New TV For My FX1?
 

Hi

Been looking at getting a new TV the one im looking at says it has 1365 x 768 pixels wega engine what I would like to know please is this going to be good enough to view the FX1 footage at its best? does 1365 x 768 pixels mean 1080i? 720p or what? any help would very much be appreciated.

Thanks

The ideal would be 1920x1080, however I'm not sure whether you'll see a whole lot of difference. As long as the TV can accept a 1080i signal then it should work with the FX1 - look at the spec sheet. Almost all HDTV's can do this, they use an internal scaler to match the 1080i raw signal to the screen's native resolution.

You'll be able top watch your FX-1e clips at their best on such a set.

If the pixel count was lower than 1280 horizontal or 720 vertical, then you'd be in trouble!!!

You'll also be pleased that being in PAL territory, the HDTV you're looking at will no doubt be multi-scan and capable of displaying NTSC/PAL of all flavours.

Why don't you take your FX-1e into the showroom and hitch it up via the component cable to any of the sets you're thinking of purchasing? Then you'll be certain about the quality of the HDTV, matched to the 1080i coming from the cam before you lay down the readies...

Thanks for the reply guys

The one iv been looking at is this one http://www.sony.co.uk/view/ShowProdu...=TVP+Plasma+TV http://www.dealclick.co.uk/product/1...KDEP50MRX1.php im trying to find the PDF spec sheet to download but cant seem to find it anywhere, I saw somewhere its says HD READY but not HD compatible but what I think this means is it can display HD but when sky go live with there HD in 2006 it wont be able to receive it unless I buy a box for it. Sony centre have very little in them so not much chance of hooking the camera up to a set in the shops. Do you guys know what connection the TV needs to plug the camera up to it with the very best picture/sound quality? I thought it was firewire but can’t seem to find any TV with them on but I know they are out there.

Thanks

Phew, I'll bet that's expensive :-) The specs are a little sparse there, but it does indicate it has component video input. So you can just plug in the component cable from your FX1 and get high quality. Firewire is a little more exotic feature for a TV set, although I suppose some of the high end products may have it. However, I'm not sure whether it would be compatible with the firewire implementation on your camcorder.

Hi

Yes very expensive coming in at around $12,368, guess you’re paying for the design concept and the 50" screen size. Yes you’re correct since the FX1 has component then that's the way it’s going to have to be connected together.

Thanks for the help.

TO get optimum image you need 1080i/p vertical resolution. You will need 1920x1080 TV (Westinghouse, BenQ etc). The 1280x720 or 1368x768 units will "only" display 720p pixel by pixel and will interpolate down 1080i to 720p.
Regards,
Wojtek

Thanks for the advice there

read over it a bit quick before and did not see the bit where you said about the component cable but now I see it.

Thanks for the help

Wow, that is quite a set. It should look great with the camera attached.

I have the 50" DLP Wega, and I love it. I hook my JVC JY-HD10u up to it with component cable and it is great.

I checked the specs on the site you posted, and it says it has the digital tuner. That is the tuner for over-the-air HD broadcasts, and it is in my too. I can only get one regular channel here that is HD, but looks so good! Good news is that it is my Monday Night Football channel!!!! Pretty soon many more I hope.

Good luck with it!

Mike

New SHarp pn-455 ... maybe it will work
 

http://vpo3.virtualpressoffice.com/c...=1127769028135

take a look

that's a monitor not a TV right? or is it both?

Monitor, but you can always buy a $30 VHS recorder and use it as a tuner for SD tv. For HD youll probably get a box from your provider.

I use a Samsung HLN5065W - 50" DLP TV. 1080i and 720p both look incredible. The TV can be purchased for about $2500 new.

I went to the Sony builiding in Ginza, Tokyo in June this year. They had 2 or 3 displays playing Blu-Ray discs on Sony plasma screens. They were very, very impressive - much better than any HD I have seen before. I guess the size was about 55"-65". Does anyone know what model and resolution they were, please?

Unfortunately for those looking at the 'best' options available for viewing their HD material, the line between monitor and 'TV' is becoming a little less defined these days... Generally a 'monitor' is not going to be as effective for "all-round" HD playback as a multi-synch HDTV, but that distinction is diminishing in relevance as connectivity between PC and HDTV become easier and easier...

The best thing to ask yourself to help make the decision is - how big do I want my HD viewing screen to be?

Because it's obvious you're looking at more than 28" or 76cm, the HDTV option becomes much more viable. There aren't many 'monitors' that are larger than 28", and those that are are a hell of a lot more expensive than a similar size HDTV.

I know that the unit you're looking at has more than enough resolution to handle HD quality playback - I was just a little concerned to see you write "I saw somewhere its says HD READY but not HD compatible".... Yikes!!!

