consumer reports buying guide for home entertainment

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Home Entertainment 15 Blu-ray & DVD players 19 Digital cameras 24 Digital picture frames 26 Televisions

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Consumer Reports 2010 Buying guide for Home Entertainment products

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Page 1: Consumer Reports Buying Guide for Home Entertainment

HomeEntertainment

15 Blu-ray & DVD players19 Digital cameras

2 4 Digital picture frames26 Televisions

Page 2: Consumer Reports Buying Guide for Home Entertainment

C O N S U M E R R E P O R T S B U Y I N G G U I D E 2 0 1 0

Home Entertainment:Digital Dominates

We've finally reached the point where digital technologyhas largely replaced analog for both home video andphotography. Broadcast TV signals are now all-digital,most cable services are Increasingly moving to all-digital service, and satellite TV and phone-company TV

services are already there.

Digital video recorders have pushedout VCRs. and high-definition (HD)Blu-ray players are challenging DVDplayers. Digital cameras have been thenorm for several years, and camcord-ers have quickly caught up, with analogmodels relegated to the sidelines. Thoughthe soft economy has dampened spend-ing, many consumers sticking close tohome are still in the market for productsU» make their at home hours more enjoy-able. Tliat includes home-entertainmentgear. There are plenty of great choicesavailable, often al very attractive prices,thanks to maturing technologies andcompetition lor market share amongmanufacturers and retailers alike.

Here's some advice to help you makethe smartest choices from the manyproducts available:

High specs mighl not ensure highquality. Ads and in-store sales pitches of-ten imply a direct relationship betweenhigh resolution and high image quality.Some top-perform ing TVs boast I080presolution, the current gold standardamong HD video formats, and many

highly-rated cameras have 10 or moremegapixels of resolution. But resolutionisn't everything. Some high-det TVs andhigh-megapixel cameras fall short in otherrespects, such as contrast or color. Con-versely, some models with lower resolu-tion manage fine performance becausethey ace those other attributes.

Performance oñea runs in the fam-ily. You \»'on't go wrong \S you buy amodel that scored well in our full tests.But what about a model that isn't in ourRatings? Our test results can give yousome guidance. Products similar tohigh-rated models, .such as those withinthe same brand line, often turn out tobefine performer'..

You might not need top performauce.Some models set a new standard for aparticular attribute or for overall perfor-mance. But you'll often pay a premiumfor those standouts. Models that rank afew positions lower in our Ratings oftenoffer fine performance at a lower price.Don't choose by rank alone; cbeck theoverall score and scores for the attributesthat matter most to you. Our rigorous

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B L U - R A Y & D V D P L A Y E R S t5

lests sometimes turn up fairly subtleperfornumce distinctions—say, betweenvery good and excellent performance on,m allriliute.

Beware competing formats, llie bat-tle over high def DVDs is over—withone format, Biu-ray, victorious—butlither incompatible formats linger in thehome enlertainmcnt landscape, ham-pering you in sharing and transferringcontent. Ihat's especially true ¡n imag-ing. Cameras slill use numerous memoryvdrd lornials while camcorders employ>in ever-wider array of discs, tapes andstorage formats.

Then there's the issue of inputs andoutputs. New digital connections that-ue capable of carrying higher-qualitvV ideo and audio, such as RDM I. continueii> arrive, bul that raises the question ofcompatibility. Older gear lacking suchinputs may not be able to take advantageof the newer connectors and the qualityimprovements they olfer.

BLU-RAY &DVD PLAYERSHlqh-deflnltion Blu-ray players arebig news these days in the home-entertainment world.

With the demise of the rival HD DVDlorinat eariy in 2008, Blu-ray has becomethe only HD game in town. There are nu-merous Blu-ray player manufacturers,and ail of the major Hollywood studiosiire now producing movies in this disclormat. Blu-ray machines can play thenew breed of HD discs as well as standardDVDs,and audio CDs.

Standard DVD players are still goingstrong. Almost all new standard play-ers are progressive-scan models. Whenused with an HDTV, many can providepicture quality that's better thanthat of typical standard-definition TVprogramming. A growing number ofprogressive-scan DVD players are"upconverting" models ihat can convertthe video contained on all regular DVDsto pseudo HD (when viewed on anHDTV, of course).

This guide can help you sort throughthe various options to find the right discplayer for your needs. While price is al-ways a factor, also consider the featuresand brand. The connections and thetype of discs a player supports will alsohe important considerations to ensurethat the player is compatible with yourother components. And make sure youcheck out our shopping advice, whichshould help you find the right model atthe best price.

TYPESIf you simply want to play movies

you've purchased or rented, your firstand biggest decision is whether to buya high-def Blu-ray player i>r stick with astandard DVD model.

Blu-ray player. Blu ray discs containlÜ80p video, currently ihe highest-^res-oiution HO. Prices have been droppingas manufacturers battle for marketshare, and piayers now cost aboui $250to $500 and up. Prices could drop fur-ther as more models arrive on the mar-ket. Blu-ray discs typically sell forabout $10 more than iheir standard-defcounterparts. You can also rent Blii-raymovies, usually at a small premiumover regular DVDs. There are alreadyhundreds of Blu-ray movies available.

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16 C O N S U M E R R E P O R T S B U Y I N G G U I O E 2 0 1 0

and many more are expected, Blu-rayplayers can aiso play regular DVDs,and. like regular DVD players, theyalso can play audio CDs. Current high-def DVD players can iioid oniy one discat a time.

All the Biu-ray players we've tested sofar can output video signals with a maxi-mum resolution of IO8Op, provided youuse an HDMl connection; a component-video connection doesn't u.sually carryI080p. in addition, all Blu ray players canupconvert standard DVD video, usually

to 720p, 1080Í, or

Shop smartIf your TV doesn't

contain a digitaltuner, buy a

recorder witha digital tuner

to receive digitalbroadcast TV,

1080p to match thenative resolution ofan LCD, plasma, orrear-projection mi-crodisplay HDTVThat may or maynot result in slight-ly improved picturequality over 480p.

Even if the picture quality is improved,at its best, it won't he the same as videoihiil originated in high-def.

Besides using a stand alone player, youcan play Blu-ray discs on Sony's PlaySta-tion 3 game consoles, which have an in-tegrated drive. The quality is as good aswith a stand-alone player, but you alsomight want to get a separate remote that'smore video friendly than the typicalgaming controls.

Blu-ray has been an evolving standard.Many Blu-ray players share commonfeatures and connections, but there haveheen three different Blu-ray "profiles"that include (or omit) specific features,such as picture-in-picture and Internetconnectivity. Some older or lower-pricedmodels may not have all these features,so make sure the player supports them ifthey're important to you.

Standard DVD player. Although thetransition from standard-definitionto higb-def DVD discs is clearly underway, there are still reasons, such as price,that you might want to hold ofFbuying aBlu-ray player. As the transition to high-def DVDs gains steam, you're likely tosee fewer standard-def models beingintroduced, and retailers may not carryas many models as they used to.

Almost all new DVD players are pro-gressive-scan models. These players canconvert (or deinterlace) the interlacedvideo (480i) contained on DVDs and out-put it to your TV as a 480p video signal.Prices for progressive-scan players start aslow as $25, and many major-brand modelsare priced in the range of $50 to $75.

