Hi
It seems from what you describe there is a problem with the version of VP you are using.
The snapshot should be identical to the frame shown at the cursor position. I don't think your camera output is at fault if the image shown in the preview panel of the video looks OK.
Normally if an **image is loaded that is not the same aspect ratio as the VP frame (16:9), then it is enlarged or reduced to fit the frame top to bottom or side to side without any distortion. (Its not stretched in any direction ) The areas of the VP frame that are not then covered are shown in the left preview panel and in the sequence line thumbnails as chequered. In the right hand pane though, these areas are shown black and are seen as such when the movie is played.
Snapshots made of these none 16:9 stills are still identical to those on the sequence. Like jskolda I can't reproduce the effect you are describing and I have tried various video formats and image shapes both with version 2.41 and 3.04 and 3.041 and they all snapshot as expected.
I would suggest you try to contact NCH to see if they have any ideas or wait until one of them replies here..(faint hope
).
In the meantime...
As a possible test...create (or crop) a still image to an aspect aspect ratio 1:1.777 (i.e. 16:9) e.g 1280 x 720 pixels or a multiple of.
Load this to the media list of VP and drop it onto the sequence line. It should fill the frame completely in both preview panels and have about 5 seconds duration when played (the default).
Place the red line cursor in the centre of the sequence and click the snapshot button. (In 3.04 you will need to open the short menu under the right hand preview panel. In version 3.041 there is a camera button under this pane.
The snapshot should appear in the media list.
It should be **identical to the one you placed on the sequence line. In fact you should be able to drop it onto the sequence before or after the one already there and see no difference when one plays onto the next.
Is this the case...or is the snapshot still cropped? If it is then I think you have a problem with your version of VP and I don't know what the answer is.
It might also be of interest to check the image copy you get on the desktop (or wherever your snapshots are saved to.."Options/Media files" just to see if it's the way VP is reproducing its snapshot in the program.
Nat