Seinfeld Puzzlement - Blu-ray Forum

Chester Lime · 07-20-2010, 12:10 PM

Out of curiosity, I watched SEINFELD on TBS HD (or perhaps TNT HD). As I have a widescreen TV, I figured that It would be either standard (with the normal bars on both sides of the screen) or stretched. To my surprise it looked like normal HD. I checked the standard channel to see if the HD channel had somehow zoomed everything to fit the wide screen, but there was more showing on HD.
Was Seinfeld filmed in HD or widescreen mode as they do with todays TV shows? If so then why aren't the DVD's widescreen? Will we ever see SEINFELD in BLU?
This is quite puzzling?

Monolithium · 07-20-2010, 12:33 PM

I think it is just zoomed in.

Chester Lime · 07-20-2010, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monolithium

I think it is just zoomed in.

I checked. If it was zoomed a lot of the scene would have been lost. But there was actually more of the picture in the HD version. It is almost as if they filmed it 16X9 originally, but cropped it when they were broadcast.
If you look at most of todays TV shows, they are 16X9 on HD and 4X3 on a standard channel.
For example:
THE BACHLORETTE on ABC is cropped so you have the black bars on both sides.
THE BACHLORETTE on ABC HD is not cropped, there are scenes which can now be scene.
If you have a widescreen TV (I'm pretty sure everyone in this forum has one) check between the HD channel and the standard channel.
The same goes for sporting events.

Now I wouldn't think that Seinfeld was like this because it is old, but then who knows.
If it comes out on BLU and it is 16X9, I will definitely get it.

Wyndam · 07-20-2010, 04:10 PM

I'm always shocked at how good the show looks when I catch it in HD on TBS. It looks waaaaay to good for such an older show. I'd definitely be interested in seeing it come to Blu-Ray, as I have yet to buy it.

KubrickFan · 07-20-2010, 04:57 PM

When you're shooting full frame, you often cannot use the outer edges of the film frame. So, to work around that, they zoom in a little. When a widescreen version is made, suddenly the edges left and right can be used, so that's why there's a little bit more information available. That still doesn't mean it's supposed to be in widescreen, though. If Seinfeld is released on Blu-ray, it will be in the 1.33:1 ratio, probably.

Gremal · 07-20-2010, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chester Lime

Out of curiosity, I watched SEINFELD on TBS HD (or perhaps TNT HD). As I have a widescreen TV, I figured that It would be either standard (with the normal bars on both sides of the screen) or stretched. To my surprise it looked like normal HD. I checked the standard channel to see if the HD channel had somehow zoomed everything to fit the wide screen, but there was more showing on HD.
Was Seinfeld filmed in HD or widescreen mode as they do with todays TV shows? If so then why aren't the DVD's widescreen? Will we ever see SEINFELD in BLU?
This is quite puzzling?

You're just noticing this now?

https://forum.blu-ray.com/movies/125...infeld-hd.html

DetroitSportsFan · 07-20-2010, 12:35 PM

It has been rumored that Sony has been working on Seinfeld for Blu-Ray. We might even see Season 1 later this year, considering it's the 20th anniversary of the first season.

Mr. J · 07-20-2010, 12:42 PM

Didn't at one point someone say that they could fit all episodes of Seinfeld on a single Blu-ray disc?

DetroitSportsFan · 07-20-2010, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jayvo

Didn't at one point someone say that they could fit all episodes of Seinfeld on a single Blu-ray disc?

All of the episodes of a season could fit on one BD disc..... as long as they're in standard def.

sonicboom · 07-20-2010, 01:02 PM

I believe Seinfeld was shot on film which means we will hopefully see in on bluray.

Batman1980 · 07-21-2010, 05:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DetroitSportsFan

It has been rumored that Sony has been working on Seinfeld for Blu-Ray. We might even see Season 1 later this year, considering it's the 20th anniversary of the first season.

Wow I can't believe it's been this long since Seinfeld first came on the air!

sfmarine · 07-21-2010, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gandalf Stormcrow

Wow I can't believe it's been this long since Seinfeld first came on the air!

It's a clear indication that you'll be getting an AARP application soon.

Chester Lime · 08-26-2010, 12:37 PM

I just read that SEINFELD was actually filmed in 16:9 but cropped to 4:3 to compensate for standard 4:3 TV'S. This practice is done today with most televisions shows and live sporting events.
This brings up 2 questions for me:
Why is it that the DVD was not 16:9?
Why is there no BLURAY in the horizon?

JayX · 08-26-2010, 01:59 PM

Just because something is shot in 16x9, doesn't mean it's end ratio is destined to be that shape. If the intent of Seinfeld was to be 4x3, then anything to the left and right of the view the director was using isn't supposed to be in frame. This is more of a problem when using a full frame to shoot films destined for 1.85:1 cinematical mattes, as if these are opened up (for TV versions, for example) you'll have boom mics creeping into shot. Also, they won't render effects for screen that isn't being used. Old 'behind the scenes' photos from the Scrubs set showed the episodes were framed for 16x9 way back when, so it'd be interesting to know what the original ratio was for that show as it took many years to switch over.

