Zoom/aspect preferences

[Drake]

I am thinking about purchsing a 16:9 plasma or LCD TV soon.  My wife and I watch many channels that broadcast in 4:3 only.  My guess is that we'll watch 20-40% 16:9 content, so we'll need some zoom control to avoid burn-in.

I've downloaded manuals from several manufacturers to see what zoom capabilities they have.  Some manuals are better than others at describing zoom modes.  I notice that some manufactures have many zoom modes, while others have only a few.

A non-linear stretch mode (Toshiba calls it TheaterWide) would seem to be one of the better modes.

I plan to go to the stores to play, but since some zoom modes are restricted to certain inputs/signals, I may not be able to see what I want.

I would like to get the opinions of members of this forum.

What zoom modes do you like?  Why?
What zoom modes do you dislike?  Why?

Thanks,
Rick

[kevbeck122]

I like the wide zoom on Sony TVs.  It zooms/stretches the sides and keeps the center normal.  I make it so the zoom is at 0% so basically the sides are stretched and the center is normal.  It's basically the same thing that TNT does to their 4:3 material.  I use zoom on letterboxed 4:3 content.  I can't stand just the standard stetch, makes things too wide.  On my other TV, I just leave it at 4:3 with sidebars because it only has stretch and zoom.

[bubbaridesfast]

I have a Toshiba HD CRT set and it has 4 different zoom settings. I always use the "Fullscreen" mode as I find that is the best as far as picture distortion.

I really hate the zoom modes that cut off the scoreboards at the bottom of the screen during games or the sportsticker on ESPN channels.

[StarvingForHDTV]

I can't stand zoom or stretch, and would rather risk burn in.

[Jimboy]

Some stations in other markets use gray sidebars instead of black.

[SRW1000]

Plasma burn in may not be as much of an issue as it once was.  A recent article on Ultimate AV discussed a study commissioned by the Plasma Display Coalition.  You can read the whole article here, and it also contains a link to the actual study.

Here's an excerpt:

The consultants logically concluded that "image sticking" was not brought about by burned phosphers – an irreversible condition – as would happen were a CRT fed any those signals. Instead, image retention is attributed to an accumulated electrical charge within the plasma cell walls. Turning off the sets for 24 hours eliminated the ghost images from three of the five sets completely. The remaining two sets were fed a diet of plain white for a few hours and they too cleared up.

I had the same concern over burn in, and settled on DLP instead (no burn in, ever) which I think looks better than plasma anyway.

As for strech/zoom modes, I can't stand any of them.

Scott

[StarvingForHDTV]

LCDs can't get burn in.  Since you are considering LCD versus Plasma, go with LCD in case you find zoom and/or stretch distasteful.  I think they make pretty decent LCD TVs these days.

[Nels Harvey]

After many years of operating camera controls (Shading), I learned to be picky on video quality.  When I purchased the LCD monitor I now have, I was concerned with how it treated the different formats.  

My Hitachi does a non-linear stretch, and also cuts a few lines from the top and bottom of the 4X3 pictures.  I do not like how they cut the horizontal lines, but otherwise am OK with the PQ.  It does minimize the picture distortion.

I did adjust the vertical size and positioning to minimize the missing lines, but scrolls right at the bottom can be hard to read.

I expanded the 4X3 picture for the football game last night through the Dish 811, OTA, from Ch. 4.  The 811 does not expand in a non-linear mode, and that was a bit annoying.  I chose that over Ch. 4 SD OTA because it's delay was almost the same as the delay WTMJ puts on their audio, and I prefer to listen to radio play by play over those buffoons on TV.

Nels....