: While Smallville first aired in standard definition (4:3), the series was filmed on 35mm film with a 16:9 widescreen format in mind from the pilot episode.
In an age of 4K and 8K, demanding "only" 720p for a 2001 TV show sounds like blasphemy. It is not. It is wisdom. SMALLVILLE - Season 1 Complete 720p - H264 Web-Dl
A 720p resolution is the "sweet spot" for Smallville ’s cinematography. It offers a significant jump in clarity over 480p without the artificial sharpening sometimes found in poorly upscaled 1080p versions. Season 1 Highlights : While Smallville first aired in standard definition