That's like a Real-Estate agent telling you that a house is "resident ready but not resident compatible". I hope you take my meaning... Many folks here in Oz have been suckered by that one. HD ready and HD compatible ultimately mean - SD quality ONLY!! Sales people will try to pull the ole' "this unit is fully Digital Sir!", "of course it can handle HD - HD is digital..." if they sense someone doesn't walk the walk or know the talk :)

Are you intending expanding the functionality of your intended HDTV purchase at some point? i.e. with a digital amp, or network media player? If so, be sure to check the capabilities of the SCART connectors. We don't use SCART much if at all here in Oz, but I recall that HD is possible over SCART - just not sure how it's implemented. I'm also not certain that the single Component connector won't prove a bottle-neck for device connection if you want to expand your set-up.

There does appear to be either an RGB/DVI connector for PC attachment, so you may be able to connect a PC with DVB-t card to give yourself a pseudo HD broadcast video recorder.

Anyway; now that I've filled your head with visions of Sugar-plums and fairies...

Hope it all works out for you!! :)

Not sure - but just received an e-mail notification from Sony Aust. about the launch of the "Bravia" series of HD LCD monitors around the country. Timing would be about right for the local release here of something you saw in Japan in June.

Hi

Thanks for the long and great info you gave me

The TV will be used for watching DVD’s, sky, and playing FX1 footage, that’s it really. I don’t think I will be connecting up to the PC as it will be in a different room so would have to move it each time unless you can some how set up a wireless connection.

The one I listed above seems to be the only Sony 50" model around they are bringing a new one out soon nov time but there is not much difference be side the new one has HDMI input and the one im looking at doesn’t.

But the one im looking has this nice floating design so when you’re watching a dvd it seems like its floating, sounds interesting.

Hmmm... So how you intending watching edited material? Do you want to watch it as HD quality, with all the effects, transitions and titles etc. at full 1920x1080? If you do; you can write back to the camera - which is your only current option as a PAL FX-1e owner, or you might consider the X-Box 360 connected via 10/100 LAN hardwire if it lives up to expectation. Don't even consider wireless for any HD/HDV playback from PC to HDTV. There's nowhere near enough bandwidth - despite the marketing hype, to stream anything better than compressed SD. HD only works over wired 10/100 or Gigabit.

My experience has been that writing back to the camera for every edit check is a pain in the glutes... and writing to DVD just means your watching downrezzed material, so while it's good - it's just not the same thing. Besides; writing an edit back to DVD can take longer than you might expect, and it too starts to wear the ole patience a bit thin...

So keep an eye out for PAL HD network media players. There's supposed to be a whole batch (besides the X-Box 360 and PS3) coming out around November, December. Just so that you know, for some strange reason, none of the current HD media players can playback PAL HD/HDV of 720 or 1080 standard.

I figure the more you know about this HD/HDV thing the better...

Hi

That media player sounds good i'll be looking at one of thos when they are around

Thanks for all the advice

I bought a WinTV 32" TV and monitor (includes about 8 different inputs) for $1,000 at Micro Center and it is great as a monitor for my edit computer and shows my Z1 footage beautifully. I watch TV on it when not on the computer. I went in with my camera and tried it out before buying. The sales people were happy to let me try it.

Gents

Take a tip from a warhorse that's gotten himself thrwon out of a store by wanting to hook up a cam to a monitor or similar device. Get permission before you hog your cam down to the local store - and make sure you get permission from the head honcho - not some floor salesperson.

That aside, I would never purchase something like this without testing directly with a camera first - that way, you know what you are getting.

Cheers

Hi

This is not a model I can easily test because of the high price and size few shops have it in stock without doing a special order, but iv read what I can about it and all sounds good.

I noticed there are a lot of lcd/ plasmas out there that has native resolutions like 768 or 720p not even come close to 1080i. In other words there aren't a lot of 1080i native resolution screens. I assume it will look great with the 720 resolution but why settle for something less when you have "big gun" camera. Like I said in my other post this whole HD movement is confusing and overwhelming.

the 1080P screens are arriving. I am actually looking to get BenQ 3750 which is LCD based with 1920x1080 resolution (37").
Thanks,
W

I prefer Sony hands down. By the way I visited Ottawa this past summer..you have a beautiful city!

