DVD picture too small using component cable


my dad has a cheap Sony DVD player and a Vizio 42" plazma TV and I hooked it up using component cables. I was surprised to see the picture did not fill the screen. It is stuck in the 4/3 spot (though widescreen mode) to explain: there are black bars to the sides and above and below the picture.

I have a Muse DVD player and 50" Vizio and I use component cables and it fills the picture completely or it may have black bars above and below but never on the sides.

Is this because the Sony DVD player is too cheap or too old? (it is both) What can I do? I went thru both carefully and could not find a resolution adjustment - I presumed the component cables determined that anyway...

thanks for any info!

Phil

128x128philjolet
Rwwear: as noted above, the TV's size button stretches the picture out of proportion

thanks for the tip Mnnc
Sorry I missed the screen size deal. Something is not set correctly somewhere though and it could be the TV if not the player.
Rwwear do you not think the old cheap DVD player is the culprit? Elizabeth mentioned they were made for 4/3 screen ratio in the past and I believe that is true in this case.

thanks

Phil
The old Sony players I've used can be set up to display a widescreen image. Check the DVD player setup menu and see if there is an item called screen setup. If there is, select TV type. Then select 16:9.
Nighthawk,

it will display the 16:9 image but it occupies the 4/3 space.

I will look for the menu you mention and thanks!