Distance for viewing
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Here is the HDGuru's chart...
http://hdguru.com/wp-content/uploads...ance-chart.pdf
As long as you're sitting within the Optimum distance for 720p (on 1080p display and source) you should be fine. I'm sitting at the optimal distance for 720p with a 1080p display and can distinguish between 1080p and 720p content.
Hence, I would recommend determining your seating distance, and selecting a TV size that is greater than or equal to the corresponding size for optimal 720p viewing. While the HDGuru's chart (and others) are up for debate, using that chart in the manner specified works for me.
Here is the HDGuru's chart...
http://hdguru.com/wp-content/uploads...ance-chart.pdf
As long as you're sitting within the Optimum distance for 720p (on 1080p display and source) you should be fine. I'm sitting at the optimal distance for 720p with a 1080p display and can distinguish between 1080p and 720p content.
Hence, I would recommend determining your seating distance, and selecting a TV size that is greater than or equal to the corresponding size for optimal 720p viewing. While the HDGuru's chart (and others) are up for debate, using that chart in the manner specified works for me.
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Basicly the HD Guru wants you to sit as close as you can, and sets "Optimum Viewing Distance" at the range where an average visual acuity of 20/20 cannot see the pixel structure. That's one way to do it, and the reccomendation is for TV viewing.
The SMPTE and THX have other ideas which are 1.2-2.0 screen widths and 1.4-1.8 screen widths. Those are distances for the "full immersion" home theater experience in a darkened room, in the center of the surround sound sweet spot, and for watching movies.
Two different answers. So decide first if you are watching TV, or watching movies on TV. That is different from trying to reproduce the theater experience in your home.
The SMPTE and THX have other ideas which are 1.2-2.0 screen widths and 1.4-1.8 screen widths. Those are distances for the "full immersion" home theater experience in a darkened room, in the center of the surround sound sweet spot, and for watching movies.
Two different answers. So decide first if you are watching TV, or watching movies on TV. That is different from trying to reproduce the theater experience in your home.
ok so column one two and three
-first is the size of the tv (eg. 42.00 means 42" tv?)
-second is the width of the screen
-third is the height of the screen
correct?
i think i understand this part but i dont understand the last four columns.
what is 1080i and 1080p and 720p and which one is newer and better and why is the distance different for them?
isnt 66 inch distance from a 42 " screen a bit close? the 720p distance seems a bit more reasonable?
also what are the last two columns for? isnt the image width going to be the same number as the width for the tv and same with the image diagonal shouldnt it be the same as the tv diagonal?
also what is 16x9 and 4x3?
and one last thing. where is the image height? or is this not needed
ok so column one two and three
-first is the size of the tv (eg. 42.00 means 42" tv?)
-second is the width of the screen
-third is the height of the screen
correct?
i think i understand this part but i dont understand the last four columns.
what is 1080i and 1080p and 720p and which one is newer and better and why is the distance different for them?
isnt 66 inch distance from a 42 " screen a bit close? the 720p distance seems a bit more reasonable?
also what are the last two columns for? isnt the image width going to be the same number as the width for the tv and same with the image diagonal shouldnt it be the same as the tv diagonal?
also what is 16x9 and 4x3?
and one last thing. where is the image height? or is this not needed
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18,330 Posts
The various charts out there don't take into account the variations in people's eyesight and perception. I'm certainly in the minority here but the chart says 8.2 feet is optimum for a 42 inch "720p" TV but on my old Plasma i see the pixel structure at 10 feet away. And on a 50 inch set, it says optimal is 9.8 feet but i see the pixel structure at 12 feet before it blends into the picture.
I like to tell people that are considering getting a "720p" set to go to some stores or better yet someone's home (like mine) and get up close to a "720p" set and see for themselves what the pixel structure (SDE) looks like, then slowly move away until their eyes can no longer see it and it blends in with the picture. Different people will come up with different distances.
When i've done this with various friends and relatives and fellow shoppers in stores most of them stop seeing it at closer distances than myself, and most were unaware of the phenomenon until they saw it for themselves. Then i'd show them how much closer they can get to a 1080p set and they now see the advantage over the "720" sets at closer distances. Some aren't bothered by the SDE, while others would rather have the "smoother" picture on a 1080p set. A lot of flat-panel newbies are so used to watching an interlaced Tube TV that a "720p" set looks just fine, but they don't realize that a 1080p set would probably look even smoother. Some don't care.
The various charts out there don't take into account the variations in people's eyesight and perception. I'm certainly in the minority here but the chart says 8.2 feet is optimum for a 42 inch "720p" TV but on my old Plasma i see the pixel structure at 10 feet away. And on a 50 inch set, it says optimal is 9.8 feet but i see the pixel structure at 12 feet before it blends into the picture.
I like to tell people that are considering getting a "720p" set to go to some stores or better yet someone's home (like mine) and get up close to a "720p" set and see for themselves what the pixel structure (SDE) looks like, then slowly move away until their eyes can no longer see it and it blends in with the picture. Different people will come up with different distances.
When i've done this with various friends and relatives and fellow shoppers in stores most of them stop seeing it at closer distances than myself, and most were unaware of the phenomenon until they saw it for themselves. Then i'd show them how much closer they can get to a 1080p set and they now see the advantage over the "720" sets at closer distances. Some aren't bothered by the SDE, while others would rather have the "smoother" picture on a 1080p set. A lot of flat-panel newbies are so used to watching an interlaced Tube TV that a "720p" set looks just fine, but they don't realize that a 1080p set would probably look even smoother. Some don't care.
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