Thanks Fred, I like here as well.
Are you referring to 1920x1080 resolution in Sony line? Which model?
Thanks,
Wojtek

today I checked the sharp aquos lcd. The latest models seem to have a lot of impprov on blacklevels. A huge difference with the previous model which I also checked connected to the component out of my z1.
it recognised the 1080i input immediatly.
I still am a bit confused. The sharp revealed a lot more than my viewfinder or my z1 lcd. It s num,ber of pixels is also not really standard. I am desperately trying to find excuses not to get m e a panasonic hd vierra plasma and somehow the qquos appels to me. portable!! So you can use it on the set. But alsdo at home you can easily take it to the bedroom, put it next to my apple alu displays...that I can t do with a pana....but the pana is 720p compatible....
Does anyone know these aquos lcd s? some opinions would be appreciated.
What could be the downside if I connect my 1080i to an lcd that has 1366x768 pixels and what could be the reason that the screen reelas a sort of overscan...?

I have a Sharp Aquos 83cm LCD HDTV. The fact that I do is an indication of how good I thought it's image to be. I've been watching HD since 2002 and when the Aquos was improved from it's rather inadequate predecessor, I decided to replace my Panasonic 76cm CRT HDTV.

While many folks seem to want to avoid the shock of the new; by defending to the bitter end, the primacy of old technology... I decided to look at what I was seeing with only one goal in mind - Get the best image that is possible on screen.

So I got the Aquos. It's a multi-scan unit, and it does similar scaling to that which a computer monitor would do for an image of pixel dimensions larger than the screens native resolution. Unlike a computer monitor, it's variable synch rate, means no problems with NTSC, ATSC or PAL playback!

It's 1366x768 pixel count means that you have more than enough pixels for 720p (1280x720) at native resolution, and plenty to scale 1080 into. The fact that 1080i scaled looks awesome as well is just a product of Sharp having got the quality of their scaler, matched with the resolution just right. BTW, all LCD HDTVs up until the first 1080p native capable monitors appeared in demo a couple of months ago - were 1366x768.

I'd suggest you also try to find out the native resolution of some other HDTV screen technologies... You'll be surprised at how low the pixel count is on most plasmas, that CRT is so low - it's embarassing enough that many CRT spec's don't announce it!!

The image from my FX-1e looks AWESOME on my Sharp Aquos. Shows that are really 1080i on HDTV broadcasts look so good that at times you forget you're watching TV!! I mean... it's so good that you'll even watch a crap show, because in good HD it's just that much more visually seductive.

The portability of the Aquos has it's pro's and con's. Move it around to any antenna point - or get a long RF lead if you don't mind tripping over it... Won't break the back of anyone over 10 or under 90 when they lift it - mind you; not so good when you're told by the Police that your Aquos was nicked by a 89 year old!!

It's got DVI - yeah I know that HDMI is the next big thing for "pure digital" image quality, but I'll be honest with you... DVI was promoted as superior to Component connection - well if it is I can't see it!! Maybe it's a mozzie's undies better, if that - so why all the fanfare over DVI. Sales!! That's why.

Moral of that - even brands that give you the product that you're after quality wise, can still get caught up in the marketing hype. Being 'brand loyal' to any company involved in HD/HDTV is not doing yourself a favour. Just remember that this technology is NEW, very new - and to keep up with every new device offering "better" HD quality is going to require either: a) large sums of money OR b) a careful approach that maximises the usage of each HD device purchase you make.

For me the Aquos does just that, because it's technology will remain current for at least 10 years (spare parts for it therefore not a problem), and until it does become obsolete, HD quality from subsequent technological advances will only provide very little image quality improvements, as current HD standards for broadcast will not be upgraded (despite the loony fringe that believes TV networks are just dying to spend millions to impliment 1080p!!)for at least another ten years.

You can't beat a 1080i CRT for viewing interlaced footage like that from a FX1. You also can't beat the black levels of a CRT compared to LCD, DLP, and plasma.

Of course widescreen 1080i CRTs limit you to about 34" and that was the big problem for me. I eventually with with a Sony 50" LCD rear-projection and for progressive content it can't be beat but I still keep a 34" Sony XBR tube.

Someone will most always point out that these consumer 1080i CRTs are a few lines short on vertical resolution but then again so is the FX1... I'm just not a big fan of upconversion, downconversion, and i/p switching.

HDMI doesn't improve the picture but just includes audio from the single cable. You can even purchase a cable with DVI on one end and HDMI on the other.

preview monitor
 

while I agree with you that you can't beat an HD CRT... You want to lend me the money to buy one?

If consumers are out there watching our HDV footage on a LCD, plasma or whatever, will we eventually move away from CRT alltogether?

I'm looking at the dell 24" monitor as a middle solution. Final cut doesn't make it easy to preview HDV.

Lewis

Yeah, and have you seen how much they are?!!

