This monitor sounded great from the review, then I read the comments in this thread about the scaling. Surely the reviewers would have mentioned that if it were a major problem?
Ah well, it's all academic anyway, since I don't have a cool £670 (or even £150 for that matter :D) to spend on a monitor.
"Lack of 1:1 Pixel Mapping: The absence of this feature from the FP241W is strange, and might well be an issue to potential buyers. Without it, the image from external devices or non native resolutions from a PC are always stretched and scaled to fill the screen, rather than offering options to maintain the aspect ratio or map the pixels 1:1 via the hardware itself. It has been confirmed in the FP241W manual that this option is not available, and also by BenQ support. Note: the forthcoming FP241WZ will also be without this option."
If you are running an Xbox 360, you can select 1920x1200 as a resolution in the dashboard and the Xbox will manage the best way to play back your games and HD-DVD movies.
If you are running to a PC, the software on your PC will manage the scaling on the HD-DVD / Blu-ray / other high def.
The only time that scaling and pixel mapping becomes an issue on this monitor is if you are using a high-def source other than a PC or Xbox 360 or, in all likelihood, PS3.
Let me repeat - with PC-based HD footage, Xbox 360 or likely PS3, there are no problems with scaling.
Unfortunately, we don't have a stand-alone Blu-ray or HD-DVD player to test scaling via a dedicated source.
Originally Posted by WilHarris If you are running an Xbox 360, you can select 1920x1200 as a resolution in the dashboard and the Xbox will manage the best way to play back your games and HD-DVD movies.
If you are running to a PC, the software on your PC will manage the scaling on the HD-DVD / Blu-ray / other high def.
The only time that scaling and pixel mapping becomes an issue on this monitor is if you are using a high-def source other than a PC or Xbox 360 or, in all likelihood, PS3.
Let me repeat - with PC-based HD footage, Xbox 360 or likely PS3, there are no problems with scaling.
Unfortunately, we don't have a stand-alone Blu-ray or HD-DVD player to test scaling via a dedicated source.
Since when did the 360 allow 1920x1200 resolution? Last I looked 1920x1080 was the max :|
Originally Posted by Kevo You don't need a hi def source to show scaling, its a lame excuse at best and a very similar one Trusted Reviews gave funny that.
You can just plug any std def device into the thing like a PS2 or a standard DVD player then watch in horror.
That's absolutely true, but scaling standard def on any high-def screen looks absolutely awful, full stop, without spending thousands of pounds on a dedicated upscaler.
If you want 1:1 pixel mapping on a standard def source, you're going to be looking at a picture that is about 3 inches across on your screen, which is clearly rubbish as well. Why on earth would you want 1:1 mapping for standard def? Why even buy a high def screen if you're worried about standard def?
Originally Posted by WilHarris If you are running an Xbox 360, you can select 1920x1200 as a resolution in the dashboard and the Xbox will manage the best way to play back your games and HD-DVD movies.
If you are running to a PC, the software on your PC will manage the scaling on the HD-DVD / Blu-ray / other high def.
The only time that scaling and pixel mapping becomes an issue on this monitor is if you are using a high-def source other than a PC or Xbox 360 or, in all likelihood, PS3.
Let me repeat - with PC-based HD footage, Xbox 360 or likely PS3, there are no problems with scaling.
Unfortunately, we don't have a stand-alone Blu-ray or HD-DVD player to test scaling via a dedicated source.
Thanks for that. One these monitors and a 360 might make it under my xmas tree this year if im lucky. Then try and shift my 2 x IBM 19" P96 CRT monitors to someone. :)
Go for the FP241WZ not the FP241W. I heard it will be getting the windows vista logo end of this month. And the WZ has an anti ghosting capability i think.
That looks like a nice monitor ... too bad I already have a 21in Gateway can't really justify the price for an extra 3in's ... I will wait for 30in LCDs to start comeing down in price. mmmmmmmm 30in's .......
Hey Everyone,
Anyone here have experience using both the Samsung 215TW and the BenQ FP241W?
I would like to now how they compare in qualities for photo editing purposes.
Right now I am deciding between the Benq, the Samsung 215TW, and the NEC 20WMGX2 ( a little different than the one reviewed here).