A growing number of progressive-scanDVD players are upconverting modelsthat can convert the 48()i video containedon all regular DVDs to pseudt)-HD reso-lutions which more closely match thenative screen resolution of an I.CD. plasma,or rear-project ion microdisplay HDTV.These players start al less than $100, withsome as low as $50.

A single-disc player is fine for play-ing movies and CDs one at a time. But ifyou want to enjoy hours of uninterruptedmusic, consider one of the multidiscmodels, which typically hold five discs.A jukebox may also be handy, especiallyif you'll be installing it in a rack thal'snot easily accessible for changing discs.Jukeboxes can hold an entire library—100 or more discs—at once, and somecan automatically sort discs by contenttype: movies, music, and photos. Note,though, that multidisc models are typi-cally about I to 2 inches taller and 6 to 7inches deeper than single-disc players, somake sure one will fit on your rack or inyour entertainment center.

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B L U - R A Y & D V D P L A Y E R S 17

Despite their low prîce.s, most DVDplayers typically have numerous featuresand connections, including HDMI andcomponent-video output. In addition,many standard DVD players can play avariety of disc types, including record-able DVDs and CDs burned with musicliles and digital photos. Some can evenplay high-resolution multichannel SACDor DVD-Audio music discs.

FEATURES(iettinya DVD player with all the right

features will increase your long-term sat-isfaction and enjoyment,

Connections. All HD players haveHDMI and most have component videoconnections, which are required to viewHD pictures on an HDTV. Mpst standardDVDplayers also have these connectionsnow. plus S-video and composite-videooutputs. All high-def players we've seenhave composite-video outputs, and mosthad an S-video connection. When usedwith high-def discs, all players will sup-|ii)rt afleast 5.1-channel sound throughihe digital audio outputs.

Disc capacity. Most standard andBlu-ray players'Accommodate a singleilisc at a time. Others have carousels thatcan hold several (generally three or five)discs. DVD jukeboxes are able to hold100 discs or more.

Disc formats. In addition to commer-cial DVD titles. DVD players often sup-port playback or display of many otherliirmats. They include CD-R/RW record-ings of standard audio CDs; the record-able DVD formats DVD+R/RW, DVD R/liW, and DVD-RAM; Video CD (VCD);.ind DVD-Audio and Super Audio CD(SACD). They can also play CD-R/RWdiscs containing MP3 and WindowsMedia Audio (WMA) files and JPEG

picture files. All Rlu-ray players can playcommercial Blu-ray discs and standardDVDs, plus CDs. New Blu-ray playerswill play commercially released CDs, andmost play CDs burned with MP3 files,and download streaming movies fromNetflix and more. A given model mayormay not play )I*HG, WMA, or video CDs,or DVD-/+/R/RW or DVD-RAM discsyou've recorded.

Picture control. The aspect-ratiocontrol feature lets you choose betweenthe squarish 4:3 viewing format of con-ventional TVs (4 inches wide for eyery3 inches high) and the 16:9 ratio of newerwide-screen sets. Picture zoom lets youzoom in on a specific frame. Btack-lcveiadjustment brings out the detail in darkparts ofthe screen image. If you've everwanted to see certain action scenes fromdifferent angles, muttiangle capabilitygives you that opportunity when usedwith discs that include this feature.

Navigation. Unlike a VHS lape, mostDVDs are sectioned. Chapter previewlets^you scan the opening seconds ofeach section or chapter until you findwhat you want. A related DVD playerfeature, chapter gallery, shows thumb-nails of section or chapter openingscenes. Go-to by time lets you enter howmany hours and minutes into the discyou'd like to skip to. Marker functionsallow easy indexing of specific sections.Blu-ray interactivity allows you to navi-gate the disc's menus and other contentwithout leaving the movie.

Surround sound. Another bcnelit ofboth Blu-ray disc and standard DVDplayers is their ability to play moviesrecorded with multichannel surroundsound. To reap the full sonic experience.of audio encoded into standard DVDtitles, you'll need a Dolby Digital receiver

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and six speakers, including a subwoofer.(For 6.1 and 7. i soundtracks, you'll needseven or eight speakers.) Dolby Digitaldecoding built-in refers to a DVD playerthat decodes the multichannel audiobefore it gets to the receiver. Without thebuilt-in circuitry, you'd need a decoderbuilt into the receiver or, in rare instances,a sepárale decoder box to take advantageof the audio. (A Dolby Digital receiverwill also decode an older format, DolbyPro Logic.) Most players also support DTS

decoding for titles

Tech tipWith an HDTV

that iacks HDMI.you can connect

to a Blu-ray playervia a component-video input to get

720p or lOaOiHD signals.

using that 5.l-,6.1-,or 7.1-channel en-coding formal.

When you'rewalching a movieun DVD, dynamicaudio range con-trols help keep ex-plosions and othernoisy sound effects

from seeming too loud. Some Blu-rayplayers support a few additional multi-channel formats, including Dolby DigitalPlus and DTS High Resolution Audio,higher-resolution 7.1-channel audio, andnew lossless Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HDMaster Audio formats that are bit-for-bit reproductions oí' the movie's maslersoundtrack.

Most DVD players also provide fea-tures such as multilingual support, whichlets you choose dialog or subtitles in dif-ferent languages for a movie. Parentalcontrol is a DVD player feature lets youlock out films by their rating code.

SHOPPING TIPSHere are the issues lo consider:Standard or upconverting regular

DVD player? Most standard DVD play-ers we've tested recently provide excellent

480p picture quality to an HDTV. Manynew players can also upconvert regularDVDs to pseudo-HD, often with goodresults. It makes sense to buy one if youneed a player and don't want Blu-ray.Bui if your DVD player is fine, it's ques-tionable. Your TV must have an HDMIinput to accept upconverted video. If youhave an LCD or plasma set, it's alreadyupconverting the video from your exist-ing player to match its native screen res-olulion. A specific player might t>r mightnot handle the conversion better thanyour TV. Buying an upconverting modelgives you the option of using whicheverdevice works better.

For top picture quality, go for Blu-ray.True HD images from a lilu-ray discare inherently superior to video from astandard-definition DVD, even if it hasbeen upconverted. A Blu-ray high dèf disccontain.s far more picture data, .so imageslook more dclailed and lifelike. You'll seethe benefits ol a Blu-ray player most on a1080p HDTV, which can display all thepixels in an image, but a 72()p TV can dis-play more detail from a high-def disc thanfrom a standard DVD. Note that a Blu rayplayer can send I080p high-def signalsfrom a Blu-ray disc only via HDMI.

Consider audio capabilities. All DVDand Blu-ray players support 5.1-channelsurround sound (all current Blu-ray play-ers offer 7.1) and can pass along digitalsignals. They can also decode the signalsand pass the analog output (stereo andsometimes multichannel) to a receiveror TV with analog inputs. Many newBlu-ray players support high-resolutionmultichannel audio formais such as DolbyTrueHD or DTS-HD Master Audio.

Decide on features. With Blu-ray thereare three profiles, each with differentfeatures. Most new Blu-ray players are

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D I G I T A L C A M E R A S t9

Profile 2.0 models, but you may find dealson older Profile 1.1 players. Profile l.imodels offer BonusView. a picture-in-picture feature that displays bonus con-lent on some Blu-ray discs in a windowwhile the main feature is onscreen. Pro-file 2.0 players add BD-Live, so you canaccess online content such as movie trail-ers when playing some Blu-ray discs.

