'Anamorphic' Projectors - What Are They?

[LordCrumb]

I quite often see people mention Anamorphic Projectors, can someone direct me to a site that explains the difference between a regular projector, and these 'anamorphic' projectors?

Thanks!

crap, wrong area sorry!

[Deciazulado]

A projector that uses an anamorphic lens.

In the case of 1080 projectors, the projector digitally scales "Scope" ratio movies (which have approximately 800-818 vertical pixels) 1.33x vertically so they fill the 1080 x 1920 frame. The image is now vertically stretched and the actors look "thin". Then the anamorphic lens optically unsqueezes this vertically stretched image making it 1.33x wider and making it look normal by making the 1080 x 1920 1.78 wide frame be 2.37 wide.

This is one method used to make "Scope" ratio movies fill a Scope CIH 2.4 wide screen without the letterbox bars.

[LordCrumb]

Thanks Deci. Wouldn't that someone make the picture quality slighty worse? stretching it, then unsqueezing it?

[Suntory_Times]

Originally Posted by KaiGusto

Thanks Deci. Wouldn't that someone make the picture quality slighty worse? stretching it, then unsqueezing it?

It could, but in reality makes the image brighter with everything else looking the same (minus the black bars).

[Deciazulado]

Originally Posted by KaiGusto

Thanks Deci. Wouldn't that someone make the picture quality slighty worse? stretching it, then unsqueezing it?

It makes the vertical image structure (pixels) a little smoother, just like any upscale, like when upscaling DVDs. Might make the vertical detail a little softer, from the upscaling. Might make the MTF of the image a little less because of the extra piece of glass, but if it's of high quality the sharpness control might be able to compensate.

[ak808]

There are 2 different types of lens as well. A vertical and horizontal compression. This link provides a good explenation of what they are and how they work. http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=830657

[DKHK]

Originally Posted by Suntory_Times

It could, but in reality makes the image brighter with everything else looking the same (minus the black bars).

If so, in terms of PQ, how is a projector that uses an anamorphic lens compared with Panasonic AE4000 zoom function to fill a 2.35:1 screen?

[reanimator]

Your question is one that invites a lot of (heated) opinion.

Many experts claim that utilizing the entire 1920x1080 panel for scope movies (which increases light, etc) improves the image.

Plenty of other experts disagree, because of the aforementioned image stretching, un-squeezing, and the addition of a second lens into the light path.

In the end, you should view both methods with your own eyes – your personal taste may prefer one to the other… regardless of what any expert tells you.