Fastest easiest way I know
 

I use FCP so I wouldn't be able to comment on Premier but this is the easiest way I know of to do what you want. There is even a demo to download. for a tryout.
You can find it here.

http://www.dvfilm.com/

hmm. Thanks rhett...did try the demo. definitely an easy way to do it without using premiere.

by the way. Did some more fooling around and found an even easier way.

You don't have to apply any effects at all. Just start with a standard 4:3 project. Import your widescreen DV footage (stretched 4:3). Before putting the project onto the timeline, select the clip and go to the menu Clip, video options. Select Maintain aspect ratio. That's it. It'll play in the correct non-stretched 16x9 in a letterboxed format. You can even specify the colors of the bars.

Nice trick, Mdreyes23.

It works!!!

I think I'll be shooting in widescreen all the time now!!!

Neat ;+)

Ed Smith

Glad I could help. More reason why we should have a forum dedicated to Adobe Premiere. Chris, how is that going?

I'll second that, Mdreyes.

I'll take it you have to capture the footage in the 16x9mode and then import it into the 4x3mode?

Is there an easier way around this?