question about 1.85:1 aspect ratio - Blu-ray Forum

snugglez · 05-18-2009, 06:27 AM

sorry if this question was already asked. i couldnt find one exactly like it.
might be a dumb question but can anyone tell me why a movie filmed in 1.85:1 ratio will play with the black bars on my dvd player but play without black bars on my blu ray player. i feel as though im missing the action on the sides because there are no black bars. i went through all the blu ray settings and have it on letter box and 16;9. am i missing something? i prefer the black bars on the top/bottom of the movie for the wide screen cinematic effect.
thank you to anyone who responds

KubrickFan · 05-18-2009, 09:04 AM

It is the same disc you're using, right? Have you tried the 'overscan' option on your television?

Deciazulado · 05-18-2009, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snugglez

sorry if this question was already asked. i couldnt find one exactly like it.
might be a dumb question but can anyone tell me why a movie filmed in 1.85:1 ratio will play with the black bars on my dvd player but play without black bars on my blu ray player. i feel as though im missing the action on the sides because there are no black bars. i went through all the blu ray settings and have it on letter box and 16;9. am i missing something? i prefer the black bars on the top/bottom of the movie for the wide screen cinematic effect.
thank you to anyone who responds

I don't know exactly why are you seeing letterbox bars on a 1.85 widescreen DVD from your DVD player (some display setting?) unless you're watching it on a 4:3 display (see below) but I assure you it's normal for 1.85 Widescreen movies to have no letterbox bars on a HDTV 16:9 display as they're the same shape, or almost exactly the same shape (16:9 is 1.78 very close to 1.85 so at most you'd see very thin (2% of the screen height on top and bottom) lines if your 16:9 display has no overscan.. So you're not missing the sides as you can see below:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Midnightsailor (paraphrased)

1.85:1 - 35 mm US widescreen standard for theatrical film.

1.85 on 4:3 display ->

<- 1.85 on 16:9 display
Edward Scissorhands, 1990 . . .

aramis109 · 05-18-2009, 01:36 PM

With a 1.85:1 ratio movie, you should see very small black bars top and bottom of the screen. If you're not, then there's either some overscan or zoom setting taking place. There are settings on the PS3 GUI to upscale and I believe also to stretch to fit. Check and make sure that DVD conversion is set to "normal" as the other settings will mess with the image I believe. I'm guessing you have a PS3, but if you don't, there should be a similar setting in there somewhere.

Also check your set- different inputs (hdmi for the BD player, component for the DVD player) could have different settings.

snugglez · 05-18-2009, 11:25 PM

Hi everyone thank you for the relpies.
It is the same disc and I havent changed any settings on my tv.
It looks exactly like the edward scissors hands pictures above except im on a 16:9 screen. idk maybe it is one of the settings on my dvd player. If it is then all these years i thought 1.85 had black bars and 2.35 has even bigger bars. When I get home tonight ill try mess around with my dvd settings.
Is there a setting I can change on my bluray player to make it have bars for 1.85? Its a sony player but not a ps3. I will check the overscan option. Im pretty sure there are no thin bars at the top and bottom.
Thanks again guys.

DeadDog · 05-19-2009, 12:03 AM

What equipment are you using (blu-ray player, TV, ect.), list the make and model.

To have the very small black bars on a 16:9 Widescreen HDTV you need the setting on the TV to be correct. For my TV the mode is "JUST SCAN" but it is different for other TV brands. Flip through the settings on the TV, you should have options like, 4:3, 16:9, Zoom, etc. Find the one that is similar to the one I listed.

If you list your equipment we can probably help you out even more.

EDIT: I just saw you were wondering why the dvd player shows bars when the blu-ray player doesn't. This is most likely because the DVD Player settings are incorrect. Go into the DVD player menu and select the options for your TV. It's probably set to play the movies on a standard 4:3 set when you are actually playing it on a 16:9 set. Once you change it to the correct TV it should be the same as your blu-ray player (which is displaying the movie correctly).

