How come widescreen dvds don't display as fullscreen on widescreen TVs?

[Dari]

They display as widescreen on a widescreen dvd, which is very annoying. It makes you wonder why you bought the tv in the first place.

 

[notfred]

Prepare to be flamed!

 

[Confused]

Because many films are in 2.35:1 ratio, which is wider than 16:9 (1.78:1)


Confused

 

[Ameesh]

you have a lot to learn grasshopper.

dvds come in many aspect ratios:

1.33:1
1.66:1
1.78:1
1:85:1
2.35:1

this is by no means a comprehensive list but if the move's aspect ratio doesnt match your tv's you are going to see bars. the only way to get arounfd that is to use your tv's streching modes.

 

[Amused]

All about aspect ratios:

http://www.thedigitalbits.com/articles/anamorphic/aspectratios/widescreenorama.html

Read and learn

 

[Savij]

You should also check the DVD player settings to make sure it doesn't think it's connected to a normal 4:3 TV.

 

[Viper GTS]

Originally posted by: Ameesh
you have a lot to learn grasshopper.

dvds come in many aspect ratios:

1.33:1
1.66:1
1.78:1
1:85:1
2.35:1

this is by no means a comprehensive list but if the move's aspect ratio doesnt match your tv's you are going to see bars. the only way to get arounfd that is to use your tv's streching modes.

Ameesh has it pretty well covered, 1.78:1 = 16:9.

Many "widescreen movies" are not 16:9, and thus require bars.

16:9 is the tallest of the common "wide" ratios, & is thus the ratio used for TVs.

Viper GTS

 

[NogginBoink]

And why are there so many aspect ratios that films are shot in?

Well, it's the director's choice. He chooses the ratio that he feels will best be able to tell his story.

 

[SaltBoy]

Originally posted by: Dari
They display as widescreen on a widescreen dvd, which is very annoying. It makes you wonder why you bought the tv in the first place.

You sound like my wife...

 

[konichiwa]

Another thing to think about is that they might be hardcoded with the "bars" instead of anamorphic like DVD's should be :Q

 

[maziwanka]

interesting...

 

[PricklyPete]

Originally posted by: Dari
They display as widescreen on a widescreen dvd, which is very annoying. It makes you wonder why you bought the tv in the first place.

If you don't like your widescreen TV...I'm happy to take it off your hands.

Like everyone else has said in the post...it is all about what aspect ratio the DVD is in and whether or not it is Anamorphic or not (although a lot of TV's will "zoom" in if you do not have an non-anamorphic widescreen DVD).

 

[DT4K]

Haven't you ever noticed that when watching a widescreen DVD on a regular tv, sometimes the picture takes up like 80% of the screen height with really skinny grey bars on top and bottom, and other times, the picture only seems to take up like 50% with really thick grey bars on top and bottom? Same thing. Just different aspect ratios for different movies.

But you should still be happy to have a widescreen, because now you will just have skinny grey bars with a 2.35 movie while if you were watching on a regular tv, you'd get thick grey bars.

 

[Dari]

perhaps I didn't make myself clear (or maybe I did): I have a widescreen tv and a widescreen dvd. Instead of the movie taking up all the real estate (viewable image) on the tv, it has black bars at the top and bottom. What gives? can I get rid of those bars?

How come I don't have the same problem when I'm watching a high definition channel (which supposedly always broadcasts in 16:9)? On those channels, all the real estate is being used.

 

[Viper GTS]

Originally posted by: Dari
perhaps I didn't make myself clear (or maybe I did): I have a widescreen tv and a widescreen dvd. Instead of the movie taking up all the real estate (viewable image) on the tv, it has black bars at the top and bottom. What gives? can I get rid of those bars?

How come I don't have the same problem when I'm watching a high definition channel? On those channels, all the real estate is being used.

It has been explained several times in the thread already.

Widescreen != 16:9

Widescreen is x:1 where x > 1.33.

16:9 (1.78:1 if you prefer that designation) is the tallest (or the narrowest, depending on how you look at it) of the common "wide" resolutions, & thus widescreen TV's are 16:9.

HDTV is broadcast in 16:9, filling your screen.

Many movies are filmed in wider aspect ratios (1.85:1 and 2.35:1 are common), thus producing gray bars on your widescreen TV.

There's an easy way to test this: Find one of your DVD's that you KNOW is 16:9. Look on the back of the DVD case. It should exactly fit your screen. If it does, then your setup is fine.

If you can't understand this you should have bought a 4:3 TV & been happy.

Viper GTS

 

[Amused]

Some movies have an aspect ratio that is WIDER than a 16:9 TV. They will still have slim black bars at the top and bottom. Did you GO to the explaination of aspect ratios website I set you to? Did you read both pages?

Did you fail geometry in school?

