I have a Sony V1 and the I.Link output through the Firewire connection differs from the older FX1 and the newer A1 camcorders. The Sony HDV deck also eshibits the same changes as the V1.

Here is the issue: When you output HDV through the Firewire connection and you want to downconvert to SD, for example to capture to a DVD recorder or just to monitor on a SD monitor, you cannot choose "Letterbox". The only choices are "squeezed" or "cropped". If you output through the analog connections you do have a "letterbox" choice.

The Sony HDV deck, I can't think of the model number off hand, exhibits the same functionality but not so the older FX1 or the newer A1. They both allow "letterbox" through the I.Link Downconvert.

The Canon A1 allows it also. So why the change with the V1 and why not allow it?

Anyone know a contact at Sony that could explain this?

Joe Oliverio

Maybe this is how Sony promotes a good practice and fights the bad practice?

It's only the Sony A1 and Z1 that can do this, not the V1, FX1 or FX7. The V1 is squeeze only via firewire (p. 77).

I believe the M15 and M25 decks only do crop and squeeze via firewire, not letterbox. From the M15/M25 brochure: "When down-converting these signals, the aspect ratio displayed
can be converted from 16:9 to 4:3. Display modes can be selected from Squeeze, Letterbox, and Edge Crop. When outputting down-converted signals in the 4:3 aspect ratio via an i.LINK connector, the Letterbox mode cannot be selected." You can select letterbox via analog, apparently.

Here's a link to the brochure:

http://bssc.sel.sony.com/Broadcasta...ages/V-2316.pdf

Your display should see the squeeze and flag it as widescreen and display correctly. And you could certainly mess around with this all you like in your NLE.