FX1 or Pd170?
 

Which one is better if I'm not going to HDV? SD only

This thread is for you :-) http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=50112

For SD only the PD170 will be better in low-light situations, while the FX1 is good for making widescreen SD DVDs. Also, you can shoot in HDV on the FX1 and downsample out of the camera to widescreen DV, so you can edit in SD today but still have your HD master tapes for the future.

Unless low light is prime issue, FX1 all the way.

dvx100b?
 

other camera capable of true 16:9 SD? XL2 only?

Sony PDX-10. It appears this has just been discontinued, but still available from B&H Photo for $1,700. Low light may be an issue - perhaps one stop slower than the FX1. Otherwise a very nice camera for that price. See our forum here: http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/forumdisplay.php?f=43

Hc1
 

Does all HDV camera have true 16:9 widescreen in SD like the HC1, HC3 and A1?

High Definition video is 16:9, so that should be a safe assumption. Some of these cameras may not offer 4:3 SD however (not really sure).

FX1 will shoot SD 4:3 or true 16:9 DV, and very nicely.

Thanks for clarifying that. However, if you shoot HDV and want to downconvert to SD I believe the only option on the FX1 is widescreen. But the Z1 lets you downconvert to widescreen and 4:3.

In down convert, my menu screen does not appear to give a choice. How does the Z1 handle the 4:3 down convert from HDV? Is it just a crop, or does it sqeeze the image?

With the Z1, you can do either. Your downconvert options are SQUEEZE, LETTERBOX or EDGE CROP.

Thank you for info