I would like the larger screen but not at the sacrifice of much of overall image quality, colour reproduction etc.
Anyone have info on this? Also, anyone have a link that shows a method of calibrating a monitor without special tools?
Regarding the Pixel Mapping- I read somewhere that there is supposed to be a firmware upgrade available in December that will fix this...at least allow for a fixed aspect ratio.
"I sent an email to the BenQ support people asking the following:
If I feed a 1080i or 1080p signal into this monitor via component or DVI, say from a HDV Camcorder or from a HD-DVD Player, the signal sent from the device will be 1920x1080. A ratio of 16x9.
This monitor however, is 1080x1200, a ratio of 16x10. I want to know whether the signal that I input will be displayed correctly at 16x9, with black bars at the top and bottom of the screen, or whether the image will be stretched to fill the screen.
The product site specifies that the 16x10 display means that there will be no image distortion, but I forsee it as being exactly the opposite, since no video footage is ever shot in 16x10.
Thank you for your help,
-- John.
And their reply:
According to our product specialist there is a firmware update being released in December that will resolve the issue you are asking about.
Regards
BenQ Technical Support"
Im thinking of getting this screen... I currently have a 19" Viewsonic VX912 and thinking of replacing this screen that is on my gaming box and connecting my 19" up to my laptop for when im doing development work...
Can anyone tell me when/if the WZ will make it to Australia..? :P I'm really tempted to buy the screen now, however i think i might wait till december to see what happens and pick up an 8800 at the same time...
I've been following that HardForum post for the last month and a half... the pixel mapping issue has been the biggest deterant for me, and if they're really going to be fixing the issue (and quite possibly having it fixed when the FP241WZ is released, natively), then I'm all over this puppy... I might have to get two of them... I dunno... One 24" Widescreen with two smaller 19" 4:3s on either side of it might work... or 3 24inchers... Geeze... I dunno...
I would say wait for the news on the BenQ firmware upgrade and go with it... I certainly am... if the FP241WZ has the 1:1 pixel mapping fixed firmware and the ghosting improvements are actually worthwhile, I'm over all them... Nobody gets my money unless they truly release an exceptional product; I don't see that with the Dell or Samsung 24"ers...
We took delivery of our FP241W last Friday (I had pre-ordered on
Overclockers' website in September).
I can confirm that the rudimentary firmware/setup provides no control
over display size/asprect ratio/scaling. Nothing. We have a Panasonic
HVX200 (high def DVCPRO HD camcorder) with component output;
when this camera is connected to the BenQ's component input the image
is stretched vertically, becoming 1920x1200 (16:10) instead of 1920x1080
(16:9). While the BenQ still provides vastly improved clarity for
fine focusing, this scaling issue is unacceptable in a product targetted at
high def enthusiasts.
I can also confirm that clips recorded at 1280x720 on this camera, when
played back, are scaled to 1920x1200. And they look awful. This is
professional footage (shot for a music video for a well known 80's ska
band) and when played at its native resolution looks stunning; after
the poor scaling algorithm of the BenQ gets through with it it looks awful.
So if you are a high definition video enthusiast, I strongly recommend you
avoid this monitor and look elsewhere. You WILL be disappointed!
Okay, that's the bad news. Here's the good news.
As a computer monitor, it's great; 1920x1200 via DVI-D from a Mac Pro.
And as a "Cinema Preview" monitor in Final Cut Pro, it's fine, because
the software ensures that the video is displayed at 16:9 (as expected,
letterboxed; 1920x1080 footage plays full width with black borders at
top and bottom)
But the lack of any control over how high def content displays is
inexcusable...I wish now I'd gone for Dell, Samsung or
Fujitsu-Siemens 24" w/HDCP instead.
Glad I stumbled onto this thread, I'm a week away from getting this display.... so as I read this I figure if I'm only playing games and using it as a display I'm ok?? I have a plasma and lcd for movies so I wont be using it for dvd's...
I've had mine for nearly a year now. Still awesome as ever. Can't beat the component, VGA, DVI connections and the 3 USB port hub built into the display. I got mine on sale for a little over £350. Well worth it. Dunno what the prices are like now.
Originally Posted by Lethal This monitor still the best in 24" sizes?
Noticed there are other cheaper 24" monitors around.
