[orojeff]

I just received my Panasonic TH-37PWD7UY and I'm thrilled.

Most of the TV I watch seems to be broadcast in 4:3 Aspect ratio (I'm still debating between Comcast and DirecTV for HD, but that is another thread)


I tried using the "Normal" aspect ratio with the bars on the side, but this was kind of small and distracting with the lights on (you could see the TV)


I'm now using "Panasonic Auto Mode" which I find much better. However sometimes I feel like the people on the edges are distorted. I try to pause the image, but unfortunately you can't switch directly between Normal and Auto.


What do most people use?


Jeff

 

[Felgar]

Panasonic Auto Mode actually just borrows from the other modes, using "zoom" when it detects a letterbox picture and "just" when the content is not letterboxed. You can set the stretch mode employed by Auto mode...


You're right about the distortion. Just mode leaves the center of the image largely unaltered but to compensate stretches the edges. It's like a fish-eye view... Some people like the Just mode, but I don't liek it. I bought the plasma for perfect geometry, so using a non-linear stretch mode doesn't agree with me.


I use 'zoom' mode, but with a few caveats. I shrink the horizontal size to eliminate as much overscan as possible. (10% or so) I shrink the vertical size to compromise between lost picture at the top & bottom vs. having the aspect too fat and short. In the end I cut about 10% of the picture off (basically amounts to the cnn ticker being completely removed, but still permits scoreboards during sports to be on-screen) and I have the aspect about 10% too wide. Those 3 things add together to compensate for the 30% increase in the width of 16:9 to the 4:3 broadcast. As an added benefit, reducing overscan increases PQ noticeably.

 

[jcpzero]

Quote:

Originally posted by Felgar I use 'zoom' mode, but with a few caveats. I shrink the horizontal size to eliminate as much overscan as possible. (10% or so) I shrink the vertical size to compromise between lost picture at the top & bottom vs. having the aspect too fat and short. In the end I cut about 10% of the picture off (basically amounts to the cnn ticker being completely removed, but still permits scoreboards during sports to be on-screen) and I have the aspect about 10% too wide. Those 3 things add together to compensate for the 30% increase in the width of 16:9 to the 4:3 broadcast. As an added benefit, reducing overscan increases PQ noticeably.

When you use this zoom technic for 4:3 broadcast - what happens when you then watch a HD 16:9 broadcast. Do you then have to readjust horizontal/vertical size for the different content? Do you use separate inputs one for HD 16:9 and one for 4:3 - so that each input remembers all the adjustments? I am making the assumption the TV rembers the hor size adjustments based on selected video input - that it does not remeber separate horizontal/vertical size based on 'zoom' vs 'regular' on the same video input.


JCPZero

 

[JuiceRocket]

I use "JUST" for almost all 4:3 content, but sometimes will switch to zoom and let parts of the screen get cut off. It really depends on the subject matter on my part.


Here are some pics in a post I created that might help out, even though you have the TV and know what they look like.

Panasonic Commercial Modes


-JR

 

[Tong Chia]

On my STB most of the HD broadcasts have a choice of aspect ratio

and I toggle it on the STB's remote.


That includes OTA as well as D*


Zoom mode on the panel is not too bad if you don't mind some

loss of the edge of the screen.


The worse is when widescreen is transmitted as letterboxed 4:3

(eg the SciFi chanel) then the fun and games begin.

 

[Felgar]

Quote:

Originally posted by jcpzero When you use this zoom technic for 4:3 broadcast - what happens when you then watch a HD 16:9 broadcast. Do you then have to readjust horizontal/vertical size for the different content?

Well yes I do normally use seperate inputs (svid vs. component) but at times I'll tune an analog 4:3 channel with my HD box over component when my DVD recorder is busy recording. Basically for HD it's not a problem at all because the TV remembers the aspect & size settings for each video format. Now for svid & composite there's only 480i so that's a moot point. But for component, the TV wll remember size and aspect settings for 1080i, 480i, 480p, etc.


Too bad it doesn't also remember the picture settings (hue, contrast, etc.) because that would be helpful also.