Related CR report; December 2008Ratings: page 230

DIGITALCAMERASBuying a digital camera can be dis-orienting. There are hundreds ofcameras available at many differ-ent types of retail outlets (onlineand in traditional stores), withprices ranging from $100 to sev-eral thousand dollars.

The number of megapixels tells youhow many pixels the image file has. Acamera that captures H niilli(»n pixels, for•.'xaniple, is called an S-niegapi.Kel cam-cra.The number of megapixels a camerateatures can also help to determine Ihesize photos you can print or the amounti>f cropping you can do. For example, a4megapixel camera may be enough forsnapshots, but it you want to print poster-•iized images or crop heavily. 8 megapixels(or greater) are more suitable.

The size of the sensor, and the size ofeach individual image sensor element,which corresponds to pixels, can alfecl(ihnto quality.

Our Ratings are divided into severalcategories and subcategories.

The point-and-shoot category includesall cameras with lenses built into thecamera {that is, nonremovable). The small-est cameras among them are in our Sub-compact and Compact subcategories.'Ttiey are gent-rally easy to use and light-weight. They vary in the number of optionsand features they include, bul generallythey don't have a lot of manual controls.Compacts are often the least-expensivecameras available.

The Superzoom subcalegory includescameras with wide zoom ranges, fromwide angle to teiephoto. A camera musthave at least a lOx optical zoom lensfor us to consider it a superzoom. Thesetypes of cameras often, though notalways, include manual controls. They'reoften larger and more expensive thancompacts and subcompacts, althoughsome recent models are quite slim andcompact.

The largest cameras are single-lensreflex models, which use interchange-able lenses. Sl.Rs are usually the mostexpensive, although recently some havedropped significantly in price. Theyoffer the highest quality, greatest num-ber of manual controls and features,and are generally more complicated louse than point-and-shoot cameras. Webreak this category into two subcate-gories: Basic SLRs, which are simplerlo use, and Advanced SLRs. which aremore complex,

For many, price is a major factor whenbuying a camera. In general, look to paythe folltiwing for the type of camerayou're looking to buy:

I'or point-and-shoots (subcompacts,compacts, and superzooms), expectlo spend $100 to $500; for basic SLRs.$450 to $1,200; for advanced SLRs, $700to S2,700.

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TYPESSubcompact. Among the many types

of digital cameras, a growing number ofmodels are subcompacts, small camerasthat fit in a pocket, weigh a few ounces,and can be carried everywhere. Theycost a bit more for the same capabili-ties as compact cameras and often comewith compromises; shorter battery life,no viewfinder, a zoom range usually nogreater than 3x, and smaller controls that

can make it awk-

Shop smartThe smallest,

lightest modelsaren't necessarily

inexpensivecameras.

ward to operate.Most don't havemanual controls.

Compact. Main-stream compacts aretoo big for pocketsbut small enough

lor most handbags. They're simple touse and best for everyday events suchas family gathering,s. Some don't havemanual controls for exposure and com-position, limiting you to the camera'sassortment of preset scene modes, aswith subcompacts.

Superzoom. Superzoom camerasare characterized by a very long zoomrange—lOx or greater, which is good forsports, travel, or nature shooting. Whiletraditionally bulkier and heavier thancompact digicams, a few new models aredesigned to be smaller and tigbter.

SLR. Single-lens reflex cameras aremore serious cameras, with the ability tocapture fast action or create photograph-ic art under the most demanding lightconditions. SLRs, the largest and heaviesttype, offer the most versatility and power,including interchangeable lenses. Theyboast instant startup, minimal shutterlag for fast, continuous shooting, a largeimage sensor, RAW images, and excellentbattery life. Some SLRs now also record

HD video. As more people move up toSLRs, some very convenient features arealso trickling up from small cameras. Ex-amples include onscreen help guides andreal-time framing on the I.CD ratherihan only through the viewfinder. BasicSLRs are simple to use, while AdvancedSLRs are more complex to operate andfeature laden.

A new type of camera, called MicroFour Thirds, is emerging on the market.It offers the size and simplicity of point-and-shoot digital cameras, yet also fea-tures interchangeable lenses—much likedigital SLRs. As of press time, Olympusand Panasonic had introduced MicroFour Tliirds models.

FEATURESBefore you buy, consider the follow-

ing features, which are included on mostdigital cameras.

Exposure modeN. Most digital cam-eras, including SLRs, are highly auto-mated, with features such as automaticexposure control, which manages theshutter speed and aperture accordingto the available light. In that mode, thecamera generally handles setting ISOand autofocus as well. But there areother program modes that allow you tocontrol specific settings, including shut-ter priority, aperture priority, as well asspecial scene modes. Some cameras in-clude full manual controls, which let youset shutter speed and aperture.

Zoom lenses. This type of lens, which isactually made up of several difterent lensesor len.s elements, allows you to vary thefocal length. That provides you with flex-ibility in^framing shots and closes thedistance between you and your subject,which is ideal ifyou want to quickly switchto a close shot. The typical 3x zoom on

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D I G I T A L C A M E R A S 21

mainstream cameras goes from a moder-ately wide-angle view (35-mm equivalent)to moderate telepholo (105-mni equiva-lent). You can find cameras with extended7oom ranges between 5x and 26x, givingvou added versatility, If you want a greaterview angle lor more panoramic landscapes>ir group portraits, Jouk for cameras with,1 wide angle end of the zoom range of28 mm equivalent or lower.

One common feature of zoom lensesis that they generally protrude from thecamera when you turn it on. But somesubconipacts and a few compacts andsuperzooms have non-telescoping lenses.On larger compacts or superzooms, youmight also find a manual focus ring simi-lar to the one on an SLR lens, althoughmanual focusing on a point-and shootworks differently than that on an SI.R.

Optical zooms are much belter thaniligilal zooms, which merely magnify thecenter of the frame without actuallyincreasing picture detail. Almost all point-and-shoot digital cameras include zoomlenses, SLRs. which can use interchange-able lenses, often ship with a zoom lens,but also u.se prime or non-zoom lenses.

Image stabilization. More and morecameras, including many with powerfullenses, now come with image stabiliza-lion (IS), a technology that compensatesfor handheld camera shake. Often. IS letsyou shoot with a slower shutter speedthan you otherwise could without pro-ducing blur due to hand shake (though itwon't compensate for a subject's motion).Optical (in the lens) and mechanical (inthe camera body) image .stabilizers are(he best types to use, although some cam-cra.s include simulated stabilization.

In SI.R5, some brands include mechan-ical stabilizers, which can use IS withevery lens. But some SLR brands only

include optical IS in telephoto or longzoom lenses, which are the ones that needit most. The optical-based IS generallyproduces better results than mechanical-ba.scd IS. But you won't have IS on everylens because it's nol built into the camerabody. IS is a feature you should look for,especially if the camera has an opticalzootn greater ihan 3x.

Face detection and "Smart Camera"features. This digital camera feature at-tempts to find a face in the image to setfocus, exposure, and color balance so thatfaces appear in focus and well exposed.When we've tried it, we found that ii usu-ally worked well. In some cameras, youneed to turn on the feature. In others, it'senabled at the factory, but can be turnedoil. Other types or variants of face detec-tion are beginning to appear in newercameras too, such as a smile shutter mixlc,which shoots a photo of the subject when asubject smiles. Other types include blinkwarning, which alerts you to shots inwhich a subject might have blinked.

