1.33x Zoom with no icon

[mistermike40]

Is there a DVD player that offers 1.33x zoom (133%), and doesn't show a "zoom" icon? This would be great for both 4:3 and 2.35:1 DVDs (if you have a 16:9 TV). Thanks in advance!

[sylvainchar]

Panasonic players have a variable zoom without icon. I tried the S42 and the quality of the zoom picture was pretty bad.

[teddyc23]

Hi Mistermike. I have done some research on zooming 2.35:1 DVDs. This is what I found and posted in the Panasonic S52 Thread:

Panasonic S97 - Great picture, horrible zoom. I actually just ebayed it a few days ago.

Oppo 971 - Tried it way back when. Not so hot zoom.

Panasonic S52S - Tried one. Picture was quite good for around $100 bucks. Zoom looked just as bad as the S97.

LG 511 - Only allows you to zoom Verticaly. Looks good though. Only use could be to stretch non-anamorphic dvds.

Samsung 960 - Not so great zoom. Quality similar to the Panasonics.

Zenith 318 - From the reading I have done, this one seemed to do a very flexiable zoom. Too bad they are hard to get and have other issues. I figured the other LGs (418 etc.) would be the same but they are not. Vertical only just like the LG 511.

Other players I looked at only started at 2X zoom, worthless to convert 2.35:1 to 1.85:1.

I stumbled on a thread talking about the XBOX 360 zooming. I happen to have one, so I gave it a shot. Believe it or not it does excellent at zooming. Although the DVD quality isn't perfect. Its not bad.

It allows about 10 steps. 2 leaves very thin bars. 3 seems to totally eliminate them, but I prefer a little less zoom. The quality is actually decent considering the zoom. Thats whay I sold my Panasonic. I figured I watch 40% DVDs are 1.85, 30% are 2.35 and 30% are 1.33 (Full Screen). Which means I would only use the Panasonic on the 40% of 1.85 DVDs. (I cant use full screen in upconvert mode because my TV only stretches at 480p). So I sold the Panany. Let me know if I can be any further help.

Teddy

As an update to this, I found the Xbox 360 had motion problems with some DVDs but that has been fixed with the spring update. So I currently use the 360 to zoom 2.35:1 dvds only. I use the new Sony NS75H to upconvert 1.85:1 and full screen. I have not found anything with the quality of zoom the 360 has. Kind of ironic I guess. I hope this helps,

Teddy

[zeropoint]

Apart from the players already mentioned here, Toshiba players provide a 1.5x zoom, which, although not your 1.33, might be useful - although I don't know how good the quality is.

Does anyone know how the zoom quality of earlier Panasonic players compares with that of the S97 and later? Is it only as good, or did it suddenly get worse?

[mistermike40]

Thanks to everyone for your replies. I'm certainly concerned about the quality of the picture, but I thought there would be more players with zoom feature that didn't have that distracting icon on the screen.

Any good quality players that fit the bill? I currently have a Sony NS75H and really like it, but would like something that lets me use my TV's full screen more. Thanks!