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Do you prefer the widescreen format for TV?

(January 2005)

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FR
freddy
marksi posted:
freddy posted:
bbcworld2003 posted:
jay posted:
freddy posted:
Personally, I don't like widescreen. I much prefer the good ol' 4:3 aspect ratio.


So you'd rather go to the cinema and watch a square picture rather than a widescreen that stretches the span of the wall?


Hes talking about on the TV not at the movies. and 4:3 is exactly square either. Confused

I am indeed referring to TV. I do think widescreen works well on a cinema's large screen, I just don't feel it's suitable for a pokey little box in the corner of the room.


How would you prefer to watch movies on television?

Black bars top and bottom please.
MA
marksi
freddy posted:
marksi posted:
freddy posted:
bbcworld2003 posted:
jay posted:
freddy posted:
Personally, I don't like widescreen. I much prefer the good ol' 4:3 aspect ratio.


So you'd rather go to the cinema and watch a square picture rather than a widescreen that stretches the span of the wall?


Hes talking about on the TV not at the movies. and 4:3 is exactly square either. Confused

I am indeed referring to TV. I do think widescreen works well on a cinema's large screen, I just don't feel it's suitable for a pokey little box in the corner of the room.


How would you prefer to watch movies on television?

Black bars top and bottom please.


Doesn't that make the picture on your "pokey little box" very small?
HA
harshy Founding member
One thing that I have noticed is with widescreen transmissions, although you see more graphics, with actual camera shots you don't get that much extra, possibly a centimetre either side, the reason why is because these days cameramen tend to shot the object with no height on the shot at all, just look next time how close your celebs face is to the top of the screen, and you'll know what I mean!

So in conclusion I say, that we as viewers don't gain that much from widescreen really.
MS
Mr-Stabby
If you watch on Terrestrial you get even less of a picture! And on cropped 4:3 programs you get EVEN LESS.
MU
mulder
I've nothing against it, except for the cropping issue, but widescreen is not the way forward, it's a luxury gimmick, and it's not needed.
CE
ceefax541
I may be a sucker for a gimmic, but I do prefer 16:9. It seems a much better format for many things, especially for programmes that are 16:9 framed (which are few).

I find it very annoying when people thing a widescreen TV is just normal telly but crushed.

I was in Asda yesterday and heard one of the sales staff in the TV department that she had a widescreen TV and got rid of it because it was stretching the picture and cutting off the top and bottom. Rolling Eyes
EQ
Equidem
I went to Ster century cinema in Cardiff a couple of weeks ago and sat towards the front.

The screen must have been at least 70ft wide and 30ft high, and sitting where I was, I had to keep turning my head to see the action. It was most annoying sitting so close to the screen.

Another good reason to sit in the back row next time! Wink

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