Adjusting Webcam Aspect Ratio

Question

I need to learn how to adjust the "aspect ratio" of my webcam.  I am sending videos and they have the "square look" of older TVs.  I need to send a widerscreen look of current TVs.  I was told to adjust the aspect ratio and honestly I am at wits end on how to do this?  Thanks

Answer 1

Hi Larry

Open the Camera App (click your Start Button, then just type camera and press Enter

At the top right of that app, click the gear icon

On the resulting panel, click the Quality drop-down, do you have a 16:9 setting?

Answer 2

Thanks for your quick response.  This is dumbfounding..  I do have video quality of 720p 16:9 30fps and flicker reduction of 50hz.  I am attempting to find how to change the aspect ratio?  I' cant seem to locate it on any of the settings drop down boxes...  Thanks so much.

Answer 3

Hi Larry

I am still unclear, when you were creating those videos, did you use that Camera App, or some other software to create the MP4 file(s)?

Answer 4

Dave,

Thank you for your concern and your response.  I am a network TV contributor and have zero issues w/ my webcam.  Today, they asked me to pre-record a video and send it to them.  They asked me to send a few proofs to make certain my lighting was OK, etc etc.

What they noticed is my aspect ratio seems to be off.  This is what my producer said, "The resolution of your webcam is not the primary issue.  Rather, it’s the aspect ratio.  The videos you have been sending us lately have the “square-look” of older TVs.  However, what you initially sent us, and what we’re looking for is a widescreen look of current TVs..."

BTW: I realize I haven't even answered your question!  I am simply (or have been simply) turning on the webcam and then sending the video?  I suspect that's an MP4 format.  Does anything I am saying make sense?  

In my haste (and ignorance), I took videos from another laptop I have along w/ my iPhone as iPhone defaults seem to agree w/ what TV is looking for.  That said, any guidance would be greatly appreciated. L

Answer 5

Hi Larry

16:9 refers to the Aspect Ratio, and that is widescreen, whereas what you explained above would be an aspect ratio of 4:3 . . .

The videos you are creating, what application are you using to create those?