have 16:9 plasma. do i need sidebars displayed for 4:3 content?

[Homer Simpson]

i have a panasonic 42" 1080p plasma. when i watch 4:3 content, the unused sides are black. my cable box has options for light and dark bars for this. which is better? i dont want to get any "image retention" or whatever its called.

 

[Mutilator]

Your cable box (or the TV itself) will probably have a stretch mode as well... that'll stretch the image horizontally and get rid of the bars.

 

[montypythizzle]

Originally posted by: Homer Simpson
i have a panasonic 42" 1080p plasma. when i watch 4:3 content, the unused sides are black. my cable box has options for light and dark bars for this. which is better? i dont want to get any "image retention" or whatever its called.

Gray ones will have less contrast, meaning it won't be such a drastic change and therefore will lessen the chance of getting burn-in.
Link to screen, looking for a nice ~720p plasma, 1080p might be nice, but at 42" is a little lame.

 

[Homer Simpson]

yes, i can stretch content but i'd rather watch 4:3 content in 4:3. i dont wanna watch short fat people LOL

montypythizzle: i got this http://www.bestbuy.com/site/ol...oduct&id=1186004963573

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Is this a new plasma?

As I understand it, the first 100 hours are the most critical for preventing burn-in, and after that point, the risk is quite low.

Do you have brightness / contrast set to appropriate levels to prevent burn-in problems?

For this 100 hour period, I also think it's recommended to stretch 4:3 content to fill the whole screen. Beyond this critical period, then I think the gray background would be the best bet.

 

[Homer Simpson]

yeah, its new. got it monday.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Homer Simpson
yeah, its new. got it monday.

Well then I'd make sure to calibrate it asap or at least turn down the brightness / contrast until you do so and then keep everything 16:9 for the first ~100 hours to be safe.

 

[montypythizzle]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: Homer Simpson
yeah, its new. got it monday.

Well then I'd make sure to calibrate it asap or at least turn down the brightness / contrast until you do so and then keep everything 16:9 for the first ~100 hours to be safe.

And keep the brightness and contrast to uber low levels AKA less than 50%.

 

[montypythizzle]

Eh, for that price I could get a projector, with screen.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: montypythizzle
Eh, for that price I could get a projector, with screen.

You can get a projector + screen going for just about any budget you want from $600 upwards

 

[montypythizzle]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: montypythizzle
Eh, for that price I could get a projector, with screen.

You can get a projector + screen going for just about any budget you want from $600 upwards

Yeah, but remember I have to get the AX200U, OR ELSE!!!

 

[zinfamous]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: Homer Simpson
yeah, its new. got it monday.

Well then I'd make sure to calibrate it asap or at least turn down the brightness / contrast until you do so and then keep everything 16:9 for the first ~100 hours to be safe.

yeah, this was going to be my fist comment. make sure you spend that first 100 hours with the settings way low (30-40% --esp on brightness and contrast) and zoom in the screen. this will make the phosphors more "plastic" in the long run, increase the lifespan of your TV, and allow it to produce a better overall image.

you shouldn't allow any bars up during this time, and shy away from score boxes and tickers during a game or news channels. if your TV allows it, be sure and set the pixel shift properly.

sounds like a PITA, but it's worth it, and soon enough you'll be rewarded with some gorgeous PQ.

 

[Mojoed]

Originally posted by: montypythizzle

Originally posted by: Homer Simpson
i have a panasonic 42" 1080p plasma. when i watch 4:3 content, the unused sides are black. my cable box has options for light and dark bars for this. which is better? i dont want to get any "image retention" or whatever its called.

Gray ones will have less contrast, meaning it won't be such a drastic change and therefore will lessen the chance of getting burn-in.
Link to screen, looking for a nice ~720p plasma, 1080p might be nice, but at 42" is a little lame.

I thought you had your mind set on that Samsung DLP?

 

[Shawn]

ugh, i hate grey bars. black only.

 

[montypythizzle]

Originally posted by: Mojoed

Originally posted by: montypythizzle

Originally posted by: Homer Simpson
i have a panasonic 42" 1080p plasma. when i watch 4:3 content, the unused sides are black. my cable box has options for light and dark bars for this. which is better? i dont want to get any "image retention" or whatever its called.

Gray ones will have less contrast, meaning it won't be such a drastic change and therefore will lessen the chance of getting burn-in.
Link to screen, looking for a nice ~720p plasma, 1080p might be nice, but at 42" is a little lame.

I thought you had your mind set on that Samsung DLP?

With my checks only being ~450 after taxes that is a long time to save up.. and then I will have to get health insurance, ugh, it never ends.

Eh, might as well, I want to get a 2008 model, so it might work out, that or the Panasonic AX200U

 

[Googer]

4:3 if you don't care about burn in.

16:9 if you do not want a burned screen.

 

[cmdrdredd]

Originally posted by: zinfamous

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: Homer Simpson
yeah, its new. got it monday.

Well then I'd make sure to calibrate it asap or at least turn down the brightness / contrast until you do so and then keep everything 16:9 for the first ~100 hours to be safe.

yeah, this was going to be my fist comment. make sure you spend that first 100 hours with the settings way low (30-40% --esp on brightness and contrast) and zoom in the screen. this will make the phosphors more "plastic" in the long run, increase the lifespan of your TV, and allow it to produce a better overall image.

you shouldn't allow any bars up during this time, and shy away from score boxes and tickers during a game or news channels. if your TV allows it, be sure and set the pixel shift properly.

sounds like a PITA, but it's worth it, and soon enough you'll be rewarded with some gorgeous PQ.

your right it IS A PITA...100hours is a long ass time to not be able to use my new TV.

