OT - DVD help

[Brave]

Some of you guys more knowledgable about DVDs and DVD players might be able to help me out here.<br /><br />I purchased a DVD player about a year and a half ago with the thought of building a library in mind. Bought a few classics and started renting DVDs instead of tapes. I noticed on some DVDs that the image on the screen was condensed (horizontally) so much that it just drove me nuts. <br /><br />Is this to fit the widescreen image of the movie on my square television and if so is there any way to choose "letterboxing" as opposed to condensing? I can handle a smaller, proportionally correct image but I can't take those altered images. It ruins it for me.<br /><br />I considered buying a widescreen (16/9) television but heard they do the opposite with "normal" broadcasting in that they will stretch images horizontally.<br /><br />Can anyone clue me in here or point me in the direction for the answers?<br /> <br /> <small>[ April 08, 2002, 07:13 AM: Message edited by: Brave ]</small>

[The Dark Horse]

Sure thing.<br /><br />If you go to the movies, you'll notice the film is not projected onto a square screen. The width of the screen is much greater than the height and that is the natural format that film is published in. Now, when these same movies are published on VHS/DVD, they are generally done in two formats. The first format is exactly the same dimensions as the actual film is. The second format is a 'modified' version, which is meant to fit a more square television screen. I prefer the first format because you see the movie exactly as the director intended you to see it. When they modify the films to fit televisions screens, there are parts of the film frame that get 'chopped', much in the same way you can redimension and chop up an image on your computer to fit into an area. Yes, I agree that it is annoying to not have the entire height of the screen filled but at least you are seeing the film as the director made it - it's closer to the artists vision IMHO. <br /><br />Most DVD's give you both versions. If not, you are stuck with one or the other. <br /><br />HBO actually showed both formats when they did the Sopranos, the 'real' format on HBO and the modified on HBO2.<br /> <br /> <small>[ April 08, 2002, 07:31 AM: Message edited by: The Dark Horse ]</small>

[Dr. D]

Brave,<br /><br />It has been my experience that YES, you can change the options on the dvd formats. I can change from different "aspect" ratios (these are the dimensions of the screen on which I am viewing...ie. widescreen or square)<br /><br />BUT<br /><br />the variability of the DVD'd themselves often don't allow the interchangeability from letterbox to smaller square tv screen.<br /><br />so to sum it up:<br /><br />1.some letterbox DVD's can be changed to another format some not. but its the function of the DVD.<br /><br />2. you can change the ASPECT ratio on your DVD player (if equipped) to fit your screen better.<br />mine comes with 2 choices -they escape me at the moment, but, its a choice between wide and square.<br /><br />hope this helps.<br /><br />there is usually help online for the make/model of your DVD player at the manufacturers website.<br /> <br /> <small>[ April 08, 2002, 07:42 AM: Message edited by: Dr.D ]</small>

[Brave]

"... you can change the ASPECT ratio on your DVD player (if equipped) to fit your screen better.<br />mine comes with 2 choices -they escape me at the moment, but, its a choice between wide and square." - Dr.D<br /><br />Thanks Dr.D, that sounds like what I was after. I bought a cheap Samsung and I don't think it is equipped with choice of aspect ratio. I'll have to make that the #2 player here soon.

[Dr. D]

depending on your model number;<br /><br />"Multi-aspect ratio. This feature gives you a choice of aspect ratio, which is the relationship of width to height for the screen. Widescreen ratio is 16:9, and is what you see in the movie theater or on your widescreen TV. On your conventional TV, it appears with black bars on the top and bottom of your screen, but it allows you to see the original panoramic view, as the movie director intended. The conventional TV screen ratio is 4:3. This fits nicely on your conventional TV screen, but you'll miss part of the original picture."<br /><br />or you could try to type into a search engine :<br /><br />samsung (your model number) DVD apect ratio<br /><br />to find out if your has that capability (probably)<br /><br />or try here:<br /><br /> samsung usa

[All In]

I had an article that went into great detail over the aspect ratios. 16:9 4:6 and the two different movie ratios.<br /><br />Of course I can't find it. If you are researching any home electronics checkout <a href="http://www.audioreview.com" target="_blank">www.audioreview.com</a> they have great posts from consumers who are 'philes when it comes to this stuff.<br /><br />The widescreen TVs these days will give you the option of viewing a standard image with gray bars on the side of your picture to fill the screen. This way you have less risk of screen burn.<br /><br />I watch a lot of DVD, I have about 50+ so far. I would get a Widescreen TV for myself. As stated before some DVD players have a zoom feature which will zoom in on a widescreen DVD source. These days you can go either way, it's more personal preference.

[TheKurp]

I bought the Toshiba TW4081X widescreen t.v. about 18 months ago. I can't imagine watching a DVD in any other format than widescreen now that I have it. <br /><br />Brave, your concern about stretching a 4:3 image to fit a 16:9 screen is really not a big issue. There are different ways that manufacturers stretch the screen and Toshiba is pretty good at doing it so that you really don't notice the stretch after a few minutes of watching. There are also different stretch modes - one being that the image is simply enlarged without any stretch. The downside here is that the top and bottoms of the picture is somewhat chopped. One wouldn't really notice unless they were watching ESPN News and saw the ticker at the bottom of the screen was clipped. So I don't use this stretch mode. Another method that Toshiba employs is where the ends of the picture is stretched more than the middle of the picture. This is the mode I use. People who come over and watch t.v. don't even notice the stretch. <br /><br />Unless widescreen and or HTDV become obsolete, I will never buy another 4:3 t.v. again.

[Brave]

That doesn't sound as bad as that God-awful condensing of the DVDs, but I'm leary of any "stretching." Once I notice it I have trouble getting past it. However, letterboxing, whether to get the widescreen picture on the 4:3 ratio or to get the 4:3 ratio on a widescreen, doesn't bother me. <br /><br />As long as that option is out there I'm good. <img border="0" title="" alt="[smile]" src="smile.gif" />

[CounterTre]

Brave it's more a result of lousy cheap assed DVD's than anything else. I've bought a few Bruce Lee flicks that were ridiculously cheap and when got home I found out why...half the picture was cut off because of the format! I've seen this with a few other's as well. I've got a pretty nice player too so it will happen no matter what at times.