Blu-Ray question - not really a problem - just curious.

[Link]

Hello,

as you can see, i'm new here - I just bought a Blu-Ray player about 3 weeks ago and my question does have to do with those black bars I know everyone loves talking about. I understand them - i've been reading this site for a while - but there is something I don't get and I thought i'd ask.

When watching a BD on my 32' Sony flat screen LCD (yes, I know it's small but it's not in a large room) I have my player set to 1080i (since my TV is 768p - so I understand) - with my TV receiving a 1080i signal, I have the option to watch the movie in "Full", "Zoom", and "Wide Zoom" (these options vary depending on the signal as i've read in my tv's manual - I can use "Normal" with a Non-HD source). I always watch my Blu-Rays in "Full" and most of them are 2:35:1 - and the black bars aren't big - AT ALL. I have the same movie in Widescreen DVD, and decided to put that in to see how much better the BD was and what I found interesting is this:

When I used to watch this movie on my TV with my old DVD player - I would watch it in "Normal" mode as that was an option due to the signal my TV was receiving - it was not an HD source (there is no "Full" option here). The picture was quite small and the black bars took up a majority of the screen on the top and bottom. Now when I playback this movie and upscale it with the BD player, it is identical to the BD in terms of picture size when selecting "Full" - Bigger. I like this, but why would it change? I just want to make sure I am getting the full picture, that's all. I tried downconverting to get the "Normal" view but it wasn't changing it back to what it used to look like. What it all comes down to is the fact that I'm getting a bigger picture with an upscaled DVD and BD than I did with Standard DVD on an old DVD player. I am using an HDMI connection where as my DVD player was hooked up with component cables if that helps at all.

Another test I did was put in another standard DVD, with the same aspect ratio, naturally upconverting it, and it was just like it used to play in my old DVD player - pretty small picture - mostly black bars on the top and bottom. I would think movies with the same OAR would look the same?

Any ideas? My question might not be clear and quite confusing, so if you need me to answer a question in order to help, please ask.

Thanks in advance!!

[Link]

I hate to bump this topic, but I still don't understand this...

[Slec]

If I'm reading your question right...

You want to know why a DVD upscaled takes up the same amount of space on your tv as a blu-ray?

Std dvd is 480 pixels high. If you upscale it to 1080 it "creates" the additional information and will be bigger. The benefit of Blu-ray is that it is showing the picture in 1080 resolution. Everything looks as it is supposed to and not artificially created. If you are watching in Normal mode, then you are fine. Zoom and all that other BS should be avoided IMO.

Full is essentially taking your 480 signal and stretching it to fill the screen. This isn't needed with blu-ray because its 1080 and already fills the screen.

[DutchBoy]

I don't think a 2.35:1 ratio should ever take up most of the screen...

Not unless the picture is being "toyed" with in some way. I don't think the OP is using the correct "viewing mode"...

[krazeyeyez]

2.35 on a square tv needs larger black bars to be able to fit the image to that screen with out losing OAR. now that your watching it on a widescreen 2.35 has black bars like your square tv used to have with 1.85 ratio movies, and the 1.85 should fit your tv nicely no black bars or a small stripe on some movies so i have read.

2.35 does seem to take up most of the screen now imo, after seeing 2.35 on a square sdtv. then the black far exceeds the tiny little movie.

[DutchBoy]

Originally Posted by krazeyeyez

2.35 on a square tv needs larger black bars to be able to fit the image to that screen with out losing OAR. now that your watching it on a widescreen 2.35 has black bars like your square tv used to have with 1.85 ratio movies, and the 1.85 should fit your tv nicely no black bars or a small stripe on some movies so i have read.

2.35 does seem to take up most of the screen now imo, after seeing 2.35 on a square sdtv. then the black far exceeds the tiny little movie.

I watched Commando last night (1.88:1) and the bars were teeny-teeny. Barely little slits on the top and bottom of my TV.

I watched Star Wars last night (2.35:1), upscaled. I also watched Enchanted yesterday (also 2.35:1), both had the same size bars, both substantially larger than Commando's.

A 2.35:1 shouldn't come close to filling the screen. It sure never has on mine, and I've had both 32" and 52" widescreens.

edit: I see what you're saying in comparison to a full-frame TV, but still, even on a WS the 2.35:1 shouldn't take up all of it.

I'll try to snap off a screenie of a 2.35:1 movie on my TV if I can. My camera has suddenly disappeared on me for some reason.

[Slec]

I'm a bit confused about the above situation myself...

[Link]

Ok, thanks for replying - I appreciate it!

Here's the thing - i'm talking about the movie "Hairspray" if this helps. I had this tv for a year and a half - so it's the same TV - it's a 16X9 widescreen/flat panel LCD. I used to have a very old DVD player and it was hooked up to this TV with component cables. When "Hairspray" came out I bought it on DVD and watched it on this TV. The movie is 2:35:1 and when I would watch DVD's I had the option to watch "Normal", Wide Zoom" and "Zoom" - "Full" was not an option because on my TV according to the manual - "Full" is only available when receiving an HD source. This movie always appeared pretty small in "Normal" mode - however, anything else would have cropped the picture so to me, 2:35:1 was always big black bars unless I wanted a distorted picture of some sort. All movies that I owned that were 2:35:1 looked this way.

Now, I bought a BD player - replaced my "Hairspray' with the BD release. I get three options for viewing choice. "Full" (as I'm now receiving an HD signal from my HDMI/Blu-Ray set-up", "Zoom", and "Wide Zoom". I of course, watch the movie in "Full" and I'm getting a much larger picture than I used to with this movie. I thought i'd put in the old DVD to see what that picture looked like. Turns out, it's the same in terms of picture size - smaller black bars, bigger picture. I then downscaled (if you can call it that) to 480p - to see if by using "Normal" (this is now an option as 480p is not an HD signal) would bring it bag to what it used to look like and it didn't.

I then chose another DVD I had with the same OAR - turns out this plays like "Hairspray" used to - and I upscaled it of course.

It has to be the right mode - because "Full" is the only option I have available unless I want some sort of zoom.

I hope this is a better description of the problem - because i'd like some insight on this.

Again, comments and suggestions are appreciated!

Thanks!

[Link]

Originally Posted by Slec

If I'm reading your question right...

You want to know why a DVD upscaled takes up the same amount of space on your tv as a blu-ray?

Std dvd is 480 pixels high. If you upscale it to 1080 it "creates" the additional information and will be bigger. The benefit of Blu-ray is that it is showing the picture in 1080 resolution. Everything looks as it is supposed to and not artificially created. If you are watching in Normal mode, then you are fine. Zoom and all that other BS should be avoided IMO.

Full is essentially taking your 480 signal and stretching it to fill the screen. This isn't needed with blu-ray because its 1080 and already fills the screen.

Ok, this makes sense - however, "Full" is my only option when watching a Blu-Ray unless I go for a "Zoom" or a "Wide Zoom". "Normal" is only available when watching a Non HD source. If i'm watching a TV show in HD, and don't use "Full" - something will get cut off - for example, the NBC logo will be cut off.