[bitTRL1000]

I'm shopping for a LCD HDTV for my sister, and I'm currently looking at the Pan PT50LC14 and the Zen D52WLCD. She is going to be watching a lot of SD analog stuff, so I want to make sure that the TV she gets can stretch a 4x3 image to 16X9 well. Does anybody know if the Panny or Zennith have good stretch modes? Is one better than the other for 4x3 SD material? Any other thoughts about these TV's are welcome. I found the Zenith (which is apparently last years model, right?) for a really good price. That's why its in competition with the Panny.

 

[robshdtv]

I have the Panny and will tell you that a 16:9 tv stretched does make the picture look a little wider for 4:3 programs. Of course there is much more programing that is wide screen and looks great on this tv. If the stretching makes everything look a little "fatter" to you, you can always watch these tv's in the 4:3 mode and just have black bars on both sides for the regular look you're used to.


I will tell you that after a while your eyes adjust to the wider image and it looks better to fill the whole screen in my opinion. Of course to each is own....


-Rob

 

[AcuraCL]

The Panasonic has a mode called "Just" that stretches only the outer part of the image, keeping the middle part in normal aspect. It can be better for some content.


But really, um, why do you care?


This is a RP-LCD, you don't have to use stretch modes to prevent burnin or anything.


I think the only time I use a stretch mode is with PS2 sometimes, and occasionally to zoom a widescreen non-anomorphic DVD so it fills the screen.

 

[jrapps]

I have looked a lot at both the Panny and the LG (Zenith) Sets and I too was very interested in the stretch modes for SD. Here are the modes that each has:


Panasonic LCD


Normal - 4:3 with black bars on the sides


Full - Stretches evenly across the screen. This is the one that makes people look short and stocky.


Zoom - Zooms into the center to fill the screen, but cuts off about 20% of the original image on the top and bottom


Just - Stretches only the outer edges of the image but leaves the center of the screen in standard proportions. This is fine for most SD TV. When watching sports it can get annoying, and any stations that have text bars acorss the screen (like ESPN or CNN) don't look right with the Just stretch.



The LG and Zenith Sets have the following modes:


4:3 - same as above, black bars on the sides


Wide - evenly stretches across the screen


Panorama - same as the "Just" on the Panny


Zoom1 - Same as the Zoom on the Panny


Zoom2 - In my opinion, this is the best out of all of them. It stretches the image to fill the sides just like the Zoom, but it also stretches the top and bottom slightly. You do still lose some of the image just like on regular zoom, but only about 10% instead of like 20% of the image. it greatly minimizes the "stretch" look and fills the set quite nicely.


Now all that being said, I love the stretch modes better in the LG sets, but I think the Panny has better picture quality. I still haven't made up my mind either, but as of now I am leaning towards the Panny. I figure as time goes on, more and more content will be HD and then I will rather have the PQ over the SD Stretch modes. Also, I have noticed that a lot of new shows in SD are in widescreen (like ER or the West Wing on NBC). The put black bars on the top and bottom, so if you did a standard Zoom, all you are losing is the black bars, not any of the image you want to watch. Just my $.02


Jason

 

[NVboy]

Quote:

Originally posted by AcuraCL The Panasonic has a mode called "Just" that stretches only the outer part of the image, keeping the middle part in normal aspect. It can be better for some content.

jrapps,


I've tried the "just" mode as well, but it made me nauseated. That whole fish eye/peephole effect just didn't cut it for me. Zoom is pointless-just makes the picture worse in addition to cutting off most of it. I can tolerate some programming stretched, but the majority of the time I watch the source unaltered. All of these are great if you don't mind watching something really goofy looking. If these modes bug you, then this entire discussion is a mute point as you won't use any of these additional modes.

 

[jrapps]

That is true...for some people the Just mode has the same effect as a motion sickness...things just don't quite look right to your eye and after watching it for a while you just feel nauseated.


Jason