[saint123]

Like so many people on this forum, I'm try to decide between the Panasonic
EX75 and the Sony 860...At the moment. I'm erring towards the Panny after
reading about all the lock-up probs on the Sony...My only concern with the
Panny is the widescreen flagging thing...I use my current LG DR4810 to record from my camcorder onto -R discs in 16-9 with no no problems...As I understand it, when doing the same on an EX75, when discs are played
back they are in 4-3...Is this correct...?.Can someone explain in layman terms
what probs I may have if any regarding the above...Thanks

[Hal_loe]

Originally Posted by saint123

My only concern with the
Panny is the widescreen flagging thing...I use my current LG DR4810 to record from my camcorder onto -R discs in 16-9 with no no problems...As I understand it, when doing the same on an EX75, when discs are played
back they are in 4-3.

Do you have a widescreen TV?
Does your camcorder record anamorphic or letter box (black top and bottom) widescreen?

If you have a widescreen TV all you have to do is press the wide mode button.

Many when set to auto with letter box widescreen automatically fill the screen with the picture.

[AVmaster]

The Panasonic's do record in Widescreen if that's the aspect of the broadcast, but you just lose the flag to remind the TV to automatically switch to 16:9 that's all.

I've got one and I'm more than happy with it.

[KMO]

You're only in trouble if you try to play the resulting DVDs on a PC or a non-widescreen TV. You won't be able to "press the wide button" then to distort the picture into the right shape.

If necessary, you can use the IFOEDIT program on the PC to reburn a new DVD with the 16:9 flag set. Why the Panasonic doesn't set that flag either automatically or allow a user choice, I can't imagine.

Personally, I use HDD and DVD-RAM with my EX95V, which records all wide-screen signalling accurately in real-time - including switches between 4:3 and 16:9 at advert breaks, and 16:9 letterbox signalling.

[AVmaster]

It is a funny thing if you need it as the widescreen flag is recorded to DVD-R, but is lost when the disc is finalised, which is a result if you can play your discs without finalising them

[saint123]

Thanks for your replies guys...From what you are saying, it looks like there are
only probs when playing back on a PC or a 4:3 TV...All my teles are widescreen and the camcorder records in anamorphic...no bands at top/bottom...

[AVmaster]

Job's a good'un then as you can manually switch the TV to 16:9