Problems with TV formats

Well, I have asked this topic other times and in other places but I haven\'t understand yet, because I\'m clumsy or people don\'t explain it clearly. My problem resides in TV formats (16:9, panoramic, 2.35:1, 4:3...) and I think you frikies can help me to understand.

I want to buy a new TV next year (yes, so many purchases: tv, a new pc, probably a new console...) but I don\'t know what format to buy. Best trade marks\' models are all 16:9... but what is it used for? I know panoramic images are much more nice and films in this format are so much great. Then, if I purchase a 16:9 television, will I be able to see my DVDs without black lines in the top and bottom? Will they converted to full screen movies?

I\'ve also seen panoramic televisions in some places where they\'re offering, for example, a football match or a film through national broadcasting. The problem is that the image is flattened. Of course, the image is optimized for old 4:3 televisions... my question is... 4:3 shows and free TV fimls have to be seen flattened in this kinda tv or there is any option to improve the image in a 16:9 tv? If this can\'t be done... does it mean that my videogames without 16:9 option will be seen flattened?

To sum up, I don\'t know if normal tv will be cool in these screens, because me, and my family, use the tv mainly for free broadcasting. I don\'t wanna sacrifice current 4:3 image for DVD or whatever.

If you can explain me this... thanx a lot.

16:9 is standard widescreen television format.  If you are really into DVD\'s, you\'d do well to buy a 16:9 TV.  If you have the cash, buy a HDTV in widescreen.  That\'s pretty much all you need to know.

Ryu... but 16:9 television format erases black lines in DVD films?

Adan not every movie is the same ratio.  For example Toy Story is filmed in 1.78:1 (that\'s 1.78 units horizontally for every 1 unit vertically) and Gladiator is even wider than that at 2.35:1.  The ratio for 16:9 sets is 1.78:1 so while Toy Story will fill an entire Widescreen set Gladiator will still leave black bars on the top and bottom.  They\'re small but they\'re there.

And just fyi very few movies are in 1.78:1, most are 1.85:1 or 2.35:1.  BUT there\'s also an option on most WS sets to stretch the picture vertically so there are no black bars whatsoever.  This makes images appear taller than they actually are.  I wouldn\'t recommend doing this for movies but for the absolute fruitcake who hates black bars for some reason or another that option is there for you.

As for 4x3 (1.33:1) material which is pretty much the standard for television you can have that on your WS TV too, either in its regular form or stretched as well, this time horizontally.  Images would be fatter but this can eliminate burn-in if you watch a lot of 4x3 stuff (even 4x3 videogames).  It may look funny at first but you get used to it.

h0m3 tH37t3r 1z 5t00p1d

[videoholic]

They have pretty sofisticated zoom now for 16x9 for 4x3 material.  They stretch the sides a lot, but the center not as much.  I personally would rather go with grey bars on the sides and have it regular 4x3.

Broadcast networks here in my area are all digital anyway so you don\'t have to do anything.  All the cable channels though are all 4x3 so there you will stretch or grey bar.

If you watch a lot of movies and/or network shows then get 16x9.

If you only watch MTV then you will be stretching a lot of stuff.

You can also zoom instead of stretch.  What it does is cuts off the top and bottom and fills the screen.  at least the heads aren\'t stretched anymore.


Mine is front projection so I just hit a button and the guns change from 4x3 to 16x9.  Easy as pie.

Is there a difference in price between 4x3 and 16x9 screens?

Originally posted by THX
For example Toy Story is filmed in 1.78:1

Hey, that movie was animated, not filmed.

I recently bought a widescreen TV and I love it. Would never go back to 4:3. I can watch 4:3 footage just fine - it takes a tiny bit of the top and bottom (really only a TINY bit - hardly noticeable) and then stretches the rest to the sides. It looks almost as if it was shot in widescreen (i.e. hardly any distortion of the picture).

But the real treat is when watching DVD\'s... You\'ll be blown away. Awesome. Fantastic. Amazing. As you can see I really like it.

On movies in the wide cinemascope format (2.35:1) you\'ll also have black bars on a widescreen TV, but it\'s not a big deal. And if the footage is widescreen (1.78:1 or whatever) then it fills the screen fine.

Greetings from a happy 16:9 owner.

Greetings from a 13 inch TV owner.

Thanx buddies... it seems that 4:3 zooms in panoramic tvs can be a cool option for standard broadcasting... When it\'s the time to purchase the new tv, i\'ll ask you for a model, right?

[§ôµÏG®ïñD]

16:9 is for widescreens.. The long wide screens u know. and 4:3 is full screen. Pan and Scan is for 16:9 fullscreen. but u lose the sides.
If you have a Widescreen tv. You shouldn\'t get black lines.. So i heard. Not sure though. If u run the movie in 16:9 on a standard tv. You will get black lines unless u use pan and scan. Most DVD movies i\'ve seen are in 16:9 format.

Soulgrind, according to the previous posts no. Only some films are full screen in 16:9 televisions... then, why the hell there are 16:9 tvs?

[videoholic]

Originally posted by serrano007
Greetings from a 13 inch TV owner.

I\'m only a 12 inch TV owner.....





Oh, wait a second.  You aren\'t talking about your penis are you?

[§ôµÏG®ïñD]

Originally posted by Adan
Soulgrind, according to the previous posts no. Only some films are full screen in 16:9 televisions... then, why the hell there are 16:9 tvs?

16:9 is fullscreen. But only on widescreen tvs. On standard tvs u get black lines. Otherwise u have to pan and scan to get the full screen look. But then u lose the sides.

Here\'s how i think it is.. not to sure though.
Do not get confused.
The pink is the film that is not seen.
The Black is the film being seen
The blue is the black lines u get on standard tvs using 16:9 movie etc.
(the black in the box with the pink is a normal tv.. The pink is just showing u what u lose when you pan and scan on a 16:9 movie on a standard tv.)
On the 4:3 TV. If the flim it\'s normaly 16:9 and being run in 4:3 it will look stretched.

[videoholic]

Originally posted by Adan
Soulgrind, according to the previous posts no. Only some films are full screen in 16:9 televisions... then, why the hell there are 16:9 tvs?

Because they don\'t make TVs as wide as movies.

Imagine a 2.35:1 tv?

Oh my would that ever be stretched.



Pan and Scan refers mostly to 4:3 though.  They don\'t make DVDs specifically for 16x9.  If you want widescreen then you will see black bars if you are watching your native DVD.

If you watch pan and scan on a widescreen tv you will get one messed up looking picture because it is cropped to make it 4:3 and then you are stretching it back out.  Yuck!!!

[§ôµÏG®ïñD]

me getting confused.