Pathetic that they can't make it so you don't need to do this at all.

 

[montypythizzle]

Originally posted by: cmdrdredd

Originally posted by: zinfamous

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: Homer Simpson
yeah, its new. got it monday.

Well then I'd make sure to calibrate it asap or at least turn down the brightness / contrast until you do so and then keep everything 16:9 for the first ~100 hours to be safe.

yeah, this was going to be my fist comment. make sure you spend that first 100 hours with the settings way low (30-40% --esp on brightness and contrast) and zoom in the screen. this will make the phosphors more "plastic" in the long run, increase the lifespan of your TV, and allow it to produce a better overall image.

you shouldn't allow any bars up during this time, and shy away from score boxes and tickers during a game or news channels. if your TV allows it, be sure and set the pixel shift properly.

sounds like a PITA, but it's worth it, and soon enough you'll be rewarded with some gorgeous PQ.

your right it IS A PITA...100hours is a long ass time to not be able to use my new TV.

Pathetic that they can't make it so you don't need to do this at all.

It isn't hard, make it stay on a ALL HD channel, like TNTHD, they never have any 4:3 content, they might have at MOST 2 4:3 commercials in a row. If that isn't possible put white noise on it!

 

[cmdrdredd]

Originally posted by: montypythizzle

Originally posted by: cmdrdredd

Originally posted by: zinfamous

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: Homer Simpson
yeah, its new. got it monday.

Well then I'd make sure to calibrate it asap or at least turn down the brightness / contrast until you do so and then keep everything 16:9 for the first ~100 hours to be safe.

yeah, this was going to be my fist comment. make sure you spend that first 100 hours with the settings way low (30-40% --esp on brightness and contrast) and zoom in the screen. this will make the phosphors more "plastic" in the long run, increase the lifespan of your TV, and allow it to produce a better overall image.

you shouldn't allow any bars up during this time, and shy away from score boxes and tickers during a game or news channels. if your TV allows it, be sure and set the pixel shift properly.

sounds like a PITA, but it's worth it, and soon enough you'll be rewarded with some gorgeous PQ.

your right it IS A PITA...100hours is a long ass time to not be able to use my new TV.

Pathetic that they can't make it so you don't need to do this at all.

It isn't hard, make it stay on a ALL HD channel, like TNTHD, they never have any 4:3 content, they might have at MOST 2 4:3 commercials in a row. If that isn't possible put white noise on it!

You don't get my point. Who wants to buy a new TV to bring it home and not use it? 100hours is more than 4 days which is a really long time to me.

 

[montypythizzle]

So you are saying TNTHD sucks?

 

[cmdrdredd]

Originally posted by: montypythizzle
So you are saying TNTHD sucks?

When watching at low contrast and brightness yes. hehe

I'm just being an ass. It is a huge pain to do no doubt, but the reasons for doing so are obvious. I wonder why the manufacturers can't produce the screens in a way that doesn't require a burn in process.

 

[montypythizzle]

Originally posted by: cmdrdredd

Originally posted by: montypythizzle
So you are saying TNTHD sucks?

When watching at low contrast and brightness yes. hehe

I'm just being an ass. It is a huge pain to do no doubt, but the reasons for doing so are obvious. I wonder why the manufacturers can't produce the screens in a way that doesn't require a burn in process.

Eh, I can't wait to get my plasma, just depends on how much I save, but a 50" plasma is going to looks soooper huge in my small ass room.

 

[cmdrdredd]

Originally posted by: montypythizzle

Originally posted by: cmdrdredd

Originally posted by: montypythizzle
So you are saying TNTHD sucks?

When watching at low contrast and brightness yes. hehe

I'm just being an ass. It is a huge pain to do no doubt, but the reasons for doing so are obvious. I wonder why the manufacturers can't produce the screens in a way that doesn't require a burn in process.

Eh, I can't wait to get my plasma, just depends on how much I save, but a 50" plasma is going to looks soooper huge in my small ass room.

Yeah, I was looking at them up close and didn't realize how much space they took up on a wall or table. EVen 42" sets look bigger than I thought, mostly because I was looking at them in other environments from a distance. Up to a 6' viewing distance they look massave by comparison to the 12' I was at previously.

 

[montypythizzle]

Originally posted by: cmdrdredd

Originally posted by: montypythizzle

Originally posted by: cmdrdredd

Originally posted by: montypythizzle
So you are saying TNTHD sucks?

When watching at low contrast and brightness yes. hehe

I'm just being an ass. It is a huge pain to do no doubt, but the reasons for doing so are obvious. I wonder why the manufacturers can't produce the screens in a way that doesn't require a burn in process.

Eh, I can't wait to get my plasma, just depends on how much I save, but a 50" plasma is going to looks soooper huge in my small ass room.

Yeah, I was looking at them up close and didn't realize how much space they took up on a wall or table. EVen 42" sets look bigger than I thought, mostly because I was looking at them in other environments from a distance. Up to a 6' viewing distance they look massave by comparison to the 12' I was at previously.

I might go in BB and look at the LG plasma I was looking at, or the Hitachi on sale, both 50s.