SONY KDL-46HX820 - picture mode questions (1 Viewer)

I have a 3 1/2 yr. old KDL-46HX820 LED LCD monitor and have some questions in the video settings area.


1) Are the "Scene Selects" the same as the "Picture Modes?"


2) Do the Picture Modes, which seem to be differing combinations of picture settings (Contrast, brightness, etc.), if altered have any impact on the underlying service menu settings? I have never accessed the service settings but was curious. If service settings are essentially locked off except to direct intervention by users then they don't appear to matter in the final analysis.


3) As the individual settings under a picture mode (ex. Cinema 1) are adjustable, could the modes then be considered truly customizable? If so, then in a real sense ALL of them can be tweaked and the names are basically arbitrary.


Any help here is appreciated.

Don't know about scene selects, I just go with auto on that.

Don't know about service settings.

I think the picture modes are different from each other but I've not tested it. To test, make all settings the same then switch between cinema, standard etc. and see if there's a difference.

Charles_Y said:

2) Do the Picture Modes, ... if altered have any impact on the underlying service menu settings?


3) As the individual settings under a picture mode (ex. Cinema 1) are adjustable, could the modes then be considered truly customizable? If so, then in a real sense ALL of them can be tweaked and the names are basically arbitrary.

Click to expand...

In many cases, the answer to #2 is "no", in which case, your assumption in #3 is true.


However, there have been situations where certain image "enhancements" such as smooth motion (frame interpolation), enhanced black levels, or some other feature(s) are not able to be completely disabled from the standard (non-service) menus, yet one or more of the preset picture modes may, in fact, have them disabled.


In this instance, you would NOT be able to make the necessary changes to one preset picture mode to "reproduce" any other preset picture mode.


At any rate, the preset picture modes should be used as "starting points" to adjusting the display to suit both your environment and viewing preferences. Ultimately, only you can decide what constitutes a "pleasing" image, however purists would urge you (or anyone, really) to adjust your display to as close to "reference" as possible. "Reference" referring to ISF standards for brightness, contrast, color, etc. Presumably, this is how studio displays are calibrated during the filmmaking process so in essence, you are doing all that you can to recreate the broadcast material as close to intended by the creators.

I looked into this further and from what I can see the "scene selects" are a higher level of grouped picture modes that a user is to choose first. The user then goes into another menu of all things to "picture modes" to choose an individual mode according to their preference. I've always stuck with Cinema or some such. Each picture mode actually has a further drop down list of a couple of more specific targeted modes. This all seems unnecessarily complex and cumbersome in design by Sony if you ask me. There is certainly nothing wrong with having ample customizable settings but this is set up poorly in my view.


I actually have a ISF certified calibrator scheduled in the next month who has worked on previous monitors I've owned and I was simply trying to make sense of certain things in my head before he arrives. Sony's manual doesn't necessarily clarify all that it could. I'm sure they are not alone in this.