4x3 and 16x9...HELP!!!

[sportswizdan]

Hello Everyone...

I'm still trying to find a answer to this. I have two big questions here. I have many of my kids home movies that are edited and already burned on DVD. They were shot and burned in 4x3. I watch them now on our 4x3 TV. Here is the problem...I need a new TV and Everyone tells me I should get a new Widescreen 16x9. How will my DVDs that are 4x3 look on the 16x9? I do not want any bars on the left or right side of the picture, nor do I want the picture to look pushed in or squashed. Are there settings on the newer TVs where I would be able to get rid of the bars on the sides of the picture if there are any, but still keep the movie in perspective and looking good?

I also have many other "original" home movies on DV-tape and need to edit them with effects and music and convert them into DVDs and again, they were all shot in 4x3, so what should I do with them as far as the aspect ratio, when I make new movies on DVD, since I will be purchasing a 16x9 TV??? I am using a Sony DV camera connected to my computer via firewire. I then capture as DV-AVI type 1. Thanks to everyone in advance...

Dan

[ruggy1]

i am wrestling with the same problem (see my post just below yours). Old 4x3 video, especially VHS looks VERY poor on new high def 16x9 TV screens. Even DV rendered looks ordinary. I think most screens give you the ability to stay with 4x3 and have black bars at each side, which is probably the best it will look on these high def screens. Otherwise keep and old Cathode TV around for displaying old movies - they look much better there than on the new big screens!

[heinz-oz]

....
How will my DVDs that are 4x3 look on the 16x9? I do not want any bars on the left or right side of the picture, nor do I want the picture to look pushed in or squashed. Are there settings on the newer TVs where I would be able to get rid of the bars on the sides of the picture if there are any, but still keep the movie in perspective and looking good?

I also have many other "original" home movies on DV-tape and need to edit them with effects and music and convert them into DVDs and again, they were all shot in 4x3, so what should I do with them as far as the aspect ratio, when I make new movies on DVD, since I will be purchasing a 16x9 TV??? I am using a Sony DV camera connected to my computer via firewire. I then capture as DV-AVI type 1. Thanks to everyone in advance...

Dan

How do you expect to show an almost square picture on a rectangular screen without any bars on the side and with no distortion? You will have to get used to the bars Much better than a stretched movie in my view