Slideshow - Issues with video size

[niecole]

I have a Sony HandyCam - I am import my video by going to "Add Media | Photos and Video from Folder" Once I get my video imported I noticed it is fairly small. (two inches of blank space all the way around). When I import video from my Canon camera there is only 3/4 of an inch around. When run my Sony shot video in Windows Media player it is the same size as when I run video shot of my canon.

Any ideas what is going on here?

Thanks,
Niecole

[ATR]

Niecole,

Right now, more questions than answers.

What aspect ratio are you using in the SonyHandyCam, 16:9 or 4:3? How does that compare with the aspect ratio used for the Canon and other Sony that you mentioned?

It would be helpful if you would name your cameras and describe the file format for your video that you are generating in each case.

Does your Sony HandyCam use tape or DVD disc? If I understand correctly, you are downloading movie files from the cameras to files on the hard drive. If so, where do you view the video...just Windows Media Player, in Premiere Elements, other?

ATR

[ATR]

Niecole,

I just re-read your post and have second thoughts about what you are doing and where? For example, are you comparing two cameras or three? At the end, are you comparing the Canon and Sony HandyCam results viewing with Windows Media Player or are you comparing the Canon with another Sony camera? In the beginning, where do you observe the "small file".

So, please go into as much detail as possible.

Thanks.

ATR

[niecole]

ATR – Here are the answers to your questions – I was out of town sorry it took me so long to respond!

Q. What aspect ratio are you using in the Sony Handy Cam, 16:9 or 4:3?
A. Sony Handy Cam - 16:9

Q. How does that compare with the aspect ratio used for the Canon and other Sony that you mentioned?
A. Cannon Camera – I am using 800 X 600, I do not know the ration for it.

Q. It would be helpful if you would name your cameras and describe the file format for your video that you are generating in each case.
A. I have a Sony Power shot SD 5Mpx

Q. Does your Sony Handy Cam use tape or DVD disc?
A. My Sony Cam uses MiniDV (tape)

Q. downloading movie files from the cameras to files on the hard drive. If so, where do you view the video...just Windows Media Player, in Premiere Elements, other?
A. Yes, I am downloading files from my camera to my hard drive (.avi).
I view my video on windows Media player and Elements 4.0

Q. At the end, are you comparing the Canon and Sony Handy Cam results viewing with Windows Media Player or are you comparing the Canon with another Sony camera?
A. Yes, I am viewing the Cannon and Sony results on Windows Media Play

[ATR]

The bottom line is that I believe that your observations stem from differences in aspect ratio of the video shot with the Sony (16:9) and Canon (4:3). I suspect that the Sony probably gives you the option of 4:3 or 16:9. So you should be able to change that if you want. In the case of the Canon, there is probably just the option for 4:3.

The following is what I have pieced together from the information that you posted. I have corrected some of your details to what I think you really meant. Please correct me where I am wrong.

(1) You have two cameras, a Sony Camcorder set with an aspect ratio of 16:9 (widescreen) that produces AVI video on tape. I am assuming that the Sony also offers that option of 4:3 (standard), but you selected 16:9. The other camera is a 5 megapixel Canon PowerShot SD series that allows you to generate 640 x 480 AVI video. That would be standard video (4:3), no option for 16:9.
(2) You are downloading these videos from the cameras using the Adobe Photo Downloader of Photoshop Elements 4.0 (NOT Premiere Elements 2.0 or 3.0). From the saved location on the hard drive you are playing them with Windows Media Player. From their thumbnails in the Organizer, you are also playing (reviewing) them in the Organizer using the Photoshop Elements Media Player.

Window Media Player
Go to Tools/Options/Devices/Display/Properties/Pixel Aspect Ratio. My default is 1.000. If your setting is 1.000, that is probably why you are getting the standard and widescreen to appear almost the same. Start adjusting there via the slider 1.33 to 1.77, experiment, and observe what happens. Check out the following links:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/knowledgecenter/mediaadvice/0075.mspx

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/howto/articles/PixelFrames.aspx

This second link above is a long one, but think about this quote from it: “The only disadvantage is that AVI files do not contain pixel aspect ratio information, so many players, including Windows Media Player, render all AVI files with square pixels. Therefore, the frame appears stretched or squeezed horizontally when the file is played back.”

Photoshop Elements Media Player
This is a 4:3 operation with no adjustments for pixel aspect ratios that I know of, so you would expect to see a difference in how your video from the two different sources are being displayed.

Other
I have not completely thought out how the monitor display settings might impact any of this. That is, the size of a video frame on a computer is measured in pixels. But, when you get to the level of the computer monitor, the actual image size on the monitor varies. One example that I saw was a 6 inch video display at a monitor setting of 800 x 600 that ends up 3 inches at a monitor setting of 1280 x 1024.

Those are just some ideas to think about. I cannot say for sure that THE answer is there, but that is the best answer that I have for now.

ATR

[niecole]

ATR - Thanks you so much...This really gives me a lot of ideas and a direction to go to know. Hopefully this weekend I can dig back into this and with this information see If I can find a solution.

Thanks you so very much for taking the time on this detailed post, it really helps get the ball rolling in my head with ideas.

Thanks againk,
Nik

[ATR]

Niecole,

I rarely challenge the Windows Media Player 10 that I have installed. So, your question has me exploring.

Just something else to think about in case you have not discovered this yourself. In Windows Media Player 10, if you go to the View Menu before you start playback, you may notice that there is a dot next to "Full Mode", but the "Full Screen Option" further down is grayed out. BUT, when you start playback and go to the View Menu, Full Screen option is now available. If you select "Full Screen Option" and want to exit that mode, just right click the screen and select Exit Full Screen. If you have not already, check out what all that does to your video displays.

ATR