BTW, many HDTV movie channels will play 2.35:1 movies and have black bars at the top and bottom. HBO, usually crops these movies, but SHO and HDNET movies does not.

 

[spidey07]

that and make sure your DVD player is set to 16x9 in the options.

 

[Dari]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS

Originally posted by: Dari
perhaps I didn't make myself clear (or maybe I did): I have a widescreen tv and a widescreen dvd. Instead of the movie taking up all the real estate (viewable image) on the tv, it has black bars at the top and bottom. What gives? can I get rid of those bars?

How come I don't have the same problem when I'm watching a high definition channel? On those channels, all the real estate is being used.

It has been explained several times in the thread already.

Widescreen != 16:9

Widescreen is x:1 where x > 1.33.

16:9 (1.78:1 if you prefer that designation) is the tallest (or the narrowest, depending on how you look at it) of the common "wide" resolutions, & thus widescreen TV's are 16:9.

HDTV is broadcast in 16:9, filling your screen.

Many movies are filmed in wider aspect ratios (1.85:1 and 2.35:1 are common), thus producing gray bars on your widescreen TV.

If you can't understand this you should have bought a 4:3 TV & been happy.

Viper GTS

I understood perfectly. it's just brings about confusion to those who rarely watch dvds. Don't you think?

 

[DT4K]

Originally posted by: Dari
perhaps I didn't make myself clear (or maybe I did): I have a widescreen tv and a widescreen dvd. Instead of the movie taking up all the real estate (viewable image) on the tv, it has black bars at the top and bottom. What gives? can I get rid of those bars?

How come I don't have the same problem when I'm watching a high definition channel (which supposedly always broadcasts in 16:9)? On those channels, all the real estate is being used.

OMG, READ THE FRIGGIN ANSWERS.

your tv is wider than normal, but still not as wide as some movies.
Some movies will now fill all the screen, some will fill more than they would with a regular tv, but still not fill all of it.

 

[amcdonald]

Next year sony is coming out with a new dvd aspect ratio fairy that fixes all of that.
I can't wait for it.... and for a PVR that records HD, that I don't have to build.

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: Dari

Originally posted by: Viper GTS

Originally posted by: Dari
perhaps I didn't make myself clear (or maybe I did): I have a widescreen tv and a widescreen dvd. Instead of the movie taking up all the real estate (viewable image) on the tv, it has black bars at the top and bottom. What gives? can I get rid of those bars?

How come I don't have the same problem when I'm watching a high definition channel? On those channels, all the real estate is being used.

It has been explained several times in the thread already.

Widescreen != 16:9

Widescreen is x:1 where x > 1.33.

16:9 (1.78:1 if you prefer that designation) is the tallest (or the narrowest, depending on how you look at it) of the common "wide" resolutions, & thus widescreen TV's are 16:9.

HDTV is broadcast in 16:9, filling your screen.

Many movies are filmed in wider aspect ratios (1.85:1 and 2.35:1 are common), thus producing gray bars on your widescreen TV.

If you can't understand this you should have bought a 4:3 TV & been happy.

Viper GTS

I understood perfectly. it's just brings about confusion to those who rarely watch dvds. Don't you think?

Maybe to those who don't research the new technology they are buying, yes. You should have checked out the countless AV sites on the web and read up on these things.

Just wait until you try to watch a non-anamorphic DVD. That will really confuse you. Do a search for "anamorphic" on google and fine a site explaining what it is. That way you will be prepared instead of asking the most basic, over asked questions here, or at the AV site you choose to join.

 

[Dari]

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: Dari

Originally posted by: Viper GTS

Originally posted by: Dari
perhaps I didn't make myself clear (or maybe I did): I have a widescreen tv and a widescreen dvd. Instead of the movie taking up all the real estate (viewable image) on the tv, it has black bars at the top and bottom. What gives? can I get rid of those bars?

How come I don't have the same problem when I'm watching a high definition channel? On those channels, all the real estate is being used.

It has been explained several times in the thread already.

Widescreen != 16:9

Widescreen is x:1 where x > 1.33.

16:9 (1.78:1 if you prefer that designation) is the tallest (or the narrowest, depending on how you look at it) of the common "wide" resolutions, & thus widescreen TV's are 16:9.

HDTV is broadcast in 16:9, filling your screen.

Many movies are filmed in wider aspect ratios (1.85:1 and 2.35:1 are common), thus producing gray bars on your widescreen TV.

If you can't understand this you should have bought a 4:3 TV & been happy.

Viper GTS

I understood perfectly. it's just brings about confusion to those who rarely watch dvds. Don't you think?

Maybe to those who don't research the new technology they are buying, yes. You should have checked out the countless AV sites on the web and read up on these things.