Focus. In addition to being able to auto-matically set exposure, digital camerasautomatically adjust the focus of the lens\yith autofocus (AF) features. Rut moreadvanced cameras include additionalfocusing functions. Be sure to look care-fully at the types of additional featuresavailable on your camera, including man-ual focus. On SI.Rs, look for the number ofAF points they have and what types of AFmodes are available. SLRs include addi-tional types of AF (often called dynamicAF) that groups focus points into a field tomore accurately track moving subjects.

Shooting modes. Most cameras havethree options for shooting still images:.single image, burst mode, and self-timer.The burst mode allows you to fire off aseries of shots quickly, for several, dozens.

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and sometimes scores of shots. SomeSI.Rs can shoot more than a hundredshots in a burst, and do so very quickly(measured in frames per second, or fps).Some newer advanced point-and-shootsare able to capture many shots per sec-ond, tot). As the name implies, the self-timer mode provides a delay between themoment the shutter button is pressed andthe photo is captured. Some cameras letyou set the length of this delay and thenumber of shots you can take.

Playback modes. All digital camerascan review images on the LCD, alongwith exposure arid other informationembedded in the image file. So, you canquickly see what the image actuallylooks like, and delete it if you don't likeit. Many cameras have automatic orien-tation features that turn the photo verti-cally or horizontally to correspond tohow you shot the photo. When reviewing,you can use the zoom control to mag-nify portions of the image file. The LCDscreen is also where you would accessthe camera's menu system in order tochange various settings and access fea-tures. A few types of digital camerasinclude either touch screen LCDs (jrLCDs that swivel. The best LCDs alsodon't change in color or tone (oftencalled solarizing) when viewed at anangle, although we don't test for this.Selected models include slideshow fea-tures, and some even let you play musicor create a multimedia slideshow.

ISO. This setting expresses how sensi-tive the sen.sor is to light. Many camerasallow you to set various ISO settings(anywhere from ISO 100 to ISO 1600,although some ranges can be even greater,particularly on SLRs). The advantage inbeing able to set a higher ISO is thatyou can tben have more flexibility in

adjusting either the aperture or shutterspeed, l-or example, if you need to shootan image at 1/250 of a second in order to"freeze" the action, but you have onlyenough light for a shutter speed of a 1/125of a second, one option is to change theaperture to let more light in. But if you realready at the wide.st aperture, you caninstead increase the ISO from 100 ISOto 400 ISO, and you should be able to setthe higher shutter speed.

But high ISO settings on point-and-shoot cameras, which have smaller sen.sorsthan SLRs, often sutler from image noise,which makes photos look grainy anddegrades image quality. There is al.so con-cern about the relationship between highmegapixel counts and sensor sizes. Themore megapixels manufacturers cramonto the same-sized sensor, the morevisual flaws can appear in the images.

Many point and-shoots include highISO settings, which they market as beingable to shoot images in low light. But inour tests, very few poini and-shoots havebeen able to deliver high quality imagesat ISO settings above 400. Because oftheir larger sensor sizes, many SLRs canproduce quality images at ISO settings of800 ISO or abo\'e.

LCD viewers. Optical viewfinders,which were once ubiquitous on cameras,are being replaced by larger, sharper colorLCD viewers. Some are now as large as3.5 inches. These di.splays are accurate inframing the actual image you get—betterthan most optical viewfinders—but theycan be hard to see in bright sunlight.Tliis live-view functionality, available inpoint-and shoots for years, has also beenappearing on more and more SLRs, whichhave traditionally used the LCDs onlyfor playing back or reviewing images. Acamera with both an optical viewfinder

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D I G I T A L C A M E R A S 23

and an I.CD viewfinder is more versatile,especially when you shoot in bright lightiir need to conserve battery power.

Flash. Available on almost every digitalcamera, a flash (or strobe) allows you loilluminate subjects via a short burst oflight. Nearly all have auto-flash modes, asetting that will automatically fire a Hashwhenever ihe camera senses there Isn'tonough illumination for a correct expo-sure. Most include other flash modes,including red-eye reduction mode, whichminimises a common flash camera prob-lem (although you can also fix this in animage-editing program when the image isstortd on your computer). There are pri-marily two types of flashes associatedwith consumer-level cameras: A built-in(onboard or, in some cases, pop-up) strolieis generally positioned directly above ordiagonally above ihe lens. An externalstrobe, sold separately as an accessory, fitsinto a camera's hot shoe, which lets youattach this accessory on to a high-enddigital point-and-shoot or SLR. Manycameras include a number of flash modesihat allow you to alter the type of flash orihe strength ofthe illumination.

Image file formats. The most com-monly used file format is the IPEG, acompressed image format that allowsyou to use the file for a number of differ-ent applications, such as printing photosbut also for inclusion in Web pages andL-mailing as attachments. A number ofhigh-end compact and superzoom cam-eras and all SLRs can also capture imagesin a file format commonly known as RAW.Tliis format is most often uncompressedand the image isn't processed inside Ihetamcra. as with IPEC> files. RAW files canyield the best-quality images and ihemosl flexibility when manipulating thephotos with software.

Tech tipA 6-megapixeicamera, or8 rnegapixelsfor croppingand enlarging,is all thai mostconsumers need.

Memory cards. Instead of film, nearlyall digital cameras record their shotsand store them on flash-memory cards,although a few models also have hadonboard flash-memory capacities greaterthan I gigabyte "GB." CompactPla.sh (CF)and Secure Digital (SD) are the mostwidely used. Other memory cards usedinclude Memory Stick Duo and xD.Although these storage cards were oncequite expensive, they have recentlydropped signifi-cantly in price.

Connections.To save images,you transfer themto a computer, typ-ically by connect-ing the camera lothe computer s USBport, or insertingthe memory card into a special reader.(Many computers now have built-incard readers.) Cameras can also be con-nected to printers, or you can insert thememory cards directly into select print-ers. Both options allow you lo printphotos without needing to transferthem to a computer. Most cameras alsoinclude a video output that lets you viewimages on your TV. Some even includean HDMI output that can be attached toan HDTV,

SHOPPING TIPSDon't focus on megapixels. Despite the

prevalence of 8-, 10-, and 12- megapixelcameras, 6 megapixels is all the reso-lution most people need. If you oftencrop or enlarge your images, get at least8 megapixels. Higher resolution doesn'tnecessarily produce better prints, so don'tlet a salesperson push a camera based onits megapixel count.

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Shop smartTo shoot group

portraits orpanoramic

scenes, look fora zoom lens of

28-mm equivalentor lower.

Shop by brand. Before diving intospecific models, consider some charac-teristics by brand, culled from our yearsof digital-camera tests. For example,Kodak emphasizes simplicity and ease ofuse. Canon, Nikon, and Olympus offerfull lineups for every type of user. Casiospecializes in ultraslim models. Sam-sung offers cameras with high styling

and multimediafeatures. Panasonicuses image stabi-lizers and Leicalenses throughoutits iine. Sony usesZeiss lenses, abrand well-knownin the camera worid.

Four camerabrands perform consistently better thanothers, year after year, across a widerange of prices, according to our first-ever analysis uf such trends among thepoint-and-shoot brands we regularly test.Those standouts: Canon, Casio, Pan-asonic, and Samsung.

That's not to say that those four brandshave a monopoly on making fine camerasor that every model they make is a greatchoice. They just offer you the best chanceof getting a superior performer when youbuy a camera model we haven't tested.

Try it out. If possible, try cameras ata store before you buy. That way, you'llknow which one fits your hand,s best.In our tests, some of the smallest didn'lleave much room even for small fingers.

