Some Questions About Aspect Ratios on 16X9 Sets.....

[Lexmark3200]

When I play back widescreen DVDs with aspect ratios of 2:35:1 or 2:40:1 (the popular formats) on my 55" Mitsubishi rear projection screen, and the screen is in STANDARD mode, I get small letterboxing to the top and bottom of the image, which Im told is normal.

NOW, if I play a DVD with an aspect ratio LOWER than those, say, either 1:78:1 or 1:85:1, the image fills up the ENTIRE screen with NO letterboxing in the same STANDARD mode....I was told that is because my TV may be "overscanning" these other ratios, and just filling the screen. Is this normal? Should I be getting ANY letterboxing during these other ratios, like 1:85:1 or 1:78:1?

And with regard to watching FULL SCREEN DVDs on a widescreen set......when I play back 1:33:1 (full screen) DVDs on this 16X9 set, and keep the mode, again, on STANDARD, the image simply fills the entire screen without any real noticeable "fattening" or stretching of any characters on the screen --- is this normal? Is this because the TV is simply cropping some information off the sides because it's a Pan and Scan DVD image, and then zooming a bit so the full screen DVD fills the screen? SHOULD a full screen DVD FILL a 16X9 screen without any noticeable distortion to the characters onscreen?

[Mr Peabody]

"Standard" or "Natural" usually display in the native format. Your 4:3 is probably displaying the correct way without any digital adjusting of the picture. I'm not familiar with the ratios you gave but most of my DVD's display 16:9 and fill up the screen without any digital adjusting while certain ones like Lake Plasit show bars on the top and bottom, I think it is a 24mm film perhaps. In order for that movie to fill up the whole screen I'd have to choose one of the altering screen modes.

Depending on the brand they call the screen modes by different names but most have a mode that will give you a picture in the correct native format. None of this may help except now you know you aren't alone in your confusion.

[Lexmark3200]

Yeah, while I thank you for your input, this didnt really clear my question up for me....

So, is there anyone else who can tell me why, when my TV is in STANDARD mode (which is, as the original replier said, the NATIVE method and the way I watch most all DVDs to display them in their proper ratios and such), and I am watching a DVD that has a LOWER aspect ratio than 2:35 or 2:40 (both of which display small letterboxing, as is expected and correct on top and bottom of the image), say, 1:78:1 or 1:85:1, the image is filling the ENTIRE 16X9 widescreen with no letterboxing? Is this correct?

I have been told that perhaps what my TV is doing is "overscanning" those lower-aspect ratio DVDs (1:85, 1:78) and filling up the screen to eliminate the black bar letterboxing. Could this indeed be what is happening? As I said, I DO get the appropriate small letterboxing when watching 2:35:1 or 2:40:1 aspect DVDs, but when I watch 1:78:1 or 1:85:1 DVDs, the image fills the screen with NO letterboxing......is this normal on 16X9 sets?

[evil__betty]

the bars on the top and bottom are normal on the aspect ratios that you gave - even with a widescreen tv. Until all of the movie companies get their act together and agree on a standard widescreen aspect ratio, we will be stuck checking the back of all DVD's that we buy. Good luck with that.

[Lexmark3200]

the bars on the top and bottom are normal on the aspect ratios that you gave - even with a widescreen tv. Until all of the movie companies get their act together and agree on a standard widescreen aspect ratio, we will be stuck checking the back of all DVD's that we buy. Good luck with that.

Yes, I am comfortable and aware knowing that there SHOULD be letterboxing on the 2:35 and 2:40 aspect ratios; Im asking if its normal that the OTHER ratios --- 1:78 or 1:85 should be filling the screen with NO letterboxing.......

[evil__betty]

Yes, I am comfortable and aware knowing that there SHOULD be letterboxing on the 2:35 and 2:40 aspect ratios; Im asking if its normal that the OTHER ratios --- 1:78 or 1:85 should be filling the screen with NO letterboxing.......

.Yes.