ASpect ratio at DVinfo.net

Chet Hardin · October 3rd, 2002, 07:55 AM

Can someone explain to me this ratio? I shoot with an xl-1. In what aspect ratio am I capturing?

Dave Grey · October 3rd, 2002, 10:26 AM

That depends on your setup.

The XL1 shoots both 4:3 ('standard' video aspect... like on your square television) and 16:9 ('wide' aspect like on your rectangular television).

With the XL1 you also have the option of various optical anamorphic (wide) adapters, you lucky dog.

Aspect ratio in general defines the relationship between the X and Y axes of the image; the ratio of width to height.
So a screen 4" wide and 3" high would have an aspect of 4:3, as would a screen 20" high and 15" wide.

Hope this helps.

lyd

Josh Bass · October 3rd, 2002, 11:16 AM

I got one related to this: What's the deal with the 3 numbered ratios: 2:33:5 or something like that (I know that's not real world example).

Dave Grey · October 3rd, 2002, 11:40 AM

If you mean numbers like 4:1:1, 4:2:0, 4:2:2, etc, these refer to the sampling rates emplyoyed by different formats.

[I'm deleteing the rest of this post as I was wildly missing the point and generally taking up space -lyd]

lyd

Josh Bass · October 3rd, 2002, 12:16 PM

No sir. . .had no idea about the sample rates. I just thought I seen people write "This was shot in 2:4:5 or something like that. Mabye not. Probably not.

Jeff Donald · October 3rd, 2002, 01:10 PM

Josh,

Those are film size aspect ratios, like 2.35:1 or 1.66:1. this site has some simple examples http://www.thedigitalbits.com/articles/anamorphic/aspectratios/widescreenorama.html

Jeff

Chet Hardin · October 3rd, 2002, 01:30 PM

Yes, that is what I was wondering about. Thanks Josh for steering this conversation more in the course I had intended.
Jeff. I went to that site. Is Mini-Dv 1.33:1? It seems like (I asked about this awhile ago) TV safe area, 4x3, cuts off some of the image...
Thanks.

Jeff Donald · October 3rd, 2002, 01:41 PM

Yes, 1.33:1 is 4:3 ratio, same as NTSC video. Consumer TV sets generally do not display the entire picture. They overscan the image (part of the picture is blocked by the cabnet) as per the NTSC specifications. Early CRT's had quite a curve to them due to manufacturing limitations. The cabnets hid flaws in the CRT. Today, TV sets still overscan and cut off part of the image. Because the spec has some leeway some TV's cut off more of the image than others, but remain in spec. There is nothing you can do except follow safe title and safe action guides.

Jeff

Dave Grey · October 3rd, 2002, 03:40 PM

I see... sorry for flying off in the wrong direction. I got excited thinking I might have somthing to contribute. I should have known better. :)

So, is there any historical reason why film uses the unit ratio while television uses the the ratio expressed as integers?

4:3 seems alot more intuitive to me than 1.33:1

lyd

Jeff Donald · October 3rd, 2002, 03:59 PM

No problem, lyd. I can see you've been to Adam Wilt's site (and it has paid off). If I had to guess I'd say it's tradition. Film has always been referred to in that manner. It might also help deferentiate film and video (video is always whole number 16:9, 4:3).

Jeff

October 3rd, 2002, 07:55 AM	#1
Chet Hardin Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Troy Ny Posts: 60	ASpect ratio Can someone explain to me this ratio? I shoot with an xl-1. In what aspect ratio am I capturing?

October 3rd, 2002, 10:26 AM	#2
Dave Grey Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Wilkes-Barre PA Posts: 34	That depends... That depends on your setup. The XL1 shoots both 4:3 ('standard' video aspect... like on your square television) and 16:9 ('wide' aspect like on your rectangular television). With the XL1 you also have the option of various optical anamorphic (wide) adapters, you lucky dog. Aspect ratio in general defines the relationship between the X and Y axes of the image; the ratio of width to height. So a screen 4" wide and 3" high would have an aspect of 4:3, as would a screen 20" high and 15" wide. Hope this helps. lyd

October 3rd, 2002, 11:16 AM	#3
Josh Bass Slash Rules! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 5,472	I got one related to this: What's the deal with the 3 numbered ratios: 2:33:5 or something like that (I know that's not real world example). __________________ The Bass' camerawork The Bass on IMDB

October 3rd, 2002, 12:16 PM	#5
Josh Bass Slash Rules! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 5,472	No sir. . .had no idea about the sample rates. I just thought I seen people write "This was shot in 2:4:5 or something like that. Mabye not. Probably not. __________________ The Bass' camerawork The Bass on IMDB

October 3rd, 2002, 01:30 PM	#7
Chet Hardin Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Troy Ny Posts: 60	1.33:1 Yes, that is what I was wondering about. Thanks Josh for steering this conversation more in the course I had intended. Jeff. I went to that site. Is Mini-Dv 1.33:1? It seems like (I asked about this awhile ago) TV safe area, 4x3, cuts off some of the image... Thanks.

October 3rd, 2002, 11:40 AM	#4
Dave Grey Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Wilkes-Barre PA Posts: 34	If you mean numbers like 4:1:1, 4:2:0, 4:2:2, etc, these refer to the sampling rates emplyoyed by different formats. [I'm deleteing the rest of this post as I was wildly missing the point and generally taking up space -lyd] lyd

October 3rd, 2002, 01:10 PM	#6
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	Josh, Those are film size aspect ratios, like 2.35:1 or 1.66:1. this site has some simple examples http://www.thedigitalbits.com/articles/anamorphic/aspectratios/widescreenorama.html Jeff

October 3rd, 2002, 01:41 PM	#8
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	Yes, 1.33:1 is 4:3 ratio, same as NTSC video. Consumer TV sets generally do not display the entire picture. They overscan the image (part of the picture is blocked by the cabnet) as per the NTSC specifications. Early CRT's had quite a curve to them due to manufacturing limitations. The cabnets hid flaws in the CRT. Today, TV sets still overscan and cut off part of the image. Because the spec has some leeway some TV's cut off more of the image than others, but remain in spec. There is nothing you can do except follow safe title and safe action guides. Jeff

October 3rd, 2002, 03:40 PM	#9
Dave Grey Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Wilkes-Barre PA Posts: 34	Ah-ha. I see... sorry for flying off in the wrong direction. I got excited thinking I might have somthing to contribute. I should have known better. :) So, is there any historical reason why film uses the unit ratio while television uses the the ratio expressed as integers? 4:3 seems alot more intuitive to me than 1.33:1 lyd

October 3rd, 2002, 03:59 PM	#10
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	No problem, lyd. I can see you've been to Adam Wilt's site (and it has paid off). If I had to guess I'd say it's tradition. Film has always been referred to in that manner. It might also help deferentiate film and video (video is always whole number 16:9, 4:3). Jeff

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