Anamorphic: aspect ratio „off“ – team still shooting – pro advice?

Hi everyone,I am working with anamorphic footage for the first time, and I can't find out how to adjust respectively find the 100% correct aspect ratio. The footage is shot with Anamorphic Hawk Vlite 2x Lenses on a Lumix S1H (in 3328x2496 squeezed to 2048x858).Generally, having the aspect ratio of 2,4:1 should be easy, but it isn't. When I set up a project timeline with that ratio and throw in a clip, there is still a fair amount of black bars (see screenshots). Anyone with experience in this? Can this be because of the camera? Am I missing something? What would you suggest? The team is still shooting, they just began. The film shall go somewhere „big“, and I also don't know if we can just go a few pixels and do „our own“ aspect ratio.
Thanks tons!

Would it be possible to upload one of your clips somewhere like Dropbox or WeTransfer.? Thanks.

Yes, sure. I would appreciate your help very much.
my.hidrive.com/share/oeed35jazu
pw: fcpc000

We shoot 2.4:1 frequently with Blackmagic cameras. Set the project up using custom setting and create the exact frame size that your camera shoots. In the video inspector, after you drop your clip in the timeline, select spatial conform and set it to none. This should eliminate any black borders and export exactly to your 2.4:1 aspect. Setting to Fit should give the same result as long as your camera clip is the exact frame size as your custom project.

Looks like the Ninja recording the file has done some unwanted conversion, adding black bars to the sides to fit into a standard UHD resolution. Can you get hold of the camera original files? That could avoid problems down the line, even if you have to optimise them or make proxies in FCP.

If you have to use these Ninja files, change the Scale X (only) to 179% and you'll be OK. You can do this on each clip, or on an adjustment layer above everything. (The original files, if you can get them, will need similar treatment, but won't have black bars.)

EDIT: I should clarify that the Scale X of 179% converts the file posted to crop off the black edges and fit within the stated timeline size of 2048x858, tested on my system here. I'm not sure that is the correct size to use (I'd go larger rather than smaller) and I'd also try to use camera originals if possible, which will have a different resolution entirely.

What's the project resolution supposed to be?

Are you saying that the squeezed file size is 3328 x 2496? The lens is applying a 2x squeeze. So the corrected (unsqueezed) image would be 6656 x 2496. This has to fit into the 2048 x 858 composition. You'll need to correct aspect ratio and then match top and bottom. This will crop some of the left and right side if done correctly. Set your spatial conform to none and adjust X and Y scale values independently of each other.

I downloaded your clip. Set spatial to none and y-scale to 50%. Some left and right will be cropped. This is normal. I'm not sure why the pillarbox black bars, but I suspect the Ninja wants to record this as a 16 x 9 frame, so the lens is squeezing that within the frame.

PS: The squeeze may not be a true 2x, so you may need to adjust x-scale by eye. To my eye, the clock looked circular with an x-scale value of 90%. Shoot a chart to set an exact value.

Thanks everyone!
I set up the spatial to none, that was the crucial checkbox. Now, no further adjustments in scaling necessary.
Plus: Now I have been rebriefed by the DOP/producers that the image will be cropped by some pixels on the left and right side – they knew and just forgot so say.
Thanks again and have a good week all!