Panasonic Anamorphic Adapter at DVinfo.net

Glenn Gipson · May 23rd, 2003, 09:12 AM

I’m hearing mixed things about the Panasonic Anamorphic Adapter. But since it has been out for so long, I figured I would inquire about the adapter again. So what are the pros and cons of the adapter? And does the adapter maintain straight vertical angles at all (through any part of the zoom range?) Thanks.

Zac Stein · May 23rd, 2003, 10:06 AM

OK,

well i have played with it for all of 2 minutes at a store, i was watching it on a 800 line tv monitor.

It maintains focus all through it's zoom, hence fully zoom through, and it didn't display any line distortion, at full zoom or through it, from what i could see of the vertical lines it was pointing at in the fake set (shelves and things).

At full wide it displayed a light barrell distortion which is intrinsic to the underlying lens.

Zac

Glenn Gipson · May 23rd, 2003, 10:22 AM

Thanks Zac

Russell Pond · May 23rd, 2003, 10:33 AM

Can someone explain the process of how to use the anamorphic adaptor on the DVX100?

I assume you shoot in standard 4:3 aspect ratio with the adaptor on, and then capture normally (DV, 4:3). Then do you just stretch the 720x480 captured footage to 960x480 in your compositing or editing program? (I'm using After Effects and/or FCP.) What does that do to the rectangular pixels, if anything?

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Russell

Zac Stein · May 23rd, 2003, 10:41 AM

Nahh, it is still 720x480 (576 for pal)

It is basically used for dvd delivery, and/or for tv's that can handle 16x9 signals, they will squeeze the image down. So bacically it is using all your lines for the part of the image that constitues action picture, and not wasting lines on the black bars.

Without some kind of processing on the tv's part, or using a 16x9 project in your editor, everything will look streched vertically, kinda like when you see real old movies on tv, and it hits the credits and suddenly everyone is really tall and thin.

Going by raw numbers, if you want a widescreen presentation in the standard 16x9 ratio (1.78:1) you gain 25% resolution, when displayed on a 16x9 capable device.

Zac

Boyd Ostroff · May 23rd, 2003, 11:27 AM

<<<-- Originally posted by Zac Stein : NGoing by raw numbers, if you want a widescreen presentation in the standard 16x9 ratio (1.78:1) you gain 25% resolution, when displayed on a 16x9 capable device. Zac -->>>

I think you need to qualify that. There is no gain in resolution when using the anamorphic lens, as you note it's still 480x720. However using the built-in 16:9 feature on most camcorders merely crops the image down to 720x360, resulting in a 25% LOSS of vertical resolution as compared to using the adaptor.

As far as capturing video in FCP that was shot with the adaptor, in your sequence and capture presets just be sure to check the "anamorphic 16:9" box and everything will display properly on the canvas and viewer. However when you output via firewire it will look "squished" unless you view on a widescreen-capable TV or monitor.

Christopher Go · May 23rd, 2003, 12:14 PM

Some other considerations:

If you use the adapter there is no way of incorporating filters, nor is there any way to mount a matte box if you already have one short of creating a custom rig. There are rumors that Century may be devising a special matte box to use with Panasonic's adapter, which will accept filters but if true this will prove to be another added cost for 16:9.

Personally, I'm a bit disappointed that I won't be able to use the matte box I already have since the adapter comes with a hood and small shade.

May 23rd, 2003, 09:12 AM	#1
Glenn Gipson Major Player Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Plainfield, New Jersey Posts: 927	Panasonic Anamorphic Adapter I’m hearing mixed things about the Panasonic Anamorphic Adapter. But since it has been out for so long, I figured I would inquire about the adapter again. So what are the pros and cons of the adapter? And does the adapter maintain straight vertical angles at all (through any part of the zoom range?) Thanks.

May 23rd, 2003, 10:06 AM	#2
Zac Stein Major Player Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 730	OK, well i have played with it for all of 2 minutes at a store, i was watching it on a 800 line tv monitor. It maintains focus all through it's zoom, hence fully zoom through, and it didn't display any line distortion, at full zoom or through it, from what i could see of the vertical lines it was pointing at in the fake set (shelves and things). At full wide it displayed a light barrell distortion which is intrinsic to the underlying lens. Zac

May 23rd, 2003, 10:22 AM	#3
Glenn Gipson Major Player Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Plainfield, New Jersey Posts: 927	Thanks Zac

May 23rd, 2003, 10:33 AM	#4
Russell Pond Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Euless, Texas Posts: 36	Can someone explain the process of how to use the anamorphic adaptor on the DVX100? I assume you shoot in standard 4:3 aspect ratio with the adaptor on, and then capture normally (DV, 4:3). Then do you just stretch the 720x480 captured footage to 960x480 in your compositing or editing program? (I'm using After Effects and/or FCP.) What does that do to the rectangular pixels, if anything? Any information would be greatly appreciated. Russell

May 23rd, 2003, 10:41 AM	#5
Zac Stein Major Player Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 730	Nahh, it is still 720x480 (576 for pal) It is basically used for dvd delivery, and/or for tv's that can handle 16x9 signals, they will squeeze the image down. So bacically it is using all your lines for the part of the image that constitues action picture, and not wasting lines on the black bars. Without some kind of processing on the tv's part, or using a 16x9 project in your editor, everything will look streched vertically, kinda like when you see real old movies on tv, and it hits the credits and suddenly everyone is really tall and thin. Going by raw numbers, if you want a widescreen presentation in the standard 16x9 ratio (1.78:1) you gain 25% resolution, when displayed on a 16x9 capable device. Zac

May 23rd, 2003, 11:27 AM	#6
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,802	<<<-- Originally posted by Zac Stein : NGoing by raw numbers, if you want a widescreen presentation in the standard 16x9 ratio (1.78:1) you gain 25% resolution, when displayed on a 16x9 capable device. Zac -->>> I think you need to qualify that. There is no gain in resolution when using the anamorphic lens, as you note it's still 480x720. However using the built-in 16:9 feature on most camcorders merely crops the image down to 720x360, resulting in a 25% LOSS of vertical resolution as compared to using the adaptor. As far as capturing video in FCP that was shot with the adaptor, in your sequence and capture presets just be sure to check the "anamorphic 16:9" box and everything will display properly on the canvas and viewer. However when you output via firewire it will look "squished" unless you view on a widescreen-capable TV or monitor.

May 23rd, 2003, 12:14 PM	#7
Christopher Go Major Player Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 429	Some other considerations: If you use the adapter there is no way of incorporating filters, nor is there any way to mount a matte box if you already have one short of creating a custom rig. There are rumors that Century may be devising a special matte box to use with Panasonic's adapter, which will accept filters but if true this will prove to be another added cost for 16:9. Personally, I'm a bit disappointed that I won't be able to use the matte box I already have since the adapter comes with a hood and small shade.