As photograhers, which type of TV do you want/own?

As photograhers, which type of TV do you want/own?

  • Plasma: mostly due to more accurate color rendition

    Votes: 31 14.8%

  • Plasma: mostly due to higher refresh rate

    Votes: 7 3.3%

  • LCD

    Votes: 53 25.2%

  • LED

    Votes: 31 14.8%

  • None of the above, why?

    Votes: 98 46.7%
  • Total voters
    210
We just upgraded the cable box on our TV to HDTV, with HDMI input.

I posted before that the picture quality on the 26inch LVC Sony Bravia is generally dreadful - compression artefacts, over-sharpening, much of it due to the source and input engine, I guess - and that in general it seems we've all been sold inferior, albeit wonderfully compact, technology.

I can now report that with a proper cable box, the compression artefacts and over-sharpening are now even more clear to see!
 
Plasma, a 2012 model 55" Panasonic GT50. Great blacks, low reflectivity, usable even in a fairly bright room. We chose it for colour rendition, the movie experience, this unit does a good job with hockey ice and action, and, importantly, for the much better angles of view over LCD. It's very thin - hung on the wall it isn't obtrusive at all which was a key objective too. Has a dual core processor and apps like Netflix built in, but you can always add those things inexpensively via other devices. Models a step down are considered better value... I might have gone that way if I'd thought the purchase through a little more. That said, it's handy accessing content off the internet via the TV directly.

Prior to this one we'd been running a Sony Trinitron. The Panasonic is miles ahead of the CRT. Miles. Many kilometers ahead too.

I specifically wanted a unit for movies and documentaries, and I wanted an unobtrusive thin unit as well so that it wouldn't dominate the living room I just finished renovating (including in-wall wiring for everything). We don't watch very much regular TV programming but one channel we do follow more than others isn't yet available in HD - some TV models fare better than others in displaying low-def TV signals, something to ask for a demo of when you are shopping.

The unit does a fine job of displaying photos as a slide show. DLNA streaming from other devices on our network, folder browsing and other such features are used from time to time.
 
Adanac said:
does a good job with hockey ice and action
Click to expand...
Totally agreed. And this year it may be Junior and AHL and no NHL. :bang: Not that Junior and AHL aren't great hockey ... At least the Leafs would end with perfect record. :angel:
 
I'd like to play the "what to get" game, but I am distracted and interested in/by the number of thoughtful photographers here who have done away with TV in their lives. Me too. I actually fault TV content producers for producing several generations of drek. I have dozens of friends with kids who have basically jettisoned this device from their homes. TV producers have apparently lost a good chunk of an entire generation of college- and graduate-school educated viewers because their programming wasn't good enough. And the advertisements. Don't get me started.

So what TV? No TV. Spend your money on a nice computer monitor instead.

Ben
 
I have a plasma and an LCD TV. To be honest, there isn't a vast difference. I use HD satellite TV ( Sky, in the UK) and the picture is equally good on both.

If you're selective, there are some great programmes around...
 
I got rid of my cable TV about 10 months ago, never bothered to get a digital converter box, and am loving being without any TV at all. For the occasional DVD movie I watch, the thrift store 25 inch Zenith does just fine. If I had serious money to spend it would be for a high end monitor to process digital photos and scanned negatives. Now THAT, I would like.
 
Happy to acknowledge that I like many of the shows on TV, and I watch them regularly. Technically, our LED unit produces a big, bright, and wonderful picture. It really doesn't need to be any better than this.

As for TV content, some of it is pretty poor, but there are lots of interesting examples with high quality.
 
we have two samsung LCDs, but they get used much, much less with each month, each year ... to a current point of near disuse. that said, samsung makes fine TVs, among the best.
 
My current set is a Proton 37" LCD. In the 1990's I owned a Proton 31" CRT.
I went through some lesser brands in between.
Proton had the best picture then, and still does.

It's quite fashionable to rag on TV, and has been for 50+ years. FWIW I agree, mostly.
But there is still plenty of good programming out there if you care to seek it out.
And plenty of great small and independent movies...

Chris
 
Old school

Old school

At home we have a single CRT TV, Samsung brand. Bought it in the american BX 9 years ago, still strong :)

The best program I can watch on it is a blank blue screen that I use for calibrating those high shutter speeds, anything above 1/30th !
I have collected a few spares for free so I'm not ready to get rid of CRTs...
My wife is pushing for a TV with an HDMI connector though.
 
ChrisPlatt said:
It's quite fashionable to rag on TV, and has been for 50+ years.
Click to expand...

When I was a no-TV watching marathon running tree-hugging vegetarian I hope I wasn't insufferable about /my/ choices.

But there is still plenty of good programming out there if you care to seek it out. And plenty of great small and independent movies...
Click to expand...

Absolutely. While I hardly ever watch regular network TV, there's tons of excellent documentaries and movies out there on cable or on the internet to choose from. Ours doesn't get used every day, sometimes not even every week except for a peek at the local news before bed, but when we do sit down to watch I admit to still being amazed at just how good HD content looks on a good set.

Oh, and they are fabulous for displaying photos when you want to "treat" your guests to your entire digital archive in one setting. ;)
 
Adanac said:
but when we do sit down to watch I admit to still being amazed at just how good HD content looks on a good set.
Click to expand...

Oasis HD on Bell is amazing, just stunning. Sometimes I think that my "puny" 50-inch set doesn't do it justice.

Then there's HNIC is HD ... apparently not to be seen this year. :bang:
 
When we bought ours at the start of summer I was really looking forward to HNIC. Sigh.

For those of you who don't live north of the 49'th parallel in North America, HNIC = Hockey Night In Canada... a national institution.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom