Python – OpenCV capturing image with black side bars

opencvpython

I'm trying to capture photos and videos using cv2.VideoCapture and cameras with an aspect ratio of 16:9. All image is returned by OpenCV have black sidebars, cropping the image. In my example, instead of returning an image with 1280 x 720 pixels, it returns a 960 x 720 image. The same thing happens with a C920 webcam (1920 x 1080).

What am I doing wrong?

import cv2

video = cv2.VideoCapture(0)
video.set(cv2.CAP_PROP_FRAME_WIDTH, 1280)
video.set(cv2.CAP_PROP_FRAME_HEIGHT, 720)

while True:
    conected, frame = video.read()
    cv2.imshow("Video", frame)
    if cv2.waitKey(1) == ord('s'):
        video.release()
        break

cv2.destroyAllWindows()

Using OpenCV:

Image with black sides

Using Windows Camera:

enter image description here

Best Answer

I had this exact issue with a Logitech wide angle in windows camera and I was wondering about a driver problem.

So I solved it using the DirectShow driver instead of the native driver using this:

cv2.VideoCapture(cv2.CAP_DSHOW)

If you have more than one camera add the index to that value like this 

cv2.VideoCapture(cv2.CAP_DSHOW + camera_index)

It will accept the desired resolution by applying the right aspect ratio without having the sidebars.

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