Keep your other cameras in mind.IÍ you own a film camera with inter-changeable lenses, you can often use thelenses on digital SLRs of the same brand.Tbere are some exceptions, like newNikon bodies that only operate autofocuson AF-S or AF-I lenses.

Foi^o the extended warranty. Digitalcameras have been among the mosl reli-able products in our subscriber surveys.Only about 5 percent of those purchasedfrom 2004 through 2008 have beenrepaired or had a serious problem. In ourlatest electronics-buying survey, morethan 70 percent of digital camera buy-ers were pitched an extended warrantyin stores. We don't think it pays to buy anextended warranty for a digital camera.

Related CR report: September 2009Ratings: pages 210, 216

DIGITAL PICTUREFRAMES

A digital photo frame could be agood idea for anyone who's tired ofseeing the same old lineup of photoson the mantel.

That's because you can make the pic-tures inside Ihe frame change automati-cally. To set a frame up, you just plug itinto a power outlet, insert your digitalcamera's memory card, and choose thephotos you want to show.

Some frames contain built in mem-ory, so you can store photos in the frameand then return the memory card toyour camera. Some can store and playdigital music to accompany photos andothers can play short digital video clips,although not all of those can play audiowith the video.

TYPESSquarish vs. wide screen. Some frames

are wide-screen; others stick closerto a more traditional squarish shape.

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D I G I T A L P I C T U R E F R A M E S 25

Wide-screen frames usually utilize a 16x9aspect ratio.

Simple vs. full-featured, i-nime manu-facturers are loading a broad range of fea-tures onto their products, including iPoddocks, Wi-Fi connectivity, speakers, andmore. There are still a few frames, how-ever, that keep it simple, emphasizing thephotograph and nol the accompanyinghelkand whistles. We recommend goingfor the simple frame, although Wi-Fi andextra storage are handy extras.

FEATURESCertain features can help ensure your

satisfaction with a digital picture framelong after you buy it.

Screen size. Frames generally rangein size (rom about 3x5 to 10x12 inches.What's more important is the displayarea within the frame. We tested 7- and8-inch frames, measured diagonally.

Image quality. This is a frame's mostimportant attribute. Almost all of thedisplays we tested were judged good orvery good for overall picture quality. ITiescreen surface also might affect how wellyou see the picture. Many models havematte, nonreflective screens. Others placethe .screen under a pieceof glass that cre-ates a bit of glare in some cases, even ifihe glass has an antiglare coating.

Display resoIutioD. Display resolutionis the manufacturer's stated resolution.It's the number of pixels, horizontallyby vertically, that the frame can display.Most 7- and 8 inch frames we tested havea resolution of 800x600 or 800x480. Inour tests, most of those frames had goodor very good picture quality. But whenresolution went below those numbers,picture quality was not as good.

Aspect ratio. Aspect ratio representsthe relationship between an image's

height and width. Most frames use a4:3 or 3:2 aspect ratio. They work wellbecause most digital cameras shoot at4:3 and digital SLR cameras shoot at3:2. But an increasing number of framesdisplay the wide screen 16:9 ratio typi-cal of digital TVs. Many cameras canshoot images at 16:9, but only if youchange ihe camera's default setting. Ifyou shoot at the standard 4:3 or 3:2, dis-playing those images on a 16:9 framecan distort the images as the framestretches and crops to make the picturesfit. You can select a 4:3 setting on thoseframes, but that leaves black bars oneach side of the image. Frames with a 4:3aspect ratio provide the best view formost people.

Built-in storage. Some frames havebuilt in memory that can store images,which is more convenient than leavingyour cameras memory card in the frame.Look for at least 256 megabytes (MB).

Memory cards. Most models acceptthe common types of storage cards, suchas SI), CompactFlash, or Memory Stick.Make sure a frame uses the same type asyour camera.

USB port. Ifyou want to transfer digi-tal images directly from your computer,look for a frame with a USB port. (Thosewith a USB 2.0 port, noted in the Ratings,have faster transfer rates than those withUSBl.L)

Wi-Fi. Ifyou get a frame with Wi-Ficonnectivity, you may be able to down-load photos from your computer's harddrive (provided it's also got a networkconnection). Many frames also connectwith particular photo sharing sites.A few frames let you connect via Blue-tooth. If your camera or cell phone hasBluetooth, you might find that's a handyway to get photos to your frame.

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SHOPPING TIPSMake picture quality your top prior-

ity. After alt, you're looking at your fav-orite family photos and memories.

Fit the frame to the recipient. Someframes require only the ability to plug in amemory card. Others may have confusingmenus or require wireless setup. Make surethe person you're buying tor has some lech-savvy if a frame fits the latter category.

Skip the wide-screen models. Unlessyou take pictures using a 16x9 aspectratio (which most cameras allow, but notby default), stick to frames with a normal(4x3 or 3x2) aspect ratio. Otherwise, theframe will display bars above and belowor on the sides of the picture, or you'llhave to stretch it to nil the screen.

Get at least a 7-inch frame. This sizewill allow you lo display a full 4x6 photo.

Consider your photo-sharing service.11 you use an online photo-sharing sitelike Snapfish or Flickr, choose a wirelessframe that supports your site.

Related CR report: July 2009Ratings: page 21S

TELEVISIONSIf an uncertain economy has gottenyou down, there's news that couldlift your spirits: Prices of flat-panelHDTVs continue to fall, while theirperformance continues to improve.

You can start your quest for a new TVset by selecting types and features, or youcan focus in on what kind of consumer/viewer you are.

With prices down sharply across theboard, buyers in search of an HDTV thatwill be easy on the wallet, whether for

their main set or a second or third, willfind choices galore. For as little as $700to $1,000, you can buy a very good 40- or42-inch LCD TV or a 42-inch plasma set,a good size for a main TV, LCDs with32- and 37 inch screens, better for second-ary sets, sell for a few hundred les.s.

You'ii find plenty of brands in thebudget class. Major TV makers havecome out with lower-priced lines such asSamsung's B460 sets and Sony's L- andS-series sets, which are sold at massmerchants such as Wal-Mart and Targetand warehouse clubs such as Costco, andin electronics stores. Budget sets we'vetested often have fewer features thanmainstream models.

Look for up-and-coming brands suchas Vizio and store brands such as BesiBuy's Insignia. Those might include morefeatures than a similarly priced major-brand model. Some lower priced setshave done well in our Ratings. Also, youcan keep the cost down by sticking withmainstream features, such as two HDMlinputs rather than three or four, or anLCD set with a 60Hz refresh rate ratherthan 120Hz.

If you view your TV mostly as a wayto bring the movie-theater experiencehome, you'll need a set that can help cre-ate a theater-like atmosphere. To do jus-tice to your favorite flicks, choose a TVwith at least a 40-inch screen, and thinkbigger for greater dramatic impact. Plas-ma sets generally display richer, moremovie-like images than LCD TVs, withbetter blacks, truer colors, and betterdetail in shadows. Because of their wideviewing angles, plasma sets are prefer-able if some viewers won't be centered infront of the screen. If you want the bestimage detail, get a 1080p model. Watch-ing a Blu ray high-def movie on a set

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T E L E V I S I O N S 27

like that will give you the best possiblehome viewing.

