the Y/C and component video signal (somewhere in the vertical interval) that will trigger auto switching sets. I believe most 16 x 9 camcorders (the XL2 included) do not insert this flag.

Boyd Ostroff · July 16th, 2005, 03:05 PM

More likely it's the TV and not the camcorder. Only the newest TV's in the US seem able to do this, and even most widescreen TV's require you to manually change the aspect ratio settings with the remote control.

Like Chris says, there isn't a lot you can do unfortunately. If you burn your work to a properly made anamorphic DVD then the DVD player will provide the letterbox on a 4:3 screen. The Sony cameras (Z1 and FX1) are the only ones I know that offer an option to display output as letterboxed for 4:3.

Joe Kramer · July 18th, 2005, 06:24 PM

Thanks for your help everyone. I'll need to burn the finished project to a DVD anyway, so thanks for the tip Boyd; I'll just make sure it's anamorphic.

Steve House · July 19th, 2005, 04:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Matwiy

If you have a 16x9 TV or one that is 4x3, but collapses the raster for a hi-rez "letterbox" image, you may have to manually switch to the Full or 16x9 mode. DVDs carry a flag in the Y/C and component video signal (somewhere in the vertical interval) that will trigger auto switching sets. I believe most 16 x 9 camcorders (the XL2 included) do not insert this flag.

As an aside, some sets that DO automatically switch picture mode between 4:3 and 16:9 only do so when presented with interlaced signals.

July 14th, 2005, 06:54 PM	#1
Joe Kramer New Boot Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 17	16:9 playback Hey everyone, I just recently shot some footage at 24p 2:3:3:2 on 16:9, but when I hook it up to my TV to play it back it's showing it at 4:3. When I look in the viewfinder I can see the full 16:9 image, but on the TV it's chopping it down. I'm sure there's a simple solution to this, but I haven't been able to figure out why. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

July 14th, 2005, 09:04 PM	#2
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	Hi Joe, That's annoying, isn't it? Unfortunately the answer might not be off much help to you. See the XL2 owner's manual under "playing back on a TV screen" (page 87). In order for a 16:9 recording to be automatically displayed in letterboxed widescreen on a 4:3 monitor or television, that television needs to have a "Video ID-1" system, and it sounds like your set doesn't have it. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

July 16th, 2005, 12:03 PM	#3
Paul Matwiy Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Marin, CA Posts: 85	16x9 playback If you have a 16x9 TV or one that is 4x3, but collapses the raster for a hi-rez "letterbox" image, you may have to manually switch to the Full or 16x9 mode. DVDs carry a flag in the Y/C and component video signal (somewhere in the vertical interval) that will trigger auto switching sets. I believe most 16 x 9 camcorders (the XL2 included) do not insert this flag. __________________ Paul

July 16th, 2005, 03:05 PM	#4
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,801	More likely it's the TV and not the camcorder. Only the newest TV's in the US seem able to do this, and even most widescreen TV's require you to manually change the aspect ratio settings with the remote control. Like Chris says, there isn't a lot you can do unfortunately. If you burn your work to a properly made anamorphic DVD then the DVD player will provide the letterbox on a 4:3 screen. The Sony cameras (Z1 and FX1) are the only ones I know that offer an option to display output as letterboxed for 4:3.

July 18th, 2005, 06:24 PM	#5
Joe Kramer New Boot Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 17	Thanks for your help everyone. I'll need to burn the finished project to a DVD anyway, so thanks for the tip Boyd; I'll just make sure it's anamorphic.