letterboxed region 2 movies SLIGHTLY horizontally stretched

[planetrock]

When I watch a letterboxed region 2 DVD on my DVD player which I have made region-free they are stretched a little bit horizontally, that is, everything is too short and too broad. Is there a way to correct this?

The DVD case says the movie is 2.35:1 and when I measure the image on the TV it's 2.49:1

This problem does NOT happen on my PC computer, which I have also made region-free. The image on the computer screen measures exactly 2.35:1.

Also, of course, region 1 widescreen movies do not have this horizontal stretching problem.

I am in the USA, using an ordinary NTSC TV and American DVD player.

The specifications on the DVD case say:

- region 2 PAL
- "Presented in 2.35:1 Aspect Ratio (approx)"
- "Full Frame Version 4:3"
-"DVD9 dual layer single sided disc. layer transition may trigger a slight pause"

I don't know if this happens with all letterboxed region 2 movies, because all my other region 2 DVDs are UK music videos, not movies. I don't think these music videos have the slight horizontal stretching, but it's a little hard to tell because they have lots of effects and quick editing, and also I'm not sure what exact aspect ratio they're supposed to have.

I have tried all three 'Display' settings on my DVD player (PS, LB, WIDE), andthey have no effect at all on the picture.

thanks!

Richard

[Experi-Mentor]

welcome to the forum

for a quick test, go to your neighbour/friend & play it on their equipment .... see what happens ....

[planetrock]

Good idea, but I can't do that because I don't know anyone else with a region-free DVD player

I'm loathe to start trying to hack other people's players, because it's an enormous time-zapper (searching the web etc) and could mess up their player -- and I certainly don't know anyone else who wil ever be obtaining DVDs from other regions!

[Experi-Mentor]

perhaps if you provide a make & model #, & we'll try to take it from there (assuming it's ok with the owner ).
the region hacks aren't hard to do (in most cases)

[blutach]

The problem is, of course, in your DVD Player setup. This is an anamorphic widescreen DVD.

What you need to do is set your player up to match what TV you've got. Go into your player's setup (every standard player MUST have this by the way) and choose 4:3 where it says what is your TV (or whatever).

Presto! - no more skinny tall people or short fat ones.

Regards

[setarip]

"Also, of course, region 1 widescreen movies do not have this horizontal stretching problem."

Your statement may be based on a limited number of Region 1 DVDs. Look for Region 1 DVDs that are labeled "widescreen", but something OTHER THAN or in addition to "16:9" (such as 2.35:1 or "anamorphic"). You may be surprised to make the same observation as you have regarding the Region 2 DVDs...

[planetrock]

Originally posted by Experi-Mentor
perhaps if you provide a make & model #, & we'll try to take it from there (assuming it's ok with the owner ).
the region hacks aren't hard to do (in most cases)

Okay, sure! I'm happy to try a simple button-pressing region hack, although still a little wary of whether you can mess up a DVD player that way. (Can you? Obviously there's no comparison to the risks of firmware flashing, but you never know.)

His player is:

Samsung P241

I did a little bit of searching and found this possibility:

http://www.dvdhacks.co.uk/forum/Message.asp?id3=5576

thanks again

Richard

[planetrock]

Originally posted by blutach
The problem is, of course, in your DVD Player setup. This is an anamorphic widescreen DVD.

What you need to do is set your player up to match what TV you've got. Go into your player's setup (every standard player MUST have this by the way) and choose 4:3 where it says what is your TV (or whatever).

Presto! - no more skinny tall people or short fat ones.

Regards

Hmm, I'm thinking you're talking about the same thing that I metnion in the last line of my message: I tried all three 'Display' settings on my TV: PS, LB, and Wide, and it made no difference.

I even tried them with the DVD in the player and also without.

[planetrock]

Originally posted by setarip

Your statement may be based on a limited number of Region 1 DVDs. Look for Region 1 DVDs that are labeled "widescreen", but something OTHER THAN or in addition to "16:9" (such as 2.35:1 or "anamorphic"). You may be surprised to make the same observation as you have regarding the Region 2 DVDs... [/B]

Okay, I gave that a try and the results are below, with the country the DVD came from, the ratio stated on the case, the ratio I see on my TV, the kind of 'stretching', and other info from the case (other than the standard 'widescreen format' term).

I think some of my USA DVDs fit your suggestion, right?

For both the UK and German DVDs, the stretching isn't huge and unwatchable. It's milder than that, but noticable.

None of the USA DVDs have any stretching apparent to the naked eye although their aspect ratios aren't 100% perfect on the TV. If I'm doing my math right, on the TV their images should either have small slivers on the right and left edges cut off, or else be vertically stretched, but so slightly that it's not detectable when viewing.

And again, all play exactly right on PC (within 1 or 2 percent margin of error).

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
title / DVD from... / region / stated ratio / ratio on TV / stretching
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1__Valley of the Dolls_UK_______2__2.35___2.49__too wide
2__Goodbye Lenin___Germany__2__1.85___1.43__too narrow
3__Modesty Blaise___USA______1__1.85___1.74__none obvious
4 _The Wiz_________USA______1__1.85___1.71__none obvious
5_Legally Blonde____USA______1___2.35__2.17__none obvious
6_Logan's Run_____ USA______ 1__none__ 2.19__none obvious
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OTHER INFO PRINTED ON THE CASES:

2 has 1.85:1 written in a little box, with 16:9 written just above the box. The DVD itself is from Germany (not USA)

3 'Anamorphic Widescreen'

5 says 'widescreen' with 16:9 written above that and 2.35:1 written below; also, 'Enhanced for widescreen TVs'

6 'enhanced for widescreen TVs' . doesn't state the aspect ratio, but it must be 2.35

[blutach]

Originally posted by planetrock
Hmm, I'm thinking you're talking about the same thing that I metnion in the last line of my message: I tried all three 'Display' settings on my TV: PS, LB, and Wide, and it made no difference.

I even tried them with the DVD in the player and also without.

You say you have a 4:3 TV. So your player setting must simply match it. It will be an output setting.

PS/LB/Wide sets your output to how you want a 16:9 flick displayed on a 4:3 TV. However, this is already specified correctly in the movie's IFO. If you just tell it that it's a 4:3 TV, then what is in the movie's IFO will be displayed.

Trying to set the output to LB when the movie is 4:3 PS will make things look rong (sic). Equally so, if you tell your player that you have a WS TV.

Regards

[blutach]

A question - you say you have an ordinary US NTSC TV. How then is it displaying PAL images?

Regards

[Experi-Mentor]

blu - you can still playback a pal movie using ntsc settings/sellection . still won't be in pal mode/quality though.

(sorry to hear about "bucks" mate )

searchin' for answers/solutions "planetrock"

[blutach]

Mentor - Is he buggered?

Well, the extra lines may be an issue then - 576 vs 480. Squished to 480. Praps?

Regards

[Experi-Mentor]

bad news on the samsung
seems the "u.s." samsungs are flashed in a different manner.

any other friends (without samsung P241) ?

[Experi-Mentor]

you're not wrong blu
but somehow i keep thinking it will be a question of "heads & feet" being cut-off.

(bucks - same injury, & they're lookin' at choosing another capt'n)