Widescreen.org

Although this section might not be as valuable as it was back in the days of 4:3 TVs, I've decided to keep it and update it with some newer examples. It's important to preserve this information not only for historical reasons but also because some content is still broadcast in the wrong aspect ratio, although this is not nearly as common as it was in the past.

Academy Ratio (1.37:1)

Original frame
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine © 1993-1999 Paramount
'Deep Space Nine' original 4:3 frame

Properly shown on a 16:9 TV
'Deep Space Nine' properly shown on 16:9 TV

Improperly shown in stretch-o-vision on 16:9 TV
'Deep Space Nine' improperly shown stretched on 16:9 TV

16:9 or 1.77:1

Original frame (was not filmed in open matte)
Memphis Belle © 1990 Warner Bros. and Enigma Productions 'Memphis Belle' is its original 1.77:1 AR

Properly shown on a 4:3 TV

'Memphis Belle' properly shown on 4:3 TV

Improperly shown in pan-and-scan on 4:3 TV
24.8% of the image is lost
'Memphis Belle' improperly shown on 4:3 TV

2:1 Panavision (anamorphic) - Example for The Dark Crystal

Original frame © 1982 The Jim Henson Company
'The Dark Crystal' in original 2-to-1 aspect ratio

Properly shown on a 4:3 TV
'The Dark Crystal' properly shown on a 4:3 TV

Properly shown on a 16:9 TV
'The Dark Crystal' properly shown on a 16:9 TV

Improperly shown in pan-and-scan on 4:3 TV
33.5% of the image is lost
'The Dark Crystal' improperly shown on a 4:3 TV

Improperly shown in pan-and-scan on 16:9 TV
11.5% of the image is lost
'The Dark Crystal' improperly shown on a 16:9 TV

"Scope" (2.35:1 and 2.39:1) - Example for Star Wars

Properly shown on a 4:3 TV

Properly shown on a 16:9 TV

Improperly shown in pan-and-scan on 4:3 TV
44.3% of the image is lost

'Star Wars' improperly shown on a 4:3 TV

Improperly shown in pan-and-scan on 16:9 TV
25.9% of the image is lost

'Star Wars' improperly shown on a 16:9 TV

Cinerama (2.59:1) - Example for How The West Was Won

'How The West Was Won' in its correct aspect ratio

Properly shown on a 4:3 TV
'How The West Was Won' 4:3 letterboxed

Properly shown on a 16:9 TV
'How The West Was Won' 16:9 letterbox

Improperly shown in pan-and-scan on 4:3 TV
48.6% of the image is lost
'How The West Was Won' in pan-and-scan on 4:3 TV

Improperly shown in pan-and-scan on 16:9 TV
31.6% of the image is lost
'How The West Was Won' in pan-and-scan on 16:9 TV

Please whitelist this site in your ad blocker! We do not have advertisements, but ad blockers could interfere with Google Analytics.

No portion of this web site including commentaries and screen shots may be reproduced in any way without the permission of John L. Berger. This includes distribution of any of the material to other web pages or any other kind of media. Screen shots, video, and audio may not be used on any other web site, especially those that plaster their own site with a ton of ads! Play fairly ... provide a link to this page instead.

Screen shots and any trademarks used on this web page are protected by copyright and are owned by their respective copyright or trademark owners. widescreen.org is a not-for-profit endeavor.