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16:9 DVDs from Hong Kong play as 4:3

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16:9 DVDs from Hong Kong play as 4:3

Old 01-24-09, 03:57 PM
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16:9 DVDs from Hong Kong play as 4:3

I bought 2 DVD from a seller in Hong Kong on eBay. The DVDs are of two American movies that are VHS only on the USA market.

The DVDs are not bootlegs.

When I play the DVDs, the video's aspect ratio looks identical to those of the VHS tape.

Since these DVDs are not anamorphic, I had expected black bars on all four sides but there are only black bars on the sides but not on the top and bottom.

I tried play the DVDs on two DVD players. I have the DVD players set to 16:9 and I have my 22" HDTV set to Set by Program.

What am I not understanding?
Old 01-24-09, 08:52 PM
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Oh yes, they are.

Originally Posted by ieee488
What am I not understanding?
That what you bought were bootlegs.
Old 01-24-09, 10:35 PM
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Re: 16:9 DVDs from Hong Kong play as 4:3

Since these DVDs are not anamorphic
This contradicts what you wrote in the subject. Are they 16:9 DVDs or aren't they?
Old 01-25-09, 08:03 AM
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Re: 16:9 DVDs from Hong Kong play as 4:3

The DVDs are not anamorphic, ok,
They are in the 4:3 square TV ratio, "fullscreen" I presume.

If you play a 4:3 DVD on a widescreen (16:9) TV, black bars should appear on the left and right.

That's the way it should look. So as I see, there is no problem.

What titles did you get?
Old 01-25-09, 10:31 AM
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Re: 16:9 DVDs from Hong Kong play as 4:3

I think people should read thedigitalbits.com/articles/anamorphic/index.html


Since the DVD is not anamorphic but claims to be 16x9, I expect the movie to
display similar to the 2nd photo from the bottom crutchfield.com/S-SCS3VL7cYdF/learn/learningcenter/home/aspect_ratio.html . Instead, I just see the photo on the bottom.
Old 01-25-09, 10:38 AM
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Re: 16:9 DVDs from Hong Kong play as 4:3

Originally Posted by manicsounds
The DVDs are not anamorphic, ok,
They are in the 4:3 square TV ratio, "fullscreen" I presume.

If you play a 4:3 DVD on a widescreen (16:9) TV, black bars should appear on the left and right.

That's the way it should look. So as I see, there is no problem.
A 16:9 non-anamorphic DVD should have black bars on all 4 sides. These two DVDs don't.

I have a few 16:9 non-anamorphic DVDs and I get the four bars.

My suspicion is that these aren't 16:9 at all. Which wouldn't surprise me.
Old 01-25-09, 10:39 AM
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Re: 16:9 DVDs from Hong Kong play as 4:3

Originally Posted by ieee488
a 16:9 non-anamorphic dvd should have black bars on all 4 sides. These two dvds don't.

I have a few 16:9 non-anamorphic dvds and i get the four bars.

my suspicion is that these aren't 16:9 at all. Which wouldn't surprise me.
bingo!
Old 01-26-09, 12:00 AM
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Re: 16:9 DVDs from Hong Kong play as 4:3

Originally Posted by ieee488
A 16:9 non-anamorphic DVD should have black bars on all 4 sides. These two DVDs don't.

I have a few 16:9 non-anamorphic DVDs and I get the four bars.

My suspicion is that these aren't 16:9 at all. Which wouldn't surprise me.
To me the four black bars mean Letter Box format on a 16:9 display, that's all.
Old 01-26-09, 12:53 AM
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Re: 16:9 DVDs from Hong Kong play as 4:3

It's a lot less confusing if you play the disc on yoru computer. Then you don't have to worry about screwed up player/TV settings confusing the issue.
Old 01-26-09, 09:51 AM
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Re: 16:9 DVDs from Hong Kong play as 4:3

ieee48, why don't you just tell us the name of the titles. That will help solve confusion...

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