-
Aspect Ratio
Hey There,
I just purchased a DVX100B and am preparing to shoot some documentary footage. I really like the 24p and the film-like quality it presents. One question before I start shooting material: Is there anything I need to know about aspect ratio before I begin? I don’t want to shoot a bunch of footage only to find out that it was in the wrong format when I digitize it into Final Cut Pro.
If anyone can offer some help, or point me in the right direction, I sure would appreciate it. Thanks and Happy New Year.
Alex
-
3 Replies
-
Well yeah definitely- a DVX100 B has three aspect ratio modes. 4:3, 4:3 letterbox and squeeze which is an electronic 16:9 mode. Which one you choose depends a lot on what you want to deliver. Do you want something that plays full frame on a 4:3 TV or plays with a letterbox or fills a 16:9 display. There’s no right answer- just depends on your needs. More info on aspect ratios here:
https://www.thedigitalbits.com/articles/anamorphic/anamorphic185demo.html
Noah
Unlock the secrets of the DVX100, Apple Color and now the HVX200!
https://www.callboxlive.com -
Dear Noah,
Thanks so much for your response. I really appreciate it. The squeeze option does not seem appealing at all. So, is this simply a matter of aesthetics then? Either full-screen or letterbox. Let me ask you this–why would someone choose letterbox? Because it helps them frame images while they are shooting or could it be for other reasons? Can you convert something into letterbox on Final Cut Pro later on, or would it have to be something you shoot in originally?
I’m so impressed with the film-like quality of 24p. Is there anything else (shutter speed, iris, etc) that can enhance this cinematic quality?
-
Personally I think the squeeze mode is solid if you want to deliver a 16:9 image. It looks pretty good on a plasma though of course nothing like a 16:9 native camera. I would also not recommend letterbox- this is easy to do in post and you might want to reposition a shot vertically- can’t do this if you matte in camera. 4:3 is 4:3- hard to make into a 16:9 frame without losing quality. So it comes down to deciding which aspect you want to deliver in and shooting that. Personally I think 16:9 is the best because it’s more compatible with HDTVs- 4:3 is slowly dying off.
Noah
Unlock the secrets of the DVX100, Apple Color and now the HVX200!
https://www.callboxlive.com
Reply to this Discussion! Login or Sign Up