Sony KP-57HW40: Good prices out there if you are in to wheeling and dealing! (1 Viewer)

[Michael D. Bunting]

Just wanted to list this link for those of you doing any HDTV shopping.
Link Removed
Good Luck! You can email me if you have any questions....
[email protected]

 

[Nate Haley]

I was considering getting this TV...I just have one question for you....What are the strech modes like for 4:3 material? I watch a lot of football and basketball games that are not broadcast in 16:9 format and I can't stand using the gray sidebars...

By the way thanks for posting the receipts, my local retailer has already agreed to match the prices.!!

 

[Mike Pattee]

It has 4 modes for 4:3 signal. Normal, Full, Zoom and Wide Zoom. Wide zoom does a good job of not distorting too much along with not losing too much to the zoom.

Mike

 

[Michael D. Bunting]

Yes, Wide Zoom is what you'll want and need to use (to avoid any burn-in) for material like you asked about.

I love the set - congrats on getting the price match!

Mike

 

[felix_suwarno]

how does a wide zoom look like? what does it do to the original 4 * 3 picture?

 

[Michael D. Bunting]

The Wide Zoom mode is used to display regular 4x3 material (DIRECTV, etc) STRETCHED to fill the entire 16x9 screen.
This helps stop the chance of getting screen "burn in" from the grey bars that would be present on this, or any 16x9 set, that would be displayed in the normal mode.
Wide Zoom takes a few viewings to get used to - at least for me anyway. It slowly stretches the picture (with little stretching in the middle of the screen and more toward the edges).
I'm now used to it (after having the set for about 2 months) and I really don't think anymore about it.
The benefit of having this TV is for DVD's (looks amazing!!) and HDTV signals (which I don't have yet). The Wide Zoom mode does it's job considerably well on the HW40 set of Sony HD Ready TV's.
Good Luck - hopefully I didn't confuse you further - if someone can do a better job of explaining wide zoom - please feel free
Mike

 

[Neil White]

I've seen that wide zoom effect on a Sony direct view in England (where widescreen is a little more widespread). It's is a little odd but you do get used to it.

N