16:9 (widescreen) vs 4:3 (standard) on TV's

[GizmoFreak]

A lot of new TVs these days are widescreen and have a 16:9 aspect ratio. Does this mean normal cable programming gets messed up and distorted? Or do you see bars on the sides much like you see bars on the top and bottom when watching widescreen DVDs on a standard screen TV?

 

[conjur]

Depends.

Most sets offer various display modes. Mitsubishi, for example, offers Standard (squashes 4:3 to fit 16:9...adds weight to everyone ), Expand (crops the top of 4:3 and zooms it in to fill 16:9), Zoom (zooms in all directions and still has a squashed look to it), Stretched (keeps the middle portion of the screen in proper aspect and stretches the sides...looks like a fisheye lens on pans), and Narrow (4:3 with side bars). I usually use Expand as it just tosses the screen bugs and the tickers at the bottom of the screen and shows the broadcast in otherwise proper aspect. And, some DVDs will still have the letterbox effect (if it's greater than a 1.85:1 ratio film).

On a 4:3 TV, all HD programming will look letterboxed as well as almost every single DVD (only older films shot in the Academy format - 1.33:1 or those Pan and Scam versions that Blockbuster offers).

 

[crisp82]

Most digital cable now-a-days come with the abillity to run as 4:3 or 16:9. Should be in the settings somewhere. Personally I prefer 16:9.

 

[crisp82]

Above. What he said, just better wording. I'm tired.............

 

[ElFenix]

bars on the side rule.

until the hdtv stations start filling them with ads on their sd programming

 

[TubStain]

I have a 16:9 30inch non hdtv televesion. I have a panoramic, wide and regular. When watching widesceen DVD's I set it to "Wide" and it looks beautful. For normal television I set it to regular and get bars on both sides, it's then a 25 inch picture. Panoramic, just looks weird by keeping th center in proper size and stretching the left and right.

 

[DWray]

My Toshiba HDTV (16x9) has 5 viewing modes for 4:3-

Normal (has bars on the sides)

Theaterwide 1 (Stretches the edges out progressively. More stretching at the edges than in the center. This is how I watch most TV)

Theaterwide 2 (Zooms in, no stretching, cuts off the top & bottom. Perfect for movies and shows like ER that are shown in letterbox format.)

Theaterwide 3 (Combination of zooming/cut off and stretching.)

Full (Stretches the entire screen uniformly. I only use this for HDTV signal, Xbox & DVDs)

 

[FuzzyBee]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
bars on the side rule.

until the hdtv stations start filling them with ads on their sd programming

i'm sure it won't be long.