Viewing Modes

[ttibsen]

Could someone explain to me the various Viewing Modes

Wide Zoom
Normal
Full
Zoom

that are options on the Sony xbr4?


Thanks

John

 

[Adam]

Hey again, John!

Those modes are described somewhat with images on page 23 of the XBR's manual, but I think the best descripions are given on page 37 of the manual.

Those can be confusing, no question. I'd have to really study those to do a better job of explaining it than the manual does. Some of the widescreen gurus here might have some good explainations, though.

 

[ttibsen]

Once again, thanks for pointing me in the right direction in the Manual - the explanation was right there.

John

 

[Adam]

Always happy to help when I can, John.

BTW, I find it easier to find stuff in the electronic versions of the manuals because I can just do a word search (for example, I searched for "zoom" in the XBR manual and found that stuff right away). You can generally download owner's manuals from the manufacturer websites.

The XBR manual (and other documents for that TV) can be found at the link here.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Just to be clear, "normal" is all you need unless you enjoy the loss of some video data...

 

[Adam]

Just to be clear, "normal" is all you need unless you enjoy the loss of some video data...

Strangely, "normal" cuts off part of a 16:9 image - you need to use "full" for that. There is an auto wide mode that will set it for you, which probably shifts between "normal" on 4:3 images and "full" on 16:9 images.

 

[Phil Taylor]

I use "Full" for 16x9 viewing (of course) and for 4x3 SD a combo of "Just" (stretches the sides for fill on my Panny plasma) and "Zoom" - depending on what I or my son is watching. I rarely use the "gray side pillar" viewing mode unless it is something SD that I don't want to see "wide and fat".

 

[ParadigmDawg]

and I assumed "normal'' meant normal....my bad....

Strangely, "normal" cuts off part of a 16:9 image - you need to use "full" for that. There is an auto wide mode that will set it for you, which probably shifts between "normal" on 4:3 images and "full" on 16:9 images.

 

[ttibsen]

<< BTW, I find it easier to find stuff in the electronic versions of the manuals because I can just do a word search (for example, I searched for "zoom" in the XBR manual and found that stuff right away). >>

Wow! That tip alone made it worth joining the forum Adam. I guess the search window in the electronic version was staring me in the face all the time but I didn't clue in as to how powerful a tool I was passing up here. You are definitely right - the electronic version is incredibly useful.

<< I use "Full" for 16x9 viewing (of course) and for 4x3 SD a combo of "Just" (stretches the sides for fill on my Panny plasma) and "Zoom" >>

A couple of questions Phil regarding this last comment.
For an HD broadcast, is there any difference between the Full and Wide Zoom(Just) modes?
For an SD broadcast, why would you use the Zoom setting since this would result in a loss of the top and bottom of the picture whereas in the Wide Zoom(Just) mode there is no loss? It would seem to me that the Wide Zoom setting is the best setting for both the HD and the SD broadcasts - am I wrong?

 

[Phil Taylor]

For HD Wide Zoom & Just will stretch and distort the image (at least on my Panny) losing the side pic info as it is meant to stretch a 4x3 image and lose the side pillars. Full is best for HD as it presents the panel with normal 16x9 HD info. And yes Zoom on 4x3 SD loses the top and bottom pic info but it keeps the image in a normal aspect ratio "look" rather than the "short and fat" look of stretched SD. Depending on the program being watched Zoom merely loses some headroom and parts of lower third graphics.

 

[ttibsen]

OK Phil - that makes sense but now how do you apply what you have told me in a practical way? Do you make these adjustments to the display modes manually as you switch between an HD channel and an SD channel or does the TV set do them for you automatically?

Thanks

John

 

[Phil Taylor]

OK Phil - that makes sense but now how do you apply what you have told me in a practical way? Do you make these adjustments to the display modes manually as you switch between an HD channel and an SD channel or does the TV set do them for you automatically?

Thanks

John

I adjust the TV manually (well actually with the remote ) depending on the format and content of what I'm watching. I leave my satellite box on HD Normal/SD Normal and let my TV scale the image. I don't watch much SD content (as I personally hate side pillars) - mostly SpongeBob and Nick shows (Drake n Josh, iCarly usually get zoomed) with my son and cartoons look OK in Just. Local news (if I watch it for weather) is OK in Just too. If I have to watch something interesting in SD 4x3 I usually watch it on my projector. It's basically a judgment call based on personal preference.