Aspect Ratio For Web Videos: 16:9 or 4:3? at DVinfo.net

Seun Osewa · November 24th, 2007, 03:31 PM

Is widescreen preferable to the 4:3 aspect ratio on the web, where you have a choice? If so, why is widescreen better?

Martin Pauly · November 24th, 2007, 04:41 PM

I don't think your question can be answered generically. No one aspect ratio is best for the web - it all depends on the content. I would say that one of the nice things about the web is that you can easily deliver using the aspect ratio that works best for your material!

- Martin

Seun Osewa · November 25th, 2007, 06:58 AM

Which one would you say is "better"? How does one choose the right one?

Aric Mannion · November 25th, 2007, 10:08 AM

Animorphic widescreen is always "better" I think, because it's bigger. But maybe in your case 4:3 is better since 720x480 isn't too big, but to be the same size in 16:9 it would be something around 864x480 -pretty much the same size but since it's wider it will be a larger file size.

Emre Safak · November 25th, 2007, 05:45 PM

Use the aspect ratio you shot in.

Ervin Farkas · November 25th, 2007, 06:27 PM

19x9 is the "new" thing... 4x3 looks rather old. But don't listen to what others say, go with what you like - and as Emre suggested, go with the a/r you filmed in, otherwise you will have useless extra work to put in.

Seun Osewa · November 29th, 2007, 09:52 PM

What aspect ration should I shoot in?

Timothy D. Allen · November 30th, 2007, 01:19 AM

Might as well shoot 16x9. Does give you more room, and lends to more stylized framing. Besides, you never know if you want to put your stuff on DVD someday, and it won't be long before every TV in America is widescreen.

Secondly you just flat have more pixels to work with.

Some would say it's just person preference, and that is partially true. But the whole thing is that it used to be a big deal (and more expensive) to shoot widescreen, so when something had a 1.85:1 ratio or higher it was considered to have a higher production value. Obviously that's not the case anymore, but I think the 'public' as they are still tend to feel that way when they see a widescreen movie. Truth is, if I see a movie/show on TV, and it's not letterboxed, I usually don't stop to watch.

So take that for what it's worth. Probably not much, but... :-P

Ger Griffin · December 1st, 2007, 09:07 PM

Its down to personal taste,
But I dont know anyone who prefers 4:3 over 16:9, unless they are viewing the stuff on a 4:3 screen.
As far as web videos go, they wont be filling the screen, so 16:9 looks better, or so i personally think.

I have an old sample online in 4:3 and a new one in 16:9. This should answer your question as they are easily compared.

4:3
http://www.iol.ie/~griffinpromedia/d...&dnewmain.html

16:9
http://www.iol.ie/~griffinpromedia/d...aulaphoto.html

I think the widescreen gives the footage more of a movie like feel.

Michael Jouravlev · December 3rd, 2007, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timothy D. Allen

Might as well shoot 16x9. ... Secondly you just flat have more pixels to work with.

16:9 DV has the same number of pixels as 4:3 DV. HD has more pixels, obviously.

With proliferation of widescreen TVs 16:9 becomes -- and in other parts of the world has already became -- the norm. With all other things being equal I don't see the point in shooting 4:3.

YouTube and iPod slow down 16:9 acceptance, but YouTube has made some steps recently towards widescreen. if you have noticed, their preview thumbnails are WS now. I am pretty sure they will enable native WS support pretty soon.

November 24th, 2007, 03:31 PM	#1
Seun Osewa Major Player Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: West Africa Posts: 255	Aspect Ratio For Web Videos: 16:9 or 4:3? Is widescreen preferable to the 4:3 aspect ratio on the web, where you have a choice? If so, why is widescreen better?

November 24th, 2007, 04:41 PM	#2
Martin Pauly Major Player Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Cedar Rapids, IA Posts: 563	I don't think your question can be answered generically. No one aspect ratio is best for the web - it all depends on the content. I would say that one of the nice things about the web is that you can easily deliver using the aspect ratio that works best for your material! - Martin __________________ Martin Pauly

November 25th, 2007, 10:08 AM	#4
Aric Mannion Major Player Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Boston, Massachusetts Posts: 616	Animorphic widescreen is always "better" I think, because it's bigger. But maybe in your case 4:3 is better since 720x480 isn't too big, but to be the same size in 16:9 it would be something around 864x480 -pretty much the same size but since it's wider it will be a larger file size. Last edited by Aric Mannion; November 25th, 2007 at 10:10 AM. Reason: I guess 720x480 isn't 4:3, but you know what I mean.

November 25th, 2007, 06:27 PM	#6
Ervin Farkas Inner Circle Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Atlanta/USA Posts: 2,515	19x9 is the "new" thing... 4x3 looks rather old. But don't listen to what others say, go with what you like - and as Emre suggested, go with the a/r you filmed in, otherwise you will have useless extra work to put in. __________________ Ervin Farkas www.AtlantaLegalVideo.com

November 30th, 2007, 01:19 AM	#8
Timothy D. Allen Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Chandler, AZ Posts: 86	Might as well shoot 16x9. Does give you more room, and lends to more stylized framing. Besides, you never know if you want to put your stuff on DVD someday, and it won't be long before every TV in America is widescreen. Secondly you just flat have more pixels to work with. Some would say it's just person preference, and that is partially true. But the whole thing is that it used to be a big deal (and more expensive) to shoot widescreen, so when something had a 1.85:1 ratio or higher it was considered to have a higher production value. Obviously that's not the case anymore, but I think the 'public' as they are still tend to feel that way when they see a widescreen movie. Truth is, if I see a movie/show on TV, and it's not letterboxed, I usually don't stop to watch. So take that for what it's worth. Probably not much, but... :-P __________________ Timothy D. Allen http://www.tribaliris.com

November 25th, 2007, 06:58 AM	#3
Seun Osewa Major Player Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: West Africa Posts: 255	Which one would you say is "better"? How does one choose the right one?

November 25th, 2007, 05:45 PM	#5
Emre Safak Trustee Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Brookline, MA Posts: 1,447	Use the aspect ratio you shot in.

November 29th, 2007, 09:52 PM	#7
Seun Osewa Major Player Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: West Africa Posts: 255	What aspect ration should I shoot in?

December 1st, 2007, 09:07 PM	#9
Ger Griffin Major Player Join Date: May 2007 Location: Ireland Posts: 579	Its down to personal taste, But I dont know anyone who prefers 4:3 over 16:9, unless they are viewing the stuff on a 4:3 screen. As far as web videos go, they wont be filling the screen, so 16:9 looks better, or so i personally think. I have an old sample online in 4:3 and a new one in 16:9. This should answer your question as they are easily compared. 4:3 http://www.iol.ie/~griffinpromedia/d...&dnewmain.html 16:9 http://www.iol.ie/~griffinpromedia/d...aulaphoto.html I think the widescreen gives the footage more of a movie like feel.