How can Canon's HD cameras have the same pixels as the XL2?

Question

I'm looking into the Canon XL2 but I don't want to miss out on an HD camera if it's the next big thing. On Canon's website it says the active pixels for the XL H1 are 1.56 in HD and for 16:9 SD it's 1.56 THE EXACT SAME. I thought HD was more resolution in the same amount of space or more pixels per inch. Where am I misunderstanding? Also, where can I see side by side comparison of the XL2 with one of Canon's HD camera's or at least one of the HD's since I can find XL2 footage. HELP!

Answer 1

the number of ccd elements in the imager is not the same as the pixel count recorded on tape. The active pixels used in the imager is determined by the aspect ratio, both HD and 16:9 SD have identical picture aspect ratios so the camera's CCD count for both will be the same.

The pixels recorded on consumer miniDV tape for SD and 16:9 SD are the same, 480x720 = 345600. The XL2 compresses its 962 active horizontal pixels in the 16:9 imager down to 720 prior to recording the anamorphic widescreen image.

The XL H1 has 1440 active horizontal pixels in the 16:9 imager which it interpolates to 1920 prior to displaying in the 1080 line mode.

So both cameras can shoot 16:9 images. the XL H1 can record approximately twice the definition when operated in the HD mode, or records exactly the same definition as the XL2 in miniDV mode.

By the way, Canon reports its picture elements as FULL COLOR, unlike some cheesy manufactures that triple count the CCDs in the imager (1 red, 1 blue, and 1 red). Using the triple count method, Canon has 4.68 Mega pixels in its HD CCD arrays and both cameras have 3 CCD.

Answer 2

HDTV is 2 MP and the unit should be 3 CCDs.

1.5 MP is not enough. Especially in a 1 CCD.

That sounds like 720 p not 1080i/p

3 ccd 2 MP is good enough for digital movie theaters, although they are now going 4 MP instead of 2 MP DLP

1080x1920 = 2,073,600 pixels X 3 CCDs= 6 million RGB dots.