Be careful of those cheap 24" monitors because they use the TN panel type which has a poor viewing angle and color reproduction compared to the nicer PVA or IPS panels.
Comments 26 to 48 of 48
Ah well, it's all academic anyway, since I don't have a cool £670 (or even £150 for that matter :D) to spend on a monitor.
Taken from http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/articles/benq_fp241w.htm
If you are running to a PC, the software on your PC will manage the scaling on the HD-DVD / Blu-ray / other high def.
The only time that scaling and pixel mapping becomes an issue on this monitor is if you are using a high-def source other than a PC or Xbox 360 or, in all likelihood, PS3.
Let me repeat - with PC-based HD footage, Xbox 360 or likely PS3, there are no problems with scaling.
Unfortunately, we don't have a stand-alone Blu-ray or HD-DVD player to test scaling via a dedicated source.
You can just plug any std def device into the thing like a PS2 or a standard DVD player then watch in horror.
Since when did the 360 allow 1920x1200 resolution? Last I looked 1920x1080 was the max :|
That's absolutely true, but scaling standard def on any high-def screen looks absolutely awful, full stop, without spending thousands of pounds on a dedicated upscaler.
If you want 1:1 pixel mapping on a standard def source, you're going to be looking at a picture that is about 3 inches across on your screen, which is clearly rubbish as well. Why on earth would you want 1:1 mapping for standard def? Why even buy a high def screen if you're worried about standard def?
Thanks for that. One these monitors and a 360 might make it under my xmas tree this year if im lucky. Then try and shift my 2 x IBM 19" P96 CRT monitors to someone. :)
Anyone here have experience using both the Samsung 215TW and the BenQ FP241W?
I would like to now how they compare in qualities for photo editing purposes.
Right now I am deciding between the Benq, the Samsung 215TW, and the NEC 20WMGX2 ( a little different than the one reviewed here).
I would like the larger screen but not at the sacrifice of much of overall image quality, colour reproduction etc.
Anyone have info on this? Also, anyone have a link that shows a method of calibrating a monitor without special tools?
Regarding the Pixel Mapping- I read somewhere that there is supposed to be a firmware upgrade available in December that will fix this...at least allow for a fixed aspect ratio.
Thanks.
Im thinking of getting this screen... I currently have a 19" Viewsonic VX912 and thinking of replacing this screen that is on my gaming box and connecting my 19" up to my laptop for when im doing development work...
Can anyone tell me when/if the WZ will make it to Australia..? :P I'm really tempted to buy the screen now, however i think i might wait till december to see what happens and pick up an 8800 at the same time...
Nice review BTW, very +ve... :)
EDIT:http://www.benq.com.au/support/downloads/downloads.cfm?product=2356
Again guys not helping :P
Dell or this
Overclockers' website in September).
I can confirm that the rudimentary firmware/setup provides no control
over display size/asprect ratio/scaling. Nothing. We have a Panasonic
HVX200 (high def DVCPRO HD camcorder) with component output;
when this camera is connected to the BenQ's component input the image
is stretched vertically, becoming 1920x1200 (16:10) instead of 1920x1080
(16:9). While the BenQ still provides vastly improved clarity for
fine focusing, this scaling issue is unacceptable in a product targetted at
high def enthusiasts.
I can also confirm that clips recorded at 1280x720 on this camera, when
played back, are scaled to 1920x1200. And they look awful. This is
professional footage (shot for a music video for a well known 80's ska
band) and when played at its native resolution looks stunning; after
the poor scaling algorithm of the BenQ gets through with it it looks awful.
So if you are a high definition video enthusiast, I strongly recommend you
avoid this monitor and look elsewhere. You WILL be disappointed!
Okay, that's the bad news. Here's the good news.
As a computer monitor, it's great; 1920x1200 via DVI-D from a Mac Pro.
And as a "Cinema Preview" monitor in Final Cut Pro, it's fine, because
the software ensures that the video is displayed at 16:9 (as expected,
letterboxed; 1920x1080 footage plays full width with black borders at
top and bottom)
But the lack of any control over how high def content displays is
inexcusable...I wish now I'd gone for Dell, Samsung or
Fujitsu-Siemens 24" w/HDCP instead.
Noticed there are other cheaper 24" monitors around.