Specifications
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Figure 6.3a Illustration of 4:3 and 16:9 aspect ratios.
6.4 High-denition television (HDTV) resolutions
HDTV provides up to ve times higher resolution than standard analog TV. HDTV also has better
color delity and a 16:9 format. Dened by SMPTE (Society of Motion Picture and Television
Engineers), the two most important HDTV standards are SMPTE 296M and SMPTE 274M.
SMPTE 296M (HDTV 720P) denes a resolution of 1280x720 pixels with high color delity in a
16:9 format using progressive scanning at 25/30 Hertz (Hz), which corresponds to 25 or 30
frames per second depending on the country, and at 50/60 Hz (50/60 frames per second).
SMPTE 274M (HDTV 1080) denes a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels with high color delity in a
16:9 format using either interlaced or progressive scanning at 25/30 Hz and 50/60Hz.
A camera that complies with the SMPTE standards indicates adherence to HDTV quality and
should provide all the benets of HDTV in resolution, color delity and frame rate.
The HDTV standard is based on square pixels—similar to computer screens, so HDTV video from
network video products can be shown on either HDTV screens or standard computer monitors.
With progressive scan HDTV video, no conversion or deinterlacing technique needs to be applied
when the video is to be processed by a computer or displayed on a computer screen.
4:3
16:9
CHAPTER 6 - RESOLUTIONS