Screen Format Question

[kpac]

Most DVDs use 16:9, because it is a "newer" ratio. That's why they look different.

[BC_Programmer]

1.33 aspect is 4:3.

1.85 is not a ratio I've heard of.

Also, the fact that the DVD abd VCR components are in the same unit doesn't suddenly make them both digital or both analog; just as how having a CD-player in a boom box doesn't suddenly digitize the cassette player.

[rthompson80819]

From the projectorcentral site linked above..

Keep in mind that when it comes to DVD movies there is a formatting issue to consider. Many movies are wider than 16:9. For example, Seabiscuit, The Lord of the Rings, Dances with Wolves, Tombstone, The Fifth Element, U-571, American Beauty, and Star Wars/Phantom Menace  (to name a few) are all 2.35:1, not 1.78:1. When you display these movies on a 16:9 screen you will have black bars at the top and bottom of the screen, each bar amounting to about 12% of the picture height. The bars are not as large as they would be on a 4:3 screen, but they are there nevertheless.

[AmyR7]

1.33 aspect is 4:3.

1.85 is not a ratio I've heard of.

So, looks like the ones without black strips are filmed in 4:3 format.
But still seems weird that even all the ones that say 1.85, not all of them show up with the black strips. So, still makes no since. Like we got the wrong thing or something. Is still a bit confusing though when looking at the diagrams the unit gives for the 3 options we can mark, and on the one we marked is not suppose to be black strips, but still plays some of them with the strips.
The other thing we were wondering, you mentioned about the input thing it receives its reacting to the way it was programmed. So, I guess is that why when we watch the movies on TV and it shows up without the black strips, the cable company I guess programmed it to show up without the black strips? We receive ours through Coaxial Cable is the way ours is setup, which is actually the other problem we keep running into is now finding a DVD recorder with the correct things to hook it up.

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

If the display 'size' of the TV show fits your screen, there won't be any black boxes.
 

So, looks like the ones without black strips are filmed in 4:3 format.

The movie you showed us is not filmed in 4:3. It is filmed with a 16:9 aspect ratio. Your VCR is displaying it as 4:3, which is incorrect, thus looks like it's stretched.

[AmyR7]

If the display 'size' of the TV show fits your screen, there won't be any black boxes.
 
The movie you showed us is not filmed in 4:3. It is filmed with a 16:9 aspect ratio. Your VCR is displaying it as 4:3, which is incorrect, thus looks like it's stretched.

Ok, even more confused now. Thought you all said that 1.33 aspect is 4:3? That is what it says on the box for some of the DVD's.

The pictures I uploaded is one I found so that you all could see an example of what the black strips look like.
Whenever things play with the black strips, that is what they look like.

[BC_Programmer]

Ok, even more confused now. Thought you all said that 1.33 aspect is 4:3? That is what it says on the box for some of the DVD's.

And if your screen is widescreen then it's not 4:3 so you get the black bars unless the image is stretched or shrunk.

[AmyR7]

And if your screen is widescreen then it's not 4:3 so you get the black bars unless the image is stretched or shrunk.

This is making us even more confused. Going back and forth. Didn't you all say 1.33 is 4:3?
On the DVD's that say 1.33 we are not getting the black strips.
On some of the DVD's that say 1.85 on some of them we get the black strips, but not all of them.

[BC_Programmer]

unless the image is stretched or shrunk.

When you DON'T get the black bars, on a widescreen TV, when your playing something with the 4:3 aspect, then the image is stretched.

without stretching, you get black bars, OR: possibly, sometimes it will "enlarge" the video, so that the edges are covered. but this means that the side that didn't have bars before will now have parts of the video "outside" of it; quite the opposite of the black bars, since your not missing parts of the video. the reason this is used is the preserve the aspect ratio; otherwise, what should be a circle will appear as an oval.

the modes you select on the TV select the stretching mode. but really, it's not that important; with 4:3 on a widescreen television, you will get black bars on the left and right; when playing a widescreen movie on a standard 4:3 television, you have black bars on the top and bottom.

personally- I just live with the black bars. If I don't, I either stretch everything so it's all screwy (everything is stretched vertically) or it get's stretched so parts of the video are no longer visible. neither of which I find desirable.

[AmyR7]

After all this, sounds like it's being stretched then since we have a widescreen TV.
We don't have any way to select any modes to stretch or shrink an image.
Just those 3 options for playing the discs that I put in the 1st post that shows a diagram with each, and it does not show black strips for the 3rd option, for widescreen tv's.
These are the 3 options we have:
1. 4x3 Letterbox
To view movies in the traditional TV aspect ratio, press OK.
2. 4x3 Standard
For movies filling the entire TV screen, press OK.
3. 16x9 Widescreen
If your DVD player is connected to a widescreen TV, press OK.

The diagram it shows for option 3, does not have black strips with it. So, that is what we are not understanding, why it still plays some of them with the black strips even though we don't have it selected to play with the black strips still doesn't make any sense.

[cruisin702]

Let me try.....
Here is a link that does a pretty good job of explaining the different ratios used in filming.
Now 1.85:1 is the ratio you are seeing the black lines with, correct? 16:9 which your widescreen tv is translates to 1.78:1 , not 1.85:1 so you get the black lines. I assure you that your TV is showing you the best possible picture.

[AmyR7]

Let me try.....
Here is a link that does a pretty good job of explaining the different ratios used in filming.
Now 1.85:1 is the ratio you are seeing the black lines with, correct? 16:9 which your widescreen tv is translates to 1.78:1 , not 1.85:1 so you get the black lines. I assure you that your TV is showing you the best possible picture.

The only thing is that some of the DVD's that are 1.85:1 are not showing up with black strips. Why don't all of them that are 1.85:1 show up with black strips? We know that the DVD's are 1.85:1 because that is what it says on the box/case of the DVD.
3 DVD's- Jingle All The Way, Home Alone and I'll Be Home For Christmas. On the boxes  for each it says 1.85:1 Widescreen. And The I'll Be Home For Christmas one keeps showing up with black strips. The others are not showing up with black strips.
So, trying to figure out, does this mean the DVD is defective, so we got a bad copy.

[cruisin702]

Do the DVD's which don't show the black lines also say 16:9 or enhanced for 16:9 display?

[patio]

Watch the Christmas DVD's on the old 19" TV...it'll add to the nostalgia...

[cruisin702]

Watch the Christmas DVD's on the old 19" TV...it'll add to the nostalgia...

I'll take mine with me the next time I go to Grandma's house!