PV500 - Surely more picture aspect flexibility ?

[meltonboy]

I'm very happy with the panny , except a minor but annoying limitation on the picture aspect.

It offers a selection of auto/wide/14:?/4:3, but when viewing 4:3 tv pictures there isn't a strech/zoom mix (called "smart" by sony and "super wide" by phillips). Also using the 14 setting, which is a partial zoom, there's no opportunity to zoom up or down.

This flexibility is standard on wide CRT sets that i have used - Is it not usual om plasmas (or even LCD), or is it just my model ???

I know that 4:3 tv isn't that common anymore, but it is still used on formula 1 and NFL in the Uk (plus fairly recent US dramas) and i find that streching a 4:3 picture over the whole screen too weird. And now that i have noticed it once i notice it always...

I'm not thinking of changing because of this, but i am advising others, including my dad (and this is where the gadget contest is most important ).

 

[wildysax]

I can't see the problem of viewing 4:3 images at 4:3. After all that is what they were meant to viewed at. We have lived with black bars above and below on widescreen for years so why not have bars left and right? Stretched in any form just looks wrong.

 

[Lionheart]

I just stretch 4:3 to 16:9....cant stand 4:3 as a square in a 16:9 screen...I dont even notice the stretching...I guess u get used to it

 

[Jazz Monkey Jr]

Same here, I leave it on auto - most freeview is in widescreen anyway.

 

[meltonboy]

Well i don't see it as a big problem, just a minor disappointment that a £2k telly (well mine at least) doesn't have one particular function of a £300 one.

 

[MAW]

Auto mode can be set to panasonic 'Just' on all other WSS panasonics. I must admit I have not tried this, it should be in the menu under WSS handling, or something like it. This is the Panasonic name for the 'smart stretch' you refer to. Even PWD and PHD panels can do it, so I'm sure yours can.

 

[chedmaster]

our pw4 has a mode (cant remember the name - may be the "just" referred to) where you can zoom in/out, and stretch vertical/horizontal to very small degrees. very good, im surprised the latest panny doesnt have it?

 

[mork80]

There is also a 14:9 option that do not deform 4:3 source and fill "more" panel

 

[meltonboy]

Well the "just" option seems to be the one. The trouble is that option only appears on the SD card viewing menu

14:9 is a good one and the one i use normally.

But i can't see how to adjust the zoom up/down when in 14:9, having tried the arrows on the remote.

Looks like they just cut a few corners with features that 99.9% wouldn't notice or worry about

 

[wildysax]

14:9 is fine but then of course you lose some of your picture.

 

[TeresaTT]

But why is a 4:3 picture so terrible? You get to see the whole picture without bits cut off and undistorted. Why spend thousands on AV kit and then distort or crop the picture?

However, it annoys me that so many channels still show 4:3 stuff when it is available as 16:9. I was upset when Alias moved from Sky One in 16:9 to Bravo in 4:3. Most new series are 16:9 now, but if they're shown on a non major channel, they are likely to be cropped to 4:3 or sometimes to 14:9.

 

[meltonboy]

However, it annoys me that so many channels still show 4:3 stuff when it is available as 16:9. I was upset when Alias moved from Sky One in 16:9 to Bravo in 4:3. Most new series are 16:9 now, but if they're shown on a non major channel, they are likely to be cropped to 4:3 or sometimes to 14:9.

And can you believe that Formula 1 and all the billions of dollars that run through it, still do 4:3 ?

My main gripe is that NFL on Sky Sports is in 4:3, but i assume that this is because in america they are trying to get you to have HD if you want widescreen. Either that or its just sky being rubbish.