A different 720 vs 1080 question

[FNG212]

720 is a 50% increase over 480 (480+240) and 1080 is a 50% increase over 720 (720+360).

There is such an obvious difference between 480 and 720. I have been blown away by my 720 plasma. Why is there so much talk that you can't tell the difference between 720 and 1080? I have never seen a 1080 picture outside of a display showroom (Nothing looked terribly impressive with the visual cacophony of TVs wall-to-wall floor-to-ceiling). Since I couldn't tell the difference in store I opted for the MUCH cheaper (less expensive) 50" 720 plasma over the 46" LCD 1080 and I love it.

But shouldn't 1080 look as much better than 720 as 720 does from 480? Am I not thinking about this correctly? When I buy a 1080 projector, will it be even that much more detailed?

Thanks. I hope this isn't too redundant?

 

[MirageMobile]

Perhaps, the amount of visual detail the human eye is capable of capturing is nearing full capacity around these resolutions.

Or our brains feel the level of visual detail is satisfactory for understanding what is displayed.


Of course, this all depends on the pixel density of the screen.

 

[Swerd]

The ability to see a difference between 720p and 1080p depends on viewing distance. According to this source of info:

for a 50" screen, the benefits of 720p vs. 480p start to become apparent at viewing distances closer than 14.6' and become fully apparent at 9.8'. For the same screen size, the benefits of 1080p vs. 720p start to become apparent when closer than 9.8' and become fully apparent at 6.5'. In my opinion, 6.5' is closer than most people will sit to their 50" plasma TV (even through the THX recommended viewing distance for a 50" screen is 5.6'). So, most consumers will not be able to see the full benefit of their 1080p TV.

Click on the chart in that link to see a larger version.

When most people see 1080p TVs in a store, they are much closer to the screen than they will be at home.

 

[gmichael]

The ability to see a difference between 720p and 1080p depends on viewing distance. According to this source of info:



Click on the chart in that link to see a larger version.

When most people see 1080p TVs in a store, they are much closer to the screen than they will be at home.

Agreed. Distance, size and source make all the difference. (using the right cables and settings would help too. You can only hope that they were set up correctly in the store)