Squozen · 05-19-2009, 04:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snugglez

Hi everyone thank you for the relpies.
It is the same disc and I havent changed any settings on my tv.
It looks exactly like the edward scissors hands pictures above except im on a 16:9 screen. idk maybe it is one of the settings on my dvd player. If it is then all these years i thought 1.85 had black bars and 2.35 has even bigger bars. When I get home tonight ill try mess around with my dvd settings.
Is there a setting I can change on my bluray player to make it have bars for 1.85? Its a sony player but not a ps3. I will check the overscan option. Im pretty sure there are no thin bars at the top and bottom.
Thanks again guys.

If 1.85:1 DVDs look like the left-hand image on your widescreen set then you've been watching everything wrong from day one - haven't you noticed how everybody looks squat? Wait, you're an American, maybe that looks normal.

snugglez · 05-19-2009, 07:20 AM

blu ray player is sony bdp s350
tv is samsung LN-S3251D
dvd player is sony is an older 5 disc changer progressive scan.
im using component for dvd
and hdmi for blu ray
i couldnt find any settings on my dvd player to change the size of the picture but i guess ive been watching my dvds in fat mode this whole time

Beta Man · 05-19-2009, 01:26 PM

at least you can watch everything on the Blu-ray player now

mywxrld · 05-19-2009, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snugglez

blu ray player is sony bdp s350
tv is samsung LN-S3251D
dvd player is sony is an older 5 disc changer progressive scan.
im using component for dvd
and hdmi for blu ray
i couldnt find any settings on my dvd player to change the size of the picture but i guess ive been watching my dvds in fat mode this whole time

Are you are still going to use the DVD player to play DVDs instead of your Blu-rat player? What is the model number of your DVD player?

groove93 · 05-19-2009, 06:09 PM

You may need to adjust the settings on your DVD Player from 4:3 to 16x9, or vice versa. I recall having to do this when I got my LCD. I was so used to watching movies with Black bars on my old 19 inch, whether it was a 2.35:1 or 1.85:1 that I simply forgot to change the setting on the player to 16x9.

aramis109 · 05-19-2009, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squozen

If 1.85:1 DVDs look like the left-hand image on your widescreen set then you've been watching everything wrong from day one - haven't you noticed how everybody looks squat? Wait, you're an American, maybe that looks normal.

LOL, damn you Aussie!

gredowney · 11-06-2009, 09:02 PM

Thank you for the orginal post,
I have a Panasonic TC-P50S1 Plasma, along with Phillips Blu-Ray player. I had a similar question regarding the 1.85:1 aspect ratio. I too, would like to see the entire picture, with the small black bars, but could not find any settings which would do so. If anyone has similar equipment, or certainly more knowledge, the help would be greatly appreciated. I'm a bit of a purist when it comes to seeing a movie in its original aspect ratio. Thanks to all.

05-18-2009, 06:27 AM	#1
snugglez New Member Member since:May 2009	question about 1.85:1 aspect ratio sorry if this question was already asked. i couldnt find one exactly like it. might be a dumb question but can anyone tell me why a movie filmed in 1.85:1 ratio will play with the black bars on my dvd player but play without black bars on my blu ray player. i feel as though im missing the action on the sides because there are no black bars. i went through all the blu ray settings and have it on letter box and 16;9. am i missing something? i prefer the black bars on the top/bottom of the movie for the wide screen cinematic effect. thank you to anyone who responds Last edited by snugglez; 05-18-2009 at 07:14 AM.