If they release Seinfeld in Blu-Ray then I hope it retains the 4x3 original ratio with the bump in resolution. It might 'look nice' to fill the screen, but it'll come with problems and I'm happy with the original shape. The DVDs always said they were mastered in HD so I imagine they'll look pretty good if they're using those masters for the HD broadcast.

I'm not sure who has The Wire in HD on their 'On Demand' service, but this is also a widescreen print. I did a frame comparison to the DVD and can advise this is definitely cropped from the 4:3 original, and wasn't shot in widescreen. I wouldn't watch these personally, as the composition will be well off.

07-20-2010, 12:10 PM	#1
Chester Lime Active Member Member since:Sep 2007	Seinfeld Puzzlement Out of curiosity, I watched SEINFELD on TBS HD (or perhaps TNT HD). As I have a widescreen TV, I figured that It would be either standard (with the normal bars on both sides of the screen) or stretched. To my surprise it looked like normal HD. I checked the standard channel to see if the HD channel had somehow zoomed everything to fit the wide screen, but there was more showing on HD. Was Seinfeld filmed in HD or widescreen mode as they do with todays TV shows? If so then why aren't the DVD's widescreen? Will we ever see SEINFELD in BLU? This is quite puzzling?

07-20-2010, 12:33 PM	#2
Monolithium Power Member Member since:Jan 2009 Location:Canada	I think it is just zoomed in.

07-20-2010, 04:10 PM	#4
Wyndam Expert Member Member since:Mar 2009 4K collection:174 Blu-ray collection:958 DVD collection:13 Trading Score:2	I'm always shocked at how good the show looks when I catch it in HD on TBS. It looks waaaaay to good for such an older show. I'd definitely be interested in seeing it come to Blu-Ray, as I have yet to buy it.

07-20-2010, 04:57 PM	#5
KubrickFan Blu-ray Samurai Top contributor Member since:Mar 2009 Blu-ray collection:319	When you're shooting full frame, you often cannot use the outer edges of the film frame. So, to work around that, they zoom in a little. When a widescreen version is made, suddenly the edges left and right can be used, so that's why there's a little bit more information available. That still doesn't mean it's supposed to be in widescreen, though. If Seinfeld is released on Blu-ray, it will be in the 1.33:1 ratio, probably.

07-20-2010, 12:35 PM	#7
DetroitSportsFan Hot Deals Moderator Top contributor Member since:Aug 2007 Location:Michigan 4K collection:439 Blu-ray collection:2226 Trading Score:93	It has been rumored that Sony has been working on Seinfeld for Blu-Ray. We might even see Season 1 later this year, considering it's the 20th anniversary of the first season.

07-20-2010, 12:42 PM	#8
Mr. J Gaming Moderator Top contributor Member since:Jul 2008 Location:Arkham Asylum Home Theater Gallery:6 4K collection:393 Blu-ray collection:768 DVD collection:7 iTunes collection:628 Blu-ray reviews: 4 Trading Score:181	Didn't at one point someone say that they could fit all episodes of Seinfeld on a single Blu-ray disc?

07-20-2010, 01:02 PM	#10
sonicboom Active Member Member since:Oct 2009 Blu-ray collection:9	I believe Seinfeld was shot on film which means we will hopefully see in on bluray.

08-26-2010, 12:37 PM	#13
Chester Lime Active Member Member since:Sep 2007	I just read that SEINFELD was actually filmed in 16:9 but cropped to 4:3 to compensate for standard 4:3 TV'S. This practice is done today with most televisions shows and live sporting events. This brings up 2 questions for me: Why is it that the DVD was not 16:9? Why is there no BLURAY in the horizon?

08-26-2010, 01:59 PM	#14
JayX Active Member Member since:Aug 2010 Blu-ray collection:99	Just because something is shot in 16x9, doesn't mean it's end ratio is destined to be that shape. If the intent of Seinfeld was to be 4x3, then anything to the left and right of the view the director was using isn't supposed to be in frame. This is more of a problem when using a full frame to shoot films destined for 1.85:1 cinematical mattes, as if these are opened up (for TV versions, for example) you'll have boom mics creeping into shot. Also, they won't render effects for screen that isn't being used. Old 'behind the scenes' photos from the Scrubs set showed the episodes were framed for 16x9 way back when, so it'd be interesting to know what the original ratio was for that show as it took many years to switch over. If they release Seinfeld in Blu-Ray then I hope it retains the 4x3 original ratio with the bump in resolution. It might 'look nice' to fill the screen, but it'll come with problems and I'm happy with the original shape. The DVDs always said they were mastered in HD so I imagine they'll look pretty good if they're using those masters for the HD broadcast. I'm not sure who has The Wire in HD on their 'On Demand' service, but this is also a widescreen print. I did a frame comparison to the DVD and can advise this is definitely cropped from the 4:3 original, and wasn't shot in widescreen. I wouldn't watch these personally, as the composition will be well off.

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