Our tests have shown that LCDs usingLED backlights give plasmas a run foriheir money in producing deep blacks,great contrast, and accurate colors. Whilel.FD backlighting now commands a sig-nificant premium over models with thetraditional fluorescent backlights, weexpect prices for l.KD based sets to fall asthe technology becomes widespread,

Ihe next best thing to being at thegame is watching it on a big-screen HDTV,especially because so many events areshot in high-def. Look for at least a 50-inch .screen; go larger if you'll be cheeringon the team with a crowd. Plasma sets aregreat for sports, thanks to an almostunlimited viewing angle and the abilityto display fast motion without visibleblurring. Glare and reflections are issueswith some sets; window shades are a mustlor daytime games.

Many LCDs have brighter screens thanplasmas and look better in daylight. Butmost have a narrow viewing angle, so thepicture degrades it you move to the sideor up and down. Some LCD sets in ourRatings (notably the Panasonics) have awider viewing angle than most. WithLCDs, l2üHz technology can reducemotion blur when the play is fast andfurious. With a big screen, lOSOp resolu-tion can bring out such fine details as thelexture ofthe grass. Picture-in-picturecapability lets you view two games simul-tiinL'ously, one in a smaller window,i-antasy-league fans might want a .set withonline access lo Web based news andsports data. Though many TV providersoffer sports packages, DirecTV's are themost comprehensive.

Tbe flagship models from major brandsare usually loaded with innovative features.

Just be prepared to pay a premium to beon the cutting edge.

Recent l.C D innovations include LEDbacklights and 240Hz refresh rates de-signed to reduce motion blurring mcirethan 120Hz does; we'll test such sets andreport on tbem. In rear-project ion sets,Mitsubishi has two LaserVue DLP models,the first and only sets to use a laser back-light. Samsung and Mitsubishi have 3D-capable rear-projection DLP sets.

The biggest trend

Tech tipMany higher-priced sets usesophisticatedvideo processingto reducejerkiness whenthe camera pans.

is Internet connec-tivity. Most majorbrands have setswith direct accessto online content,usually from spe-cific partners. Iheyrequire an Internetconnection nearyour TV. ITiere's also hope for the nextgeneration of CableCards: tru2way tech-nology, available for Panasonic sets inlimited areas. Unlike TVs with the olderCableCard slots, tru2way-ready sets aredesigned to access all digital-cable ser-vices, including an interactive programguide and video-on-demand (VOD) usingthe remote control.

Buying a TV involves many choices,including budget, screen type, size, anddefinition:

Budget. Of course, your budget willaifect all of your decisions, It's possibleto find good small-screen TVs sellingfor a few hundred dollars, while largersets go for several thousand, and thereare many models that fall in betweenthose extremes.

Screen type. If you're like most buy-ers, you've probably settled on a slim,flat-panel LCD TV. but don't rule out aplasma set. Though LCDs and plasmas

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iookvery similar on fhe outside, they usedifferent technologies and the pictureshave different characteristics. WhileLCDs outsell plasmas by a wide margin,don't automatically assume LCDs are theway to go—plasma TVs have a lot to rec-ommend them.

Front-projector TVs offer the largestpicture available, but are not ideal foreveryday use. You may still find rear-projection and classic picture-tube televi-

sion models, though

Shop smartWe believe mostbuyers wouid be

happy with atleast a 40-inchscreen for their

main TV.

both these typesare disappearingfrom the market.

Screen size. Thisdepends on yourbudget, the size ofyour room, whereyou'll be sitting,

and the number of people who will bewatching the TV simultaneously.

You can't compare screen size betweenyour old and new TV; moving from a27-inch old-format set to a 32-inch wide-screen does not provide an appreciablybigger picture—content will be perceivedas the same size, though wider. For themost part, we recommend at least a37-inch screen for a primary TV you'llwatch often, and we believe most con-sumers would be happier with a 40- to42-inch TV, budget and room size per-mitting. In larger rooms, a 46-inch-or-bigger set is often preferable. Screens ofabout 26 to 32 inches are good for casualviewing in bedrooms, and even smallerscreen sizes suit kitchens.

When deciding how a set will fit inyour room, remember to factor in view-ing distance. TV programming tends tolook better and more natural if you sit atleast 5 feet from a 40- to 47-inch set and6 feet from a 50-inch-or-larger TV.

Screen resolution. Resolution indi-cates the number of pixels, or pictureelements, on the screen. The more pixels,the finer the detail a screen can display.You'll see HDTVs advertised as being720p or 1080p, sometimes called "fullHD." While a lOSOp set has the potentialto display finer detail than a 720p set,resolution alone doesn't determinepicture quality. Other factors such asbrightness, contrast, and color also comeinto play.

You can better appreciate the finerdetail of a 1080p screen on a 50-inch-or-larger TV, though you might see subtleimprovements on a 40-to 47-inch .screen.In smaller sizes, the benefits of 1080p areless obvious on typical HO content.

One exception: If you plan to use yourTV as a computer display, 1080p resolu-tion is a plus even on smaller screens.

FEATURESFeatures can help to ensure your

satisfaction with a TV long after youpark it in your living room, Many fea-tures, such as the inputs and outputs,are common to all TV types, while someare relevant only to a particular type ofTV; that's indicated below. Here aresome ofthe more important TV featuresto consider.

Connections. One ofthe most criticalconsiderations with any TV is the num-ber and type of inputs it has for hook-ing up to your devices. Most new TVshave two component-video and at leasttwo HDMI inputs, which should be ade-quate for most current uses. You mightwant more HDMI inputs to future-proofyour set, as this type of input is likelyto become even more widely used thanit is already. Both types are capable ofcarrying HD signals from devices such

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TELEVISIONS 29

as cable and .satellite boxes and digital-video recorders (DVRs). You can use theR[- (antenna/cable) input to feed high-defTV signals, either from an off-air antennalo a set with an ATSC tuner or from acable to a set with a QAM tuner. S-videoand composite video inputs are generallyused for connecting older gear sucb as aVCR or sometimes a DVD player. If youwant to hook up a video-game system(ir digital camcorder occasionally, lookfor a TV with front- or side-panel inputs,which are more accessible than those onthe rear of the set.

Aspect-ratio adjustments. Most wide-screen (16:9) sels have stretch and zoommodes that expand or compress an imageU) lili the screen better. That helps toreduce or eliminate ihc dark bands tbatcan appear on the sides or top and bol-loin of images if you watch content thaiisn't formatted for a wide screen, includ-ing most standard-deHnition TV pro-grams and even some HD content. Thet radeoff is that the picture is distorted orcut off.

Fiim mode. This improves the appear-ance of movies converted from filmto video. That includes most theatricalreleases on DVD and many movies shownon TV, "I'his feature (also called 3;2 pull-down, motion compensation, or brand-specific names such as CineMotion andFilm Mode) helps to compensate for thedifference in frame rates between fiim(24 fps) and video (30 fp.s), which can cre-<ite jerkiness and jagged edges on movingimages. Since most TVs and progressive-.scan DVD players also have a film-modeteature. experiment to see which devicedoes (he best job of making the imageslook smoother,

TV settings and modes. All TVs havemenus with settings that enable you to

adjust the picture, sound, and more.Since most TVs are sold with their set-tings optimized for retail showroomsrather than homes, we suggest adjustingthe TV's settings once you get home togel the best viewing experience. ManyTVs have pre.set picture modes that arealready optimized for certain lypes ofcontent (such as movies, sports, or games);other TVs require you to make adjust-ments one by one. Wiih more sources forvideo available all the time, il's handy tohave a feature that allows you to custom-ize settings for each input, such as theone you routinely use for your cable boxor the DVD player.