Just wait until you try to watch a non-anamorphic DVD. That will really confuse you. Do a search for "anamorphic" on google and fine a site explaining what it is. That way you will be prepared instead of asking the most basic, over asked questions here, or at the AV site you choose to join.

alright smartass, aside from projectors, name me one tv that doesn't already come in either 4:3 or 16:9. Show me where I can purchase a tv that comes in the 2.35:1 aspect ratio.

 

[Amused]

Finally, learn about the zoom modes on your TV. That way, if 2.35:1 movies bug you with the black bars, you can zoom in on the picture (thus cropping the sides and missing some of the movie) and not have any bars.

[...] <4:3

[.....] <16:9 (1.78:1 and 1.85:1 will fill this)

[........] < 2.35:1 (this will leave small black bars on a 16:9 TV)

There, I drew you a picture.

 

[Viper GTS]

Originally posted by: Dari

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: Dari

Originally posted by: Viper GTS

Originally posted by: Dari
perhaps I didn't make myself clear (or maybe I did): I have a widescreen tv and a widescreen dvd. Instead of the movie taking up all the real estate (viewable image) on the tv, it has black bars at the top and bottom. What gives? can I get rid of those bars?

How come I don't have the same problem when I'm watching a high definition channel? On those channels, all the real estate is being used.

It has been explained several times in the thread already.

Widescreen != 16:9

Widescreen is x:1 where x > 1.33.

16:9 (1.78:1 if you prefer that designation) is the tallest (or the narrowest, depending on how you look at it) of the common "wide" resolutions, & thus widescreen TV's are 16:9.

HDTV is broadcast in 16:9, filling your screen.

Many movies are filmed in wider aspect ratios (1.85:1 and 2.35:1 are common), thus producing gray bars on your widescreen TV.

If you can't understand this you should have bought a 4:3 TV & been happy.

Viper GTS

I understood perfectly. it's just brings about confusion to those who rarely watch dvds. Don't you think?

Maybe to those who don't research the new technology they are buying, yes. You should have checked out the countless AV sites on the web and read up on these things.

Just wait until you try to watch a non-anamorphic DVD. That will really confuse you. Do a search for "anamorphic" on google and fine a site explaining what it is. That way you will be prepared instead of asking the most basic, over asked questions here, or at the AV site you choose to join.

alright smartass, aside from projectors, name me one tv that doesn't already come in either 4:3 or 16:9. Show me where I can purchase a tv that comes in the 2.35:1 aspect ratio.

They don't, that's the whole point.

I swear, people should be required to take a knowledge test before being allowed to purchase HD and high end HT equipment.

Viper GTS

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: Dari

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: Dari

Originally posted by: Viper GTS

Originally posted by: Dari
perhaps I didn't make myself clear (or maybe I did): I have a widescreen tv and a widescreen dvd. Instead of the movie taking up all the real estate (viewable image) on the tv, it has black bars at the top and bottom. What gives? can I get rid of those bars?

How come I don't have the same problem when I'm watching a high definition channel? On those channels, all the real estate is being used.

It has been explained several times in the thread already.

Widescreen != 16:9

Widescreen is x:1 where x > 1.33.

16:9 (1.78:1 if you prefer that designation) is the tallest (or the narrowest, depending on how you look at it) of the common "wide" resolutions, & thus widescreen TV's are 16:9.

HDTV is broadcast in 16:9, filling your screen.

Many movies are filmed in wider aspect ratios (1.85:1 and 2.35:1 are common), thus producing gray bars on your widescreen TV.

If you can't understand this you should have bought a 4:3 TV & been happy.

Viper GTS

I understood perfectly. it's just brings about confusion to those who rarely watch dvds. Don't you think?

Maybe to those who don't research the new technology they are buying, yes. You should have checked out the countless AV sites on the web and read up on these things.

Just wait until you try to watch a non-anamorphic DVD. That will really confuse you. Do a search for "anamorphic" on google and fine a site explaining what it is. That way you will be prepared instead of asking the most basic, over asked questions here, or at the AV site you choose to join.

alright smartass, aside from projectors, name me one tv that doesn't already come in either 4:3 or 16:9. Show me where I can purchase a tv that comes in the 2.35:1 aspect ratio.

There are some very high end TVs that have 2.35:1 as their native resolution and screen size. BUT, HDTV standard is, and will be 16:9. The 16:9 standard was choosen as a happy meduim between 4:3 and 2.35:1 to MINIMIZE black bars. NOT to be rid of them.

If you can't stand black bars, fill your DVD collection with Disney movies and most chick flicks. They always use 1.85:1 (will fill the sreen on a 16:9 TV)

Look, I'm not being a smart ass. I'm being honest with you. You are asking the most basic, over asked questions seen on ANY AV site. And it makes people wonder WHY folks will make a major investment without doing their homework.