And while the promotion of HDMI doesn't directly state (for legal reasons) that it is superior to component or DVI, it's also noteable that HDMI is being promoted as "providing allround superior HD Digital Performance for HDMI enabled devices". Such omissions of proviso's such as - "performance enhancements to audio only" aren't anywhere to be found.
So: here and now, for those with the common sense to figure this out - HDMI is no major improvement. DVI is as good a Digital Video signal as you're going to get. As for the audio. I've only got a 5.1 setup, so the 7.1 and greater that HDMI supports is redundant. Why should I buy another two speakers, new amp and all new HDTV just for the privilege.

As for the CRT opinion, because it is just that; the fact that early LCD panels couldn't match the dynamic range or the contrast curves demonstrated by CRTs' is ancient news...

Things have moved along, and CRT technology is fast being eliminated from the manufacturing lines of the major HDTV manufacturers. The reason CRT is fast becoming extinct as a HD video technology is because the quality, reliability and performance of LCD panels has gone beyond where CRT can be pushed to. Plasma is also facing a difficult future for the same reasons. To try to develop aged or aging technologies that are at the extent of their capabilities is expensive and time consuming.

I know the reason many people love CRTs is because the real HD image is quite harsh to their 'accustomed to SD' eyesight - so the softer and less dramatic CRT rendition of the image suits them just fine.

I've had a CRT HDTV 100Hz etc, etc.. - it was nice while I had it, and I still watch things on it... I felt sorry for my whingeing mate who didn't have a functioning tele. How altruistic is that eh?!!

Maybe not, because he never seems to be able to get it working correctly. Anamorphic stretched stuff, constantly watches SD Foxtel crap and wonders why it doesn't look like the picture on my Aquos LCD HDTV. Everytime I fix the settings... he just has to fiddle - then he can't get them back, so now I just avoid fixing it when I go to his place because it just disheartens me about people's ability with this HD stuff.

Hey Lewis!! As for how expensive CRT HDTVs are - you are kiddding... right?
You can pick up (well two people can if they're strong enough) a good 76cm to 83cm CRT 100Hz HDTV here in Australia for no more than $900. That's down from the $3,500 I paid for the same set on 2.5 years ago!! If that isn't affordable considering the quality - I don't know what is...

thnx for your reply on my questions steve.
I was very surprised about the enormous gain in quality when i compared last years model 26 inch aquos with the current model. The black levels seem very ok now.
They have a model here in europe which has a so called pal panel....meant to deal with sd pal broadcasts. somehow that pal panel should eleiminate the problem that is caused when you look at pal on a hdtv....But I have no idea if this is also active when I check my z1 footage on the component in......
The new models I checked were the LC-26P50E and the LC-26GA6E....can t really figure out if the cheaper one ( lc-26p50E) is sufficient to use with the z1 ....

I now realized Sony is not the way to go if you want the very best TV money can buy then I would go with the Fujitsu P50HTS40GS this TV has the best colour and contrast you will ever find and iv heard that in a lot of places.

26" isn't all that big... I wonder whether that's one of the 'monitor' type sets, rather than the full blown HDTV screens.

My 83cm Aquos has no problems at all with PAL/NTSC, so no fancy things for dealing with SD - it just scales to the selected output, and attempts to give as good an image as it can be fed - regardless of the colour format of the original video.

At 26", you might find some of the upper end computer LCD panels are as capable, with much lower price tags. There's a sort of cross-over point; where HDTV screens are less cost effective for screen real-estate than computer monitors are... In my opinion, you should look at the larger computer screens.

To be honest, you won't get to experience what the FX-1/Z1 can do until you hit the 32" and bigger mark... Expensive?... Yes. Awesome quality that'll blow you away?!! ABSOLUTELY!!

Black is still black, and no matter how much stock you put into the latest fixed pixel displays there is a reason while the vast majority of production monitors are still based on the tried and true CRT. Don't get me wrong, I love my 50" LCD and my DLP projector but thier ability to faithfully reproduce blacks is still noticeably less than a quality CRT.

okay...i know 1920x1080 is the real thing but at that price level the aquos top models can be compared to pioneer and panasonic hd plasmas....
what is the verdict here ? if you spend 5000 bucks.....
what to choose; lcd or plasma?

Keep in mind that plasma has a "half-life" that is reached in about two years and its downhill from there. I have four large plasmas at work (2 Sony, 2 Pioneer) and between burn-in and lumen degradation I think they are worthless.

http://www.nextgenelectronics.com/plasmaissues.shtml

2 years is a little short I don’t think that is right, plus you can get the extra warranty with it.

I can only go by the way over priced Sony and Pioneer models I use at work. They are two years old and both suffer with burn-in and diminished brightness but I have read that 2005 models have dramitcally improved in these areas. As far as extened warranties go.. You mileage may vary as most do not cover gradual degradation or backlight replacement. I recommend directly enquiring as to what their warranty "will" cover and even with the latest and greatest plasmas, keep the contrast below 70%.