CableCard slots. Available on a smallnuniber nf TVs, a CableCard slot letsyou use a card, rented to you by ihe cableconipany for a few dollars a month,instead of a cable box. When the card isinserted, the TV can receive scrambleddigital cable content, including high-detprogramming. That eliminates the needfor an extra piece of equipmeni ajidcables, but ihere is a downside: Mostcurrent CableCards are one-way, so theydon'l provide an interactive programguide, video-on-demand, or pay-per-view ordering via the remote control.'Ilie first two-way cards are starting toshow up.

Picture-in-picture. This lets you watchtwo channels at once^one in a smallwindow, the other asa full-screen image.A single-tuner TV requires anotherdevice, such as a DVR or cable box, todisplay two programs at once; dual-luner TV models are able to display twoprograms simultaneously on their own.On some TVs, piclure-in-picture is dis-abled when the HDMI input is used.

Illuminated remote. Some remotesuse some type of illumination—either

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backlighted keys or glow-in-the-darkkeys—to make it easier to use in a dark-ened room. Backlighting is preferred,since glow-in-the-dark keys fade quickly.In some cases, only a few of the most-used keys are illuminated.

Speakers. Most TVs include built-inspeakers; monitors, which don't includean ATSC tuner, often don't come withspeakers. Front projectors generally don'tinclude speakers, cither. Some modelshave detachable speakers. Ihe locationof the speakers can affect the width ofthe set and could determine whether itwill fit into a niche in an entertainmentcenter. A recent trend wiih flat-panel TVshas been toward "invisible" speakers thaiare integrated within the screen bezeland barely visible to the eye. Some TVshave audio outputs that will allow you toconnect external speakers or a poweredsuhwoofer.

SHOPPING TIPSView screens critically in Ihe store.

TVs are usually sel to Vivid or Dynam-ic mode, which pumps up brightnessand color to a level that looks great un-der lluoresceni lights but unnatural in atypical home. In addition, stores oftendisplay sports programs, which tend tohave super-bright lighting and vividcolors that minimize any flaws in thepicture. Ideally, you could ask a salesper-son to reset a TV to Normal or Standardmode, but most retailers won't allow this.See if they'll tune in programming withtypical indoor .scenes (including people, ifpossible, so you can evalúale skin tones).

Don't buy expensive cables. "Prestige"brands offer very-high-priced cables,You'll see some HDMI cables in the6-foot-range (a typical length) sellingfor $100 or more, and longer cables that

cost several times that. We've foundthat modestly-priced brands sold atmost consumer electronics stores forhalf that price or less should be fine fortypical use. Avoid inexpensive cables aldollar stores; those might have flimsyconneclors or inadei|uate shielding onthe cable Itself.

Try negotiating. You might be able totalk your way to a better price, especiallyfor higher-priced TVs, See what a TV isselling for at reputable online retailersaiîd in local stores, and use that informa-tion in negotiating il price. Once you'vechosen a set, ask for a break on installa-tion or delivery costs, or for free HDMIor component-video cables.

Shop where you'll gel a price guaran-tee. Many retailers will malch or beat alower price from a local competitor, sogo to the store with those prices in hand.Even after the sale, some stores promisea refund if they reduce the price of yourTV within a specified period of time,often 30 to 60 days, or if you find theset selling elsewhere for less. Save yourreceipt and keep checking ads.

Skip the extended warranty. It's gen-erally not worth the money to buy anextended warranty for an LCD or plasmaTV. Our survey data from thousands ofTV buyers show thai sets of both type.sfrom most major brands have had a verylow rate of repairs for the first threeyears of use, and most repairs cost lessthan $200. A warranty often costs just asmuch if not more Ihan thai. Use a creditcard that doubles your warranty, or shopat a retailer like Costco, which adds oneyear to the standard coverage. Detailedrepair rates by brand are available tosubscribers.

Use price-comparison sites. ManyInternet shopping sites are one-stop

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T E L E V I S I O N S 31

shops where you can check prices for spe-cific TVs at hundreds of retailers. You cansort ihe listings by price, including taxand shipping, and check reader reviewsof products and retailers. Some .sites toconsider: BizRate (and its affiliate. Shop-zilla), Coogie Product Search, mySimon,PriceGrabber.com, Shopping.com {andiiffiliate DealTime). and Yahoo Shopping.Ytiu'll also find a price comparison andlocal shopping link in the Ratings atConsumcrReports.org.

Set price alerts. Some price-comparisonsites will send price alerts bye mail. Indi-cate your target cost or range tor a model,and the site will e-mail you when it findsa store selling at that price.

LCD TVsIt's liltle wonder that LCD TVs are

by far ibe besl selling lype of TV. LCDTVs are slim and light, and Ihey comein a wide range of sizes including big-screen models.

Many new LCD sets have screensmeasuring 40 inches and up, and setswith 50-plus-inch screens are now com-mon. No matter how large the screen,LCD sets are only a few inches deep andlight enough to be wall mounted, about75 pounds or so for a 46-inch .set.

There are many more companies sellingLCD than plasma TVs. LCD televisionsstill cost more than most comparablysized plasma sets, but ihe gap is nar-rowing, particularly in the 50-inch-and-up category. Most big-screen LCD setshave 1920x1080. or 1080p, resolution, thehighest currently available, giving themthe potential to display all the detau in ahigh-def signal.

Technology has improved in a numberof ways over recent years, resulting inbetter performance. High def LCD TVs

have millions of pixels (the tiny elementsthat make up an image) that open tolet light ihrough or close to block it,somewhat like tiny shutters. Light tendsto leak thnuigh even when the "shut-ters" are closed, one reason LCDs havehad trouble displaying deep blacklevels. However, some new modelshave minimized ihis problem by usingLF.D backlights and so called local-dimming technology, enabling themto produce deeperblacks.

The use of LEDbacklighting in-"stead of fluorescentlights in some newsets has addressedother issues too.

Tech tipCheck an LCDTV's viewingangle if you won'taiwavs watch theset head-on.

issuesLED backlighting potentially enablesan LCD TV to display a wider range ofcolors and more evenly distribute lightacross the back of the panel for moreconsistent brightness on all parts of thescreen. In addition, the use of 12OH7.and 240Hz technology on some newTVs has improved their ability to displayfast-moving scenes without blurring.LEDs also use less energy than conven-tional lamps.

'there's slight progress, in wideningthe viewing angle, a traditional weak-ness of LCD displays. With most sets,the picture looks its best only from afairly narrow .sweet spot right in frontol the screen. When viewed from otl-center, the color, contrast, or brightnesschanges, atfecting the picture quality.A few new LCD TVs have a wider view-ing angle, though most still have thislimitation. There's mounting evidencethat LCD TVs have been highly reliableproducts requiring few repairs duringthe first three years of use.

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Shopping on theInternet? Don't

forget to includeshipping costs,

which can besubstantial with a

big-screen TV.

