What Aspect Ratio do you use for SD shows to fit HD TV?

[mayamaniac]

Just curious how people here watch non-HD shows on their HDTV. I find most people stretch it to fit the aspect ratio of the HD TV, which is the "Fill" setting in SageTV. This makes all the people look short and and fat on the TV, but somehow it doesn't bother them, or it bothers them more to have black bars on the both sides of the TV if they were to view the content at correct aspect ratio, or Source settings in SageTV. And then there's the zoom feature, usually a feature in your HDTV, which cuts off the top and bottom of the picture, but the widths are filled to the edge and aspect ratio is correct. So which of the three do you use?

-Fill (stretch to fit, incorrect aspect ratio)
-Source (black bars on both sides, correct aspect ratio)
-Zoom (16x9, fits width, cuts off top and bottom, correct aspect ratio)
-Others (Please specify in Post)

Also, with mix of SD and HD shows, I think SageTV should have a setting to automatically switch to different aspect ratio depending on your settings.

[stanger89]

I use Source and 16x9. Source for 4x3 SD content (I had video orbiting enabled when I was running a CRT), and I use 16x9 with 133% vertical zoom for letterboxed SD.

[sleonard]

Originally Posted by stanger89

I use Source and 16x9. Source for 4x3 SD content (I had video orbiting enabled when I was running a CRT), and I use 16x9 with 133% vertical zoom for letterboxed SD.

Exactly the same here. I also use source for DVD's.

[Kanati]

I use fill. With CRT HDTVs most people didn't want to use a setting on their expensive tv's that would cause burn-in. With CRTs that was very easily done so people would just stretch it out and accept the incorrect aspect. You get used to it and it just doesn't bother you.

With LCD and DLP systems (and plasma I believe) you don't have to worry about burn-in any more (you can still burn-in despite what they say, but it's farrrr harder to do) and some people don't bother.

I've just gotten so used to the stretch that I rarely notice it.

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by Kanati

I use fill. With CRT HDTVs most people didn't want to use a setting on their expensive tv's that would cause burn-in.

That's what video orbiting is for

[Menehune]

I use souce on my widescreen LCD panel and just ignore the black columns.

[Fluffdaddy]

Source always

[aperry]

I do source, but use my built-in TV modes to stretch/adjust the picture. I also use Fill. Depends on my mood.

[Lucas]

I customised the Fill AR with 132% Vertical stretch and 100% horizontal.

This way the top and bottom of the 4x3 picture gets cropped giving me a 16x9 aspect.

This is good for most shows since the information lost is not too much.

Some shows I watch with 4x3 with black bars left and right.

[pcuoco]

Originally Posted by stanger89

I use Source and 16x9. Source for 4x3 SD content, and I use 16x9 with 133% vertical zoom for letterboxed SD.

Same here.

[Ryokurin]

Depends on the show. Some look just fine stretched, others requires source and so forth. As long as it dosnt look distorted im happy.

[Polypro]

Fill at 104%/104%. I seriously don't notice it. 133%/104% for 16x9 w/letterbox. 1280x720 LCD.

P

[Lucas]

I do really think however that SageTV should seriously consider implementing a 'Smart Stretch' AR like the ones in several wide screen TVs
were the 4x3 image is stretched horizontally in varying degrees starting from 0 in the middle to progressively more in the left and right until the image fills the entire 16x9 screen.

[blade]

Originally Posted by Lucas

I do really think however that SageTV should seriously consider implementing a 'Smart Stretch' AR like the ones in several wide screen TVs
were the 4x3 image is stretched horizontally in varying degrees starting from 0 in the middle to progressively more in the left and right until the image fills the entire 16x9 screen.

I don't see how anyone can use smart stretch, it makes pans look like a funhouse mirror because it distorts the image so much.

I think I read somewhere that a feature like that would have to be a function of the decoder not Sage (I have no idea if this is true or not). I think FFDshow can do it.

[Lucas]

Originally Posted by blade

I don't see how anyone can use smart stretch, it makes pans look like a funhouse mirror because it distorts image so much.

I think I read somewhere that a feature like that would have to be a function of the decoder not Sage (I have no idea if this is true or not). I think FFDshow can do it.

I ve seen some implementations (Sony and some others) that are pretty good and I had to look twice to notice any distortion at least on fairly static images.

Pan scans give it away though as you say, but I watched a few football games and it's not too bad for my liking at least.

[paulbeers]

Fill always. Partly yes because i have a CRT projection, but mainly because the bars (which are actually gray on my t.v to help with burn in) drive me insane. I suppose it has something to do with the fact that I bought a 51" t.v. for a reason! After awhile you don't even notice the affect it has on the image. Actually it makes me feel like I am watch "real" people rather than the anerexic hollywood types!!! Oh and the Smart Stretch makes me ill. I can't watch it. I also just keep finding myself trying to "look" for it and feeling the need to point it out to my wife!

[Polypro]

My Panny 47" has a "Just" setting that looks good.

P