Isn HDV just DV with more pixels?
By labeling HDV products “entry-level HD”, some manufacturers seem to encourage this view. However, HDV is actually a remarkable advance in technology. The differences lie in each product’s design goal and how HDV is implemented. By its nature, HD involves huge amounts of data. Both HDV 1080i and 720P employ techniques to manage HD data to a stream that can be captured and recorded on a mini DV tape. Moreover, 1/3-inch CCD’s in HD cameras enable affordable pricing but create their own challenges. “Entry-level HD” 1080i HDV camcorders employ 960 x 1080 native resolution CCD’s. With optical interpolation, the horizontal resolution in the luminance portion is increased in an attempt to bring it closer to HDV’s 1440 x 1080 recording resolution. Some manufacturers refer to this technique as “effective resolution.” During playback, the 1440 x 1080 recorded signal is digitally interpolated to conform to the 1080i standard. Multiple interpolations yield a visually pleasing 1080i image, suitabl
