Screen sizes

[newb]

So I was watching Kingdom of Heaven last night on the Pio 1150, widescreen format on the DVD (Phillips DVP 5960/37 model DVD player). I set the DVD to 16:9 format in the menu and was going through the screen sizes on the TV.

I still got bars at the top and bottom in all formats except zoom but then it was stretched, Cinema gave me the least amount of black top and bottom.

I guess my question is, isn't widescreen format from the dvd supposed to fill the tv (I understand a standard set will be letterbox, but thought that was not an issue with a wide screen television). The picture wasn't bad, just a bit confused and wondering what the best solution is for movie watching (all SD DVD's but try to get wide screen ver. whenever possible.)

Let me know what you all think.
Thanks

 

[jaydog67]

I have the same results on my 60" Phillips RP. I change the format on my TV to 4:3 and it fills most of the screen but I still have about 2 inches at top and bottom.

 

[annunaki]

I believe there are between 13-18 different formats of widescreen. 1.78:1 will fill the screen completely. Look for the format on the back of your discs. 1.33:1 is the same as 4:3 and 1.78:1 is the same as 16:9. If one purchases movies in 1.78:1 and 1:85:1, they will have the least amount of black bars or none at all.

The DVD player can be set correctly but it depends upon the native format the movie was shot in. That is completely up to the director/producer of the film.

2.35:1, 2.39:1, 2.44:1, & 2.76:1 will have the thickest black bars but allow the most amount of information in each shot.

Televison dimensions are almost always 16:9 or 1.78:1 (both mean the same thing). If the film is shot in a wider screen format, one will see black bars.

This link may help you out some:
http://www.high-techproductions.com/widescreen.htm

 

[Warpdrv]

And isn't that just a pain in the buttocks....

Way too many formats..... Do you think that they will stick to 1 format if the general population of Television Screens sold these days are 16:9?

 

[mtrycrafts]

Way too many formats..... Do you think that they will stick to 1 format if the general population of Television Screens sold these days are 16:9?

No. Movies are made for the theater, or most are, where this is not a problem
And many movies made for TV are 16:9 format

And, for that infamous car analogy: look at all the rim sizes out there

 

[MDS]

The epic type films are nearly always 2.35:1 which will show black bars on a 16:9 (1.78:1) screen. I know a lot of people don't like the black bars but I'd submit that it is because we have all grown up with 4:3 aspect ratio screens. You really do see more of the film with a widescreen aspect ratio, even if it is slightly wider than the 16:9 format.

 

[engtaz]

+1 MDS comments.
The black bars don't bother me. I love to see movies in original format. They have a better panaramic view. Don't we all remeber how much we lost in movies cut down to 4:3. I actually love the fact my projector auto formats to what ever screen size is being sent to it.

engtaz

 

[supervij]

Back when I was watching on my 4:3 TV, I'd find it strange to be watching a movie without black bars. It felt more like watching a TV show than a movie, and thus more ordinary and unspectacular. I remember a couple friends watching a movie at my place complaining about the black bars and asking, "Why do they intentionally block out part of the movie? What's the point?" It took a lot of explanation on my part that they weren't blocking anything out, that it was the "fullscreen" version that was being cropped, and even then, they still prefered fullscreen. Philistines.

'Course, now that I'm watching on a 16:9 TV, it's only the occasional thing I watch that gives me black bars, so I guess I'm over it. The large size of the screen helps.

OAR all the way, Baby!

cheers,
supervij

 

[annunaki]

Of all the formats, 2.35:1 is my favorite. It allows such a wide scope and captures so much more in each scene. Then again, bars don't bother me that much, even on my 34" CRT set.

 

[bandphan]

i like gray bars

 

[newb]

Just wondering

Bars don't bother me either, I know it is how a movie should be viewed to capture all the director intended. Was just wondering as I thought all formats were equal, I know, silly me.

Anyway, just happy to see it on the big screen(the one in my comfy theater) and was just a bit worried about burn in...though with the Pio I'm learning to be a bit more mellow about it.

 

[bandphan]

Bars don't bother me either, I know it is how a movie should be viewed to capture all the director intended. Was just wondering as I thought all formats were equal, I know, silly me.

Anyway, just happy to see it on the big screen(the one in my comfy theater) and was just a bit worried about burn in...though with the Pio I'm learning to be a bit more mellow about it.

once your outside your breakin period and you want to watch 4:3, i suggest you change the color of the bars from black to grey.

 

[newb]

Black vs Grey

So I know you can set the 4:3 playback with grey bars (as mine is now) but what about movie playback; if the format still gives you letter boxing on the top and bottom, isn't that always black?

How would you change it as there is less burn in chance with the grey?

 

[bandphan]

So I know you can set the 4:3 playback with grey bars (as mine is now) but what about movie playback; if the format still gives you letter boxing on the top and bottom, isn't that always black?

How would you change it as there is less burn in chance with the grey?

on 4:3 with the grays, and yes there is less of chance. Its not an issue with the other widescreen formats, as 4:3 content still a primary TV format and would get more useage. Your display also does a nice job of full screen till your out of the break in period.

 

[Pyrrho]

once your outside your breakin period and you want to watch 4:3, i suggest you change the color of the bars from black to grey.

The trouble is, grey bars look worse than black bars (just imagine your reaction if in a theater they had dim grey lights bordering the screen). You are providing a reason to prefer an LCD TV to a plasma, as I agree with your advice on how one should set things for a plasma set if one wants to make burn in less likely.

 

[itschris]

I hate the grey bars too... just one of the reasons I stuck with a DLP for now. Another option of course it get a PJ with an automatic self-masking screen. That'll be my next setup in the new house.