4:3 Apsect ratio on an upconverting DVD player - Blu-ray Forum

Mulder · 08-28-2007, 08:34 AM

Hey guys. I have a question. What do upconverting DVD players generally do to a 4:3 image? Do they play the image with pillar boxes on the side or is there also an option to zoom the image to 16:9?

And if there is an option to zoom how is the quality? Does it cut a lot of the picture off? I'm thinking of subtitles being cut off in particular.

Mulder · 08-28-2007, 11:50 AM

On a side note: Does anyone here have problems watching the image with pillar boxes? IS it destracting?

J.Nomak · 08-28-2007, 12:08 PM

I don't find watching 4:3 material on a widescreen set pillarboxed that distracting. That being said, I have little content that fits that ratio, so when I do see it it does take a few minutes to get used to. This only applies to video content, though. When I watch TV, I just use one of the set's stretch modes.

TLBradbury · 08-28-2007, 12:48 PM

I've gotten so used to letterboxing/pillarboxing that I don't even think about it. Even those of us with widescreens (I sure hope that's most of us, considering this is a Hi-Def forum) will often see letterboxing on many movies that were presented in an aspect ratio that is wider than16x9. I've seen some projection systems that can natively handle 2.35:1 and others, but the fact is for the foreseeable future, we will be living in a 16:9 world and there will still be black bars. When I go over to my parents house I can't stand to watch their set because it is always set to 'fill the screen', stretching and distoring those poor images (it's not their fault). I think the correct aspect ratio is important no matter if it's wide or square (OK, I know it's 4:3, but let's not quibble).

tron3 · 08-28-2007, 01:32 PM

As TL has noted, and from experience on my TV, it is your tv which can stretch 4:3 to 16:9.

I have no problems watching letterbox because I want the proper widescreen ratio. Pillar boxing bothers me a little more. I just have this underlining nag that is telling me the TV tube is getting uneven wear. Yeah, my HD tv is tube and I love it for now.

CptGreedle · 08-28-2007, 02:04 PM

Personally I can't stand watching movies or TV stretched! I hate the way it looks.
Those various black bars are a very good thing as they allow me to watch any format on my screen.

dadkins · 08-28-2007, 05:08 PM

DVDs and 4:3 vs upscaling...

This is a DVD played back at "normal" size on my screen - laptop(click thumbnails):

Ok, same DVD upscaled to for "full screen"(still 4:3):

I'll live.
The black bars? To save picture aspect... they are acceptable.

CptGreedle · 08-28-2007, 05:19 PM

MAN .. that really makes the image look ultra soft. I already know that it would do this, i just never sat down and compared the two.
BD is so worth it!

DavePS3 · 08-28-2007, 05:22 PM

Having the pic squeezed is idiotic to me unless you're worring about the bars burning in on a plasma. Most players will give you the option in the menu settings to run 4:3 at the proper ratio or pulled out and squashed.

dadkins · 08-28-2007, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CptGreedle

MAN .. that really makes the image look ultra soft. I already know that it would do this, i just never sat down and compared the two.
BD is so worth it!

ALSO: that is being scaled to 1200, not just 1080(screen is 1920x1200).
Every pixel counts, huh?

Ah well... Better soft than pixelated.

Mulder · 09-03-2007, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavePS3

Having the pic squeezed is idiotic to me unless you're worring about the bars burning in on a plasma.

Would the bars burn into an LCD screen? Also, what looks better between a DVD upscaled to 720p and one upscaled to 1080i?

ClaytonMG · 09-03-2007, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mulder

Would the bars burn into an LCD screen? Also, what looks better between a DVD upscaled to 720p and one upscaled to 1080i?

Yes they could burn in, but it would take a long, long, LONG time... unless your brightness/contrast is way up. As far as 720p vs. 1080i, it's up to the user. On my TV, 720p looks so bad, almost like 480i. But 1080i looks great.

gvortex7 · 09-03-2007, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ClaytonMG

Yes they could burn in, but it would take a long, long, LONG time... unless your brightness/contrast is way up. As far as 720p vs. 1080i, it's up to the user. On my TV, 720p looks so bad, almost like 480i. But 1080i looks great.

Are you guys confusing lcd tv's with plasma tv's? Last time I checked only plasma screens suffered from image burn-ins and not lcd's.

supersix4 · 09-03-2007, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gvortex7

Are you guys confusing lcd tv's with plasma tv's? Last time I checked only plasma screens suffered from image burn-ins and not lcd's.

low quality ones do get it

tron3 · 09-04-2007, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gvortex7

Are you guys confusing lcd tv's with plasma tv's? Last time I checked only plasma screens suffered from image burn-ins and not lcd's.

Aside from low quality, virtually ANY TV can get it, including tube sets. But yes it can take a LONG, LONG time. TV pictures change virtually every second, thus wearing out so evenly we may not notice the picture fade until the end of the TV life. Use the vivid quality only when you need it.

I heard stories of when those Pong games came out in the 70's. Tv's were getting white bars on the sides of the tv's from the "paddles" used in the game. Apparently, you shouldn't stay up all night playing that game.

