Comments on: 1080p Does Matter – Here’s When (Screen Size vs. Viewing Distance vs. Resolution)

By: Lester Yan

Lester Yan — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:28:45 +0000

Wow! Looks like you definitely know your stuff. I’m glad you did the work so others such as myself can apply the tools so we can make an intelligent informed decision before we buy a new TV. Yeah, I don’t like using nomograms so I just plugged in the TV diagonal size. Great work!

By: Carlton Bale

Carlton Bale — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:19:59 +0000

Patrick, I did have 1440p on a previous version of the chart, but since no content or HDTV is readily available at that resolution, I removed it in favor of 4k. The lower range may be optimal for resolution, but not necessarily for field-of-view, which I believe it more important for the overall viewing experience.

As for the additional resolutions and more precise distances, they are all available via the Home Theater Calculator Excel spreadsheet, which is linked in the article. I think it would be too much detail to include in this article, so I included it elsewhere for those who want the next level of detail.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 21:42:14 +0000

Any thoughts on including 1440p or 2880p in your chart?

By: Patrick

Patrick — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 21:40:35 +0000

If you’re shooting video, I imagine you might be saving it for posterity or historical documentation. That means it doesn’t matter what display technology provides today but more likely what it’ll be ten years from now. If you’re just shooting video for the web or for a commercial, you only need to display it for now. You’re not considering 2.5K (2560x1440p) or, for the sake of 3D, 5K (5120x2880p).

By: Patrick

Patrick — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 18:26:17 +0000

Great article. I truly believe that 1440p is optimal for the majority of individuals. I love the chart and the calculator.
I only have three thoughts.
1) On the calculator, I would like to see the distances expressed to tenths of feet or in inches.
2) I would argue that the lower limit of the range should be called “optimal” instead of saying you’d have to sit no further than that for full benefit. If you sat closer, you’d start seeing the pixelation which means it is the distance where you’ve actually achieved the maximum threshold distance for any degree of benefit between the higher and lower of the two resolutions on that boundary.
3) If the industry continues to divide the resolution by two for stereoscopic 3D, 2880p would start be of value.

By: Carlton Bale

Carlton Bale — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 20:26:28 +0000

That’s very far away from the screen. You’ll need the biggest, highest gain screen you can find. I think you may be better off moving the front row closer to the screen. Carada makes a 142″ screen: http://carada.com/DLP-Screen-Criterion-Projection-Screens-1-78.aspx

By: CCN

CCN — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 17:57:51 +0000

Interested in your thoughts on my current home build project. Foundation just poured but framing has not yet started The part of the basement I will be installing the theater is 45′ by 23′ with a ceiling height of 10’6″. Plan is to divide the space into two equal parts (bar area and theater) separated by a half wall. This would mean the primary theater seating will be 21-22 feet from screen. Would like to install the largest screen possible that would be comfortable to watch and that stays within my budget (projector and screen for under 10k). Ideas and suggestions welcome.

By: ESXi (or alternatives) with XBMC & NAS - Page 2

ESXi (or alternatives) with XBMC & NAS - Page 2 — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:14:56 +0000

[...] SauRoN No, you are just blind. And you have 40/40 (sic) vision? Do yourself a favour and read here, then once you've read it, enter you TV size and it will tell you just how close you have to to the [...]

By: Alcides

Alcides — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 20:06:52 +0000

Hi Carlton

I am writing from Brazil and I read your article before to buy my 55 LED TV and I can say that helped me a lot.
In fact, I have 8 feet in my room and I can talk that the better distance depends how the transmission is done.
HD transmission or seeing Bue-ray dvds is fantastic. For others if is not good, bad also is not.
Conclusion, I am satisfied with my TV and space that I have.
Best Regards

By: What Does Shooting in 4K Video Mean for You? | Video News

What Does Shooting in 4K Video Mean for You? | Video News — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 22:36:49 +0000

[...] Shooting and working in 4K is nothing new to professional film makers and compositors, but with the announcement of the JVC GY-HMQ10 being priced at under $5,000, 4K is finally within reach of prosumer and hobbyist videographers. However, most TVs and computer monitors will sill max out at 1080p, so what’s the point? Personally, I don’t see 4096 × 3112 pixel TVs entering the average American’s living room any time soon, since if you’re sitting ten feet from the screen, the TV will have to be 80 inches before you’ll be able to see the difference between 4k and 1080p. [...]

By: Carlton Bale

Carlton Bale — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 16:27:08 +0000

Right, the distance where 1080 starts to be realized is just a tiny bit closer than where 720p is fully realized.

By: Carlton Bale

Carlton Bale — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 16:24:40 +0000

You use the resolution of the source material, which would be 480i/480p.

By: RuiM

RuiM — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 15:17:49 +0000

Hi
If I have a 1080p display(plasma) but viewing standard definition TV programing at 9ft,do I use the chart as 720p?

By: Jim Goodwin

Jim Goodwin — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 01:13:39 +0000

I have a suggestion. This is a awesome tool and a great explaination of how it all works. If I could make one suggestion on enhancing the calculator it would be adding the distance a higher resolution begins to be apparent. That is when it’s value begins to be realized. Then again disregard this if it is almost always the same distance the lower resolution is fully realized.
Thanks for the site. Great info

By: Joe M. Wesson

Joe M. Wesson — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 15:10:21 +0000

may i suggest that you use tower speakers and if they are too wide place them laying down under the screen. there are box speakers made for this also. just remember that they need to be at least 5 ft. away from each other for proper stereo separation. as for the screen, placing it in a frame that can be mounted on a hinge up top and pulled down into position and locked until no longer needed would be nice.

By: Kauf von Fernsehern vermeiden oder nicht? - Seite 2 - DIGITAL FERNSEHEN - Forum

Kauf von Fernsehern vermeiden oder nicht? - Seite 2 - DIGITAL FERNSEHEN - Forum — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 16:35:47 +0000

[...] [...]

By: Jay

Jay — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 06:19:25 +0000

Got it. Thanks, Carlton.

By: Carlton Bale

Carlton Bale — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 18:42:23 +0000

The chart assumes square pixels, or more specifically applies to the biggest pixel dimension. Since your TV has pixels that are wider than they are tall, your vertical resolution is slightly exceeds 720p, but your horizontal resolution is a bit less. So the line for representing your TV would be slightly above the 720p line in the chart.

By: Jay

Jay — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 13:43:26 +0000

Hi Carlton.

I bought a 42″ Panasonic plasma with 1024 x 768 native resolution. Does your chart on this page take into account the horizontal resolution? I know your calculator does.

Thanks.

By: The How-To Geek Guide to Buying an HDTV | IT RSS

The How-To Geek Guide to Buying an HDTV | IT RSS — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 06:50:23 +0000

[...] bought a smaller television!” You can reference the chart above, courtesy of Carlton Bale, or hit up his very informative article here to use the screen calculator for inch-by-inch [...]