05-19-2009, 12:03 AM	#6
DeadDog Power Member Top contributor Member since:Jul 2008 Home Theater Gallery:12 Blu-ray collection:355 Digital collection:96 iTunes collection:125 Trading Score:360	What equipment are you using (blu-ray player, TV, ect.), list the make and model. To have the very small black bars on a 16:9 Widescreen HDTV you need the setting on the TV to be correct. For my TV the mode is "JUST SCAN" but it is different for other TV brands. Flip through the settings on the TV, you should have options like, 4:3, 16:9, Zoom, etc. Find the one that is similar to the one I listed. If you list your equipment we can probably help you out even more. EDIT: I just saw you were wondering why the dvd player shows bars when the blu-ray player doesn't. This is most likely because the DVD Player settings are incorrect. Go into the DVD player menu and select the options for your TV. It's probably set to play the movies on a standard 4:3 set when you are actually playing it on a 16:9 set. Once you change it to the correct TV it should be the same as your blu-ray player (which is displaying the movie correctly). Last edited by DeadDog; 05-19-2009 at 12:09 AM.

05-19-2009, 07:20 AM	#8
snugglez New Member Member since:May 2009	blu ray player is sony bdp s350 tv is samsung LN-S3251D dvd player is sony is an older 5 disc changer progressive scan. im using component for dvd and hdmi for blu ray i couldnt find any settings on my dvd player to change the size of the picture but i guess ive been watching my dvds in fat mode this whole time Last edited by snugglez; 05-19-2009 at 07:55 AM.

11-06-2009, 09:02 PM	#13
gredowney New Member Member since:Nov 2009	1.85:1 Thank you for the orginal post, I have a Panasonic TC-P50S1 Plasma, along with Phillips Blu-Ray player. I had a similar question regarding the 1.85:1 aspect ratio. I too, would like to see the entire picture, with the small black bars, but could not find any settings which would do so. If anyone has similar equipment, or certainly more knowledge, the help would be greatly appreciated. I'm a bit of a purist when it comes to seeing a movie in its original aspect ratio. Thanks to all.

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05-18-2009, 09:04 AM	#2
KubrickFan Blu-ray Samurai Top contributor Member since:Mar 2009 Blu-ray collection:319	It is the same disc you're using, right? Have you tried the 'overscan' option on your television?

05-18-2009, 01:36 PM	#4
aramis109 Blu-ray Ninja Member since:Mar 2008 Location:Milwaukee, WI Home Theater Gallery:10 4K collection:4 Blu-ray collection:360 Trading Score:18	With a 1.85:1 ratio movie, you should see very small black bars top and bottom of the screen. If you're not, then there's either some overscan or zoom setting taking place. There are settings on the PS3 GUI to upscale and I believe also to stretch to fit. Check and make sure that DVD conversion is set to "normal" as the other settings will mess with the image I believe. I'm guessing you have a PS3, but if you don't, there should be a similar setting in there somewhere. Also check your set- different inputs (hdmi for the BD player, component for the DVD player) could have different settings.

05-18-2009, 11:25 PM	#5
snugglez New Member Member since:May 2009	Hi everyone thank you for the relpies. It is the same disc and I havent changed any settings on my tv. It looks exactly like the edward scissors hands pictures above except im on a 16:9 screen. idk maybe it is one of the settings on my dvd player. If it is then all these years i thought 1.85 had black bars and 2.35 has even bigger bars. When I get home tonight ill try mess around with my dvd settings. Is there a setting I can change on my bluray player to make it have bars for 1.85? Its a sony player but not a ps3. I will check the overscan option. Im pretty sure there are no thin bars at the top and bottom. Thanks again guys.

05-19-2009, 01:26 PM	#9
Beta Man Moderator Top contributor Member since:Jan 2008 Location:Juuuuuuuust A Bit Outside.... Home Theater Gallery:4 Blu-ray collection:268 Blu-ray reviews: 18 Trading Score:25	at least you can watch everything on the Blu-ray player now

05-19-2009, 06:09 PM	#11
groove93 Expert Member Member since:Dec 2008 Home Theater Gallery:74 4K collection:44 Blu-ray collection:162	You may need to adjust the settings on your DVD Player from 4:3 to 16x9, or vice versa. I recall having to do this when I got my LCD. I was so used to watching movies with Black bars on my old 19 inch, whether it was a 2.35:1 or 1.85:1 that I simply forgot to change the setting on the player to 16x9.

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