FEATURESLCD TVs come in the widest range

of sizes of any TV type, from 15 inchesor so up to 65 inches and even larger.Small sets with 15- to 19-inch screens,including a mix of standard-def andhigh-def models, are most suitable foruse in a kitchen or office. Those with 26-to 37 inch screens might serve in a bed-room or small living room. Most LCDTVs with screens 26 inches and larger

are HD models.A TV measuring

40 inches or larger"'s a good choice for"se as a primaryset in most homes.Many LCD setswith 4ü-inch-plusscreens have 1080presolution; others

have 720p resolution.Typical selling prices for LCD sets are

about $500 to $1,000 for a 32-inch model,$650 to $1,200 for a 37-inch set, $700 toSL800 for a 40- to 42-inch set, $900 to$3,00(1 for a 46- to 47-inch set, and $1,300to $4,000 for a 52-inch set. 1080p setstypically costa few hundred dollars morethan a comparable 720p model. Prices inlarger sizes continue to drop. In all sizecategories, you'll see less-establishedbrands selling for hundreds less.

Among LCD TV features to look for:I20Hz and 240Hz technology. This

helps to reduce a problem that alTectsmost LCD TVs: a tendency to blur duringscenes with fast motion, such as sportsprograms. That's because LCD responsetimes {how long it takes for the TV to"refresh" its picture) have typically heenslower than that of other IV technolo-gies. To address this, some new sets dis-play double or quadruple the number of

frames per second—120 or 240 rather.than the typical 60—by inserting addi-tional video frames (or black frames).Because there is less time between frames,motion appears smoother.

SHOPPING TIPSAn LCD is a better choice than a plasma

in certain situations. You have a widerchoice of screen .sizes and a bigger selec-tion of IOaOp models. LCDs are generallybrighter than plasma TVs, and theirscreens are generally less reflective. Thatmakes them better for daytime viewing inrooms with lots of windows or for night-time use in rooms with bright lighting.

With an LCD. there's no chance thatstatic images from video games andcomputer programs—as well as stationlogos, news tickers, even the bars along-side standard-dcf pictures—will burn in.With a plasma TV, burn-in has been aconcern, though most new models havefeatures to minimize that risk.

Some LCDs use slightly less powerthan comparably sized plasma TVs. Itwon't cut your utility bills by more thana few dollars a month, but there is anenvironmental advantage to using a lesspower-hungry TV.

Here are points to consider if you'vedecided an LCD TV is right for you:

Check the viewing angle. Before buy-ing, see how the picture looks if you stepoff to the side or move up and down. Withmany, you'll see a .somewhat washed-outimage as your viewing position anglesaway from front and center. Also checkout the viewing angle scores in our Rat-ings for the expert take on this.

Don't get hung up on specs. Ads tout-ing high contrast ratios and brightness(in cd/m-, or candelas per square meter)might sway you to one set over another.

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Manufacturers arrive at specs differently,!.o they might not be comparable. Also,keep in mind that TVs are often opti-mized for bright retail environments, nothome viewing.

Look for easy-to-use inputs. On manyI CD televisions, the connections are onthe side or rear of the panel and might bedilhcuit lo reach.

Consider a set that doubles as a com-puter display. If you need a computerdisplay as well as a TV, check connectiv-ity options. An HD set with high nativeresolution, preferably 1080p, is best forcomputer use. A standard VGA connec-tion works with all computers.

Plasma TVsPlasma TVs make a blockbuster first

impression. A scant 6 inches thick orless, these sleek, i lat panels display brightimages on screens measuring 42 to 60inches or more diagonally.

A plasma screen is made up of thou-sands of pixels containing gas that'sconverted into "plasma" (ionized gas) byan electrical charge. The plasma emitsultraviolet light that causes phosphors toglow red, green, or blue, as dictated by avideo signal.

Because of improvements in plasmatechnology, the best sets have excellentpicture quality. They also offer a widerviewing angle than most LCD TVs andrear-projection sets, with deeper blacksand smoother motion than you typicallyget with LCD sets.

Bui the shiny screen of a plasma TVcan produce annoying reflections, espe-cially in bright rooms. Many plasma setshave screen coatings to reduce reflections.Pla.sma sets are vulnerable to screenburn-in, although new screen-savingtechnologies minimize the risk.

Plasma TVs with 1080p resolutions arenow common. Manufacturers have intro-duced some new sets that are even thinnerand lighter, with lower power consumplion, than the typical plasma TV.

There's growing evidence that plasmaTVs are highly reliable products requir-ing few repairs during the first threeyears of use,

FEATURESPlasma TV prices have dropped sharply

over the past year or two. HD models with42-inch screens generally range from about$800 to $1,500. Most TVs with 50-inchscreens sell between Si,000 and $3,000,and 58-inch models start at about $2,600to $4,000 or more. In each size, sonu- setswith the latest technologies and designsell for hundreds more than these rang-es. Some 42-inch plasma HDTVs havea resolution of 1024x768, but more nowhave 1920x1080 resolution; most 50-inch-and-larger sets do as well. These so-calledI080p TVs have the potential to display all1,080 lines in the most common high defformat, called 1080i. The improvement ismost noticeable on large screens, say those50 inches and up.

Among plasma TV features to look for:Antiglare screens. Most plasma TVs

have shiny screens that show retleciionsfnim windows and lamps, most notice-ably in brightly lighted rooms. A fewLCD TVs have .shiny screens, too. Ifyou weren't bothered by reflections on atube set, this shouldn't be a major issuefor you. Some plasma sets have screenswith antiglare surfaces, which can help toreduce reflectivity.

Anti~burn-in features. Many plasmaTVs now also come with features to pre-vent burn in, such as Screensavers andmotion-adaptive (also called pixel shifting)

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technology, which shifts the picture almostimperceptibly every few seconds. Thishelps prevent static images such as a sta-tion logo or the bars on the sides of animage from permanently etching into theTV's phosphor coating, leaving faint butpersistent, ghostlike images on the screen.These impressions disappear when youplay random video scenes. Some modelsinclude a feature that essentially blasts thescreen with a white image tor a period oftime to remove ghosting images.

SHOPPING TIPSBeware of burn-in. But don't worry

ahciiit burnout- Most new plasma TVs havescreen-saver teatures and use other tech-nologies to minimize the risk of burn-in,but don't push your luck by leaving staticimages onscreen for prolonged periods.

You may have seen reports suggestingthat plasma TVs might not last as long asother TV types. Ignore them, as there isno evidence to that effect.

Given Ihat plasma flat-panel TVs havebeen very reliable for the time covered bymany extended warranties, there's little.sense in spending several hundred dol-lars foi- such a warranty. You can also getlonger coverage on your set without pay-ing a cent for it. Some premium creditcards add up to a year to your warranty

at no cost when you buy a TV with theircard. Some retailers do, too. Costco, forinstance, adds one year to the warrantyfor sets purchased in its warehouses oron its Website.

Don't get hung up on specs. Ads tout-ing high contrast ratios and brightness(in cd/m-, or candelas per square meter)might sway you to one set over another.But don't let this be the deciding fac-tor. Manufacturers arrive at specs dif-ferently, so they might not be compa-rable. Also, TVs are often optimized forbright retail environments, not homeviewing, so it's hard to assess differencesin picture quality accurately in stores.Determine what's included when com-paring prices.

A few plasmas are monitors only; theydon't include speakers or a tuner for anover-the-air TV signal. You won't haveto buy a tuner if you'U be using a cablebox or satellite receiver, which will serveas the tuner for all programming. Other-wise, you'll need a set-top box to workwith an antenna. H the plasma TV has nospeakers, you'll have to buy them sepa-rately unle-Ss you plan to connect the setto your existing sound system.

Related CR report: March 2009Ratings for LCD TVs: page 271Ratings for plasma TVs: page 279

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