16:9, 16:10, 4:3, 1.85:1, 2.35:1, 1:66:1, 5:4 aspect ratios.

[BlackVision]

All you tech geeks out there, aren't you sick and tired of all the different aspect ratios for viewing images and movies? I for one am.

They adopted the 4:3 standard when film was first invented. They used it for TVs and movies. They used this ratio for decades. Then someone came along and went, "no no I don't like this. We need widescreen." Which would of been fine except they were unable to agree just how wide the screen had to be. So now you have all these movies shot in different aspect ratios.

Not only that, the widescreen TVs of today can't even agree on a format. You have HDTV at 16:9. But then you have widescreen LCD TVs and monitors at 16:10. Meanwhile movies are still shown in 1.85:1 or 2.35:1. While most of us still have 4:3 TV and monitor screens.

But no no. LCD monitors had to makes it even more confusing by introducing 5:4 ratio. Which makes no sense. In a world where everyone is trying to get more widescreen, why would you make it more square? And since almost all computer programs are designed for 4:3 ratios, you have these images stretched out and distorted on an LCD monitor.

Acccck!

 

[russ_watters]

Old thread, but I agree - 4:3 and 16:9 should be it.

 

[Guybrush Threepwood]

5:4 works for cellphones

 

[ShawnD]

I don't even know why widescreen was invented; it's just a way to scam you out of precious screen.

 

[russ_watters]

I don't even know why widescreen was invented; it's just a way to scam you out of precious screen.

Anyone happen to watch "Unbreakable" on network TV a couple of nights ago? They had it converted from wide to standard and in one scene, Bruce Willis and his wife were sitting at a restaraunt table for several minutes and all you could see was the table and both of their noses.

I like widescreen. Its better for movies.

 

[motai]

I like the current 4:3 aspect ratio, keeps me from having to buy a completely new TV. If they standardize the widescreen aspect for all TV programs, then ill be forced to change... otherwise ill be staring at a boxed in view where the top and bottom portions of my screen will remain unused.

 

[hitssquad]

Surroundscreen

As has been pointed out every so often over the years in articles discussing widescreen, it was invented because humans see the world through a vertically-narrow slit. Widescreen, however, isn't nearly wide enough to accommodate the actual width of human vision. I hereby predict surround video® (or surroundscreen®).

 

[hitssquad]

Short or wide, in the eye of the popcorn muncher

I like widescreen.

...Also known as Shortscreen®.

Its better for movies.

If you like Widescreen® advantage of having the top and bottom of the picture permanently cut off, you can modify any square screens you might have into Widescreens® by masking an appropriate amount of the top and bottom of the screen with your choice of either duct tape or electrical tape.

Someday the invention of Flexiblescreen® may come about. Flexiblescreen® programming is watched on a wall-sized screen that is perfectly black when no pixels are lit and has high definition despite the size, such that the director of the programming being watched has ultimate discretion over how tall or wide the screen functionally is.



Shortscreen®, Widescreen®, Widescreens®, and Flexiblescreen® are registered trademarks of Shortestscreen, GMBH. All rights reserved.

 

[hitssquad]

Better idea: Hemispherescreen®.

Hemispherescreen® eliminates annoying keystoning distortion.








Hemispherescreen® is a registered trademarks of Shortestscreen, GMBH. All rights reserved.

 

[BoulderHead]

I had read that widescreen came into being as an enticement aimed at getting people away from their 4:3 televisions and back into movie theaters. I prefer widescreen viewing whenever possible.

 

[russ_watters]

If you like Widescreen® advantage of having the top and bottom of the picture permanently cut off, you can modify any square screens you might have into Widescreens® by masking an appropriate amount of the top and bottom of the screen with your choice of either duct tape or electrical tape.

You really do have it backward, hitssquad. Since all movies and now most tv are shot widescreen, its going from widescreen to fullscreen that causes you to lose some of the picture.

And as you pointed out, widescreen better approximates human vision.