Originally posted by: Darth Editous
It may be that your TV is doing one of those "smart zooms" - stretching the picture out at the sides so it fills the screen (the black bars at top and bottom being part of the picture) but keeping everything almost right in the centre. The downside to this method is a bit of distortion and the loss of some picture at the top and bottom (not a problem in this case because it's black). I've never come across a DVD player that turns a 4:3 source into a 16:9 picture. TVs tend to use either the zoom mode you set, or proper widescreen if it receives the switching signal.
DE
It may be that your TV is doing one of those "smart zooms" - stretching the picture out at the sides so it fills the screen (the black bars at top and bottom being part of the picture) but keeping everything almost right in the centre. The downside to this method is a bit of distortion and the loss of some picture at the top and bottom (not a problem in this case because it's black). I've never come across a DVD player that turns a 4:3 source into a 16:9 picture. TVs tend to use either the zoom mode you set, or proper widescreen if it receives the switching signal.
DE
Thanks for the response, DE! I have a Samsung DLP and these are the following settings:
Wide (this is what I have it set on)
Panorama
Zoom1
Zoom 2
4:3
I have a Sony DVD/VCR player combo and it has two options you can select: 4:3 and 16:9; I have it set on 16:9.
I am guessing one of the two (or maybe a combination of both?) of these devices would keep the screen as full as could be w/ a non-anamorphic DVD; like you said, creating some distortion at the top/bottom won't matter in this case b/c that is the black bars. I know I will lose resolution w/ a non-anamorphic DVD as we all will, but maybe it won't be as noticeable with my set up....well I hope at least LOL
And again, will somebody be able to use the 09/12 OOT releases and make an anamorphic version with little fuss?!? God, I sure hope so...