MiniDV footage comparison - 4:3 or 16:9?

Personally, I would never film MiniDV footage in anything other than 4:3. However, after seeing the 16:9 option in the settings menu time after time arouses curiosity. Originally, I thought the 16:9 feature on my Canon GL1 would also include a higher resolution, which I realize sounds ridiculous to anybody who has ever filmed using MiniDV tapes.

For the 16:9 footage, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I didn’t know if the footage was going to looks stretched out and grainy, or just look like normal MiniDV footage but in 16:9. When filming, I couldn’t get the full frame in either the viewfinder or the screen. There was also a small chunk, maybe 20% of the frame total, out of shot on either viewpoint. Overall, I like the way the footage looks, but I don’t see myself ever filming in 16:9 again.

I’ve noticed a number of dying posts on Youtube and the internet in general about information and help with MiniDV tapes. I’m hoping some of my posts archive for people who need the information.

A two month difference in autumn at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia; filmed in 4:3

An evening at Virginia Tech & Blacksburg filmed in 16:9

This video was captured with the sound out of sync. Since I highly doubt I’d ever use this footage for anything, I didn’t bother to recapture.