MOONPHASE · 09-04-2007, 12:38 PM

i never have any black bars anywhere when i watch movies with the aspect ratio of 4:3 and 16:9 because i have my tv to show full screen for my movies (unless i get one that is widescreen only which i hate) and my regular tv fits my whole entire 32" HDTV i think it looks awesome that way to have a normal tv channel filling up 32 inches. Plus with the 16:9 even if they are anamorphic widescreen, widescreen will never be an option for me unless i have to because if a widescreen movie can fit your whole tv then why would you need those stupid black bars for? they are annoying

08-28-2007, 08:34 AM	#1
Mulder Active Member Member since:Jul 2007 Location:South Africa	4:3 Apsect ratio on an upconverting DVD player Hey guys. I have a question. What do upconverting DVD players generally do to a 4:3 image? Do they play the image with pillar boxes on the side or is there also an option to zoom the image to 16:9? And if there is an option to zoom how is the quality? Does it cut a lot of the picture off? I'm thinking of subtitles being cut off in particular. Last edited by Mulder; 08-28-2007 at 08:41 AM.

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08-28-2007, 11:50 AM	#2
Mulder Active Member Member since:Jul 2007 Location:South Africa	On a side note: Does anyone here have problems watching the image with pillar boxes? IS it destracting?

08-28-2007, 12:08 PM	#3
J.Nomak Junior Member Member since:Nov 2006	I don't find watching 4:3 material on a widescreen set pillarboxed that distracting. That being said, I have little content that fits that ratio, so when I do see it it does take a few minutes to get used to. This only applies to video content, though. When I watch TV, I just use one of the set's stretch modes.

08-28-2007, 12:48 PM	#4
TLBradbury Member Member since:Aug 2007	I've gotten so used to letterboxing/pillarboxing that I don't even think about it. Even those of us with widescreens (I sure hope that's most of us, considering this is a Hi-Def forum) will often see letterboxing on many movies that were presented in an aspect ratio that is wider than16x9. I've seen some projection systems that can natively handle 2.35:1 and others, but the fact is for the foreseeable future, we will be living in a 16:9 world and there will still be black bars. When I go over to my parents house I can't stand to watch their set because it is always set to 'fill the screen', stretching and distoring those poor images (it's not their fault). I think the correct aspect ratio is important no matter if it's wide or square (OK, I know it's 4:3, but let's not quibble).

08-28-2007, 01:32 PM	#5
tron3 Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Aug 2004 Location:New Jersey Blu-ray reviews:3	As TL has noted, and from experience on my TV, it is your tv which can stretch 4:3 to 16:9. I have no problems watching letterbox because I want the proper widescreen ratio. Pillar boxing bothers me a little more. I just have this underlining nag that is telling me the TV tube is getting uneven wear. Yeah, my HD tv is tube and I love it for now.

08-28-2007, 02:04 PM	#6
CptGreedle Blu-ray Ninja Member since:Jul 2007 Location:Sworn super-hero now services Atlanta (and suburbs). Blu-ray collection:128 Blu-ray reviews:5	Personally I can't stand watching movies or TV stretched! I hate the way it looks. Those various black bars are a very good thing as they allow me to watch any format on my screen.

08-28-2007, 05:08 PM	#7
dadkins Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Jan 2007 Location:Hercules, CA Blu-ray collection:35 Blu-ray reviews:2	DVDs and 4:3 vs upscaling... This is a DVD played back at "normal" size on my screen - laptop(click thumbnails): Ok, same DVD upscaled to for "full screen"(still 4:3): I'll live. The black bars? To save picture aspect... they are acceptable.

08-28-2007, 05:19 PM	#8
CptGreedle Blu-ray Ninja Member since:Jul 2007 Location:Sworn super-hero now services Atlanta (and suburbs). Blu-ray collection:128 Blu-ray reviews:5	MAN .. that really makes the image look ultra soft. I already know that it would do this, i just never sat down and compared the two. BD is so worth it!

08-28-2007, 05:22 PM	#9
DavePS3 Blu-ray Guru Member since:Jan 2007 Location:Toronto Home Theater Gallery:56 Blu-ray reviews:1 Trading Score:1	Having the pic squeezed is idiotic to me unless you're worring about the bars burning in on a plasma. Most players will give you the option in the menu settings to run 4:3 at the proper ratio or pulled out and squashed.

09-04-2007, 12:38 PM	#16
MOONPHASE Blu-ray Duke Top contributor Member since:Jun 2007 Location:California 4K collection:8 Blu-ray collection:520 DVD collection:820 Blu-ray reviews:18 Trading Score:29	i never have any black bars anywhere when i watch movies with the aspect ratio of 4:3 and 16:9 because i have my tv to show full screen for my movies (unless i get one that is widescreen only which i hate) and my regular tv fits my whole entire 32" HDTV i think it looks awesome that way to have a normal tv channel filling up 32 inches. Plus with the 16:9 even if they are anamorphic widescreen, widescreen will never be an option for me unless i have to because if a widescreen movie can fit your whole tv then why would you need those stupid black bars for? they are annoying

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