Viewing distance?

Is there an optimum viewing distance for 42" LCD tv's?
At present we are approx 8 to 9ft away and the screen
is mounted at eye level.

Naked Gonad said this on 2/27/2009 5:14 AM:
Is there an optimum viewing distance for 42" LCD tv's?
At present we are approx 8 to 9ft away and the screen
is mounted at eye level.
I was told 1/5th the tv size. 42 / 5 =8.5 so... 8.5 feet.

I'm maybe 12 feet from my 42" and I'm thinking its a bit small, but I've
had it now for 3 years + and of course its starting to get small, I see
60" out there now and kinda would like to see something in that range in
the house. It greed. But my 42" at 12ft is not "bad".

Naked Gonad wrote:
Is there an optimum viewing distance for 42" LCD tv's?
At present we are approx 8 to 9ft away and the screen
is mounted at eye level.


There are dozens of viewing distance calculators out there, and I think
all are based on the same basic metrics. In the end, it's more a
subjective than objective assessment. Which means, IMO, if the display
seems too small, it probably is.

--
jer
email reply - I am not a 'ten'

"Big_Al" wrote in message
...
| Naked Gonad said this on 2/27/2009 5:14 AM:
| Is there an optimum viewing distance for 42" LCD tv's?
| At present we are approx 8 to 9ft away and the screen
| is mounted at eye level.
| I was told 1/5th the tv size. 42 / 5 =8.5 so... 8.5 feet.
|
| I'm maybe 12 feet from my 42" and I'm thinking its a bit small, but I've
| had it now for 3 years + and of course its starting to get small, I see
| 60" out there now and kinda would like to see something in that range in
| the house. It greed. But my 42" at 12ft is not "bad".

The actual most accepted formula has been published in this NG before
My own formula is viewfeet=scrnsizeinches/6
So a 42" view distance = 7 feet
Close!

--
Regards,
Richard Harison

Big_Al wrote:
Naked Gonad said this on 2/27/2009 5:14 AM:
Is there an optimum viewing distance for 42" LCD tv's?
At present we are approx 8 to 9ft away and the screen
is mounted at eye level.
I was told 1/5th the tv size. 42 / 5 =8.5 so... 8.5 feet.

I'm maybe 12 feet from my 42" and I'm thinking its a bit small, but I've
had it now for 3 years + and of course its starting to get small, I see
60" out there now and kinda would like to see something in that range in
the house. It greed. But my 42" at 12ft is not "bad".

So, I'm at the optimum distance then, cheers.

On Fri, 27 Feb 2009 07:27:56 -0500, Big_Al wrote:

Naked Gonad said this on 2/27/2009 5:14 AM:
Is there an optimum viewing distance for 42" LCD tv's?
At present we are approx 8 to 9ft away and the screen
is mounted at eye level.
I was told 1/5th the tv size. 42 / 5 =8.5 so... 8.5 feet.

I'm maybe 12 feet from my 42" and I'm thinking its a bit small, but I've
had it now for 3 years + and of course its starting to get small, I see
60" out there now and kinda would like to see something in that range in
the house. It greed. But my 42" at 12ft is not "bad".

I'm 10-12 feet from my 65" and I could easily see having the 73".
It's a personal decision.

Thumper

"Naked Gonad" wrote in message
...
Is there an optimum viewing distance for 42" LCD tv's?
At present we are approx 8 to 9ft away and the screen
is mounted at eye level.



i think it's personal preference - there's nothing scientific about it
although i'm sure someone will produce a ready written 'this is where you
should sit 'guide.



--
Gareth.

that fly...... is your magic wand....

I'm about one diagonal away, 2' from 22" since it doubles as a
computer monitor. 1080i is very nice, at 720p the pixels show as
jaggies on diagonal lines, right now Obama's shoulder against the face
of the Marine behind him. My eyes focus sharply at this distance but
otherwise it would be a little too close.

Jim Wilkins

On Feb 27, 4:14*am, Naked Gonad wrote:
Is there an optimum viewing distance for 42" LCD tv's?
At present we are approx 8 to 9ft away and the screen
is mounted at eye level.

Move towards the set until you can see the individual pixels. You
will want to be farther away than this point. Move away until you can
no longer distinguish all the detail in the picture. You will want to
be closer than this point. Between the two points is the optimum
distance, in the sense that you will see all the resolution you paid
for while still perceiving a smooth picture.

As an aside, how do you find the farther point? If you have an HD
test pattern, you could use that. You could also switch between an SD
(i.e. DVD) version of a picture and an HD version and see where you
can tell the difference. Or you could use a highly detailed scene
from an HD movie or a photo, look closely at a detailed section, and
back away until the detail blends away.

Hope that helps.

Dan (Woj...)

dmaster wrote:
On Feb 27, 4:14 am, Naked Gonad wrote:
Is there an optimum viewing distance for 42" LCD tv's?
At present we are approx 8 to 9ft away and the screen
is mounted at eye level.

Move towards the set until you can see the individual pixels. You
will want to be farther away than this point. Move away until you can
no longer distinguish all the detail in the picture. You will want to
be closer than this point. Between the two points is the optimum
distance, in the sense that you will see all the resolution you paid
for while still perceiving a smooth picture.

As an aside, how do you find the farther point? If you have an HD
test pattern, you could use that. You could also switch between an SD
(i.e. DVD) version of a picture and an HD version and see where you
can tell the difference. Or you could use a highly detailed scene
from an HD movie or a photo, look closely at a detailed section, and
back away until the detail blends away.

Hope that helps.

Dan (Woj...)

Thanks.