I have a quick question about 1080i vs. 720p. I thought a 1080i signal is 1920 x 1080, meaning it has 1920 pixels of horizontal resolution (1920 vertical scan lines), and since each frame is interlaced and drawn 1/60th of a second, it has 540 pixels of vertical resolution (540 horizontal scan lines). Likewise, a 720p signal has 1280 pixels of horizontal resolution (1280 vertical scan lines) and 720 pixels of vertical resolution (720 horizontal scan lines), so if you convert from 720p to 1080i, you actually gain horizontal resolution, is this correct?

I have a Benq W500 720p projector. It will play 1080p content via it's HDMI input. The image was always very good via my sons Playstation 3, about the same as my old HD DVD player. I have just installed a Pioneer BDP 51FD Blu-ray player. Now I can see just how good Blu-ray is. The image has improved so much that I still can't believe it. It makes my $1000.00 projector look like a $5000.00 projector It really is that good. The Dolby HD audio is also far better than Dolby Digital. So if you want to see what you are missing go out and spent the extra ¢200.00 bucks on the player and stay away from the cheap units.

The argument is whether or not the extra expense is justified for the net gain in sharpness that most folks will experience when going from 720p to 1080p. This is the most misleading and easily manipulated part of HD tech and it actually contributes to slowing growth of the technology because it makes folks aprehensive about purchasing either. We have heard this argument for years, even when very few of the HTs in our homes had available content to display at 1080 I or P. Technically, there is a difference between the two, the question is "can the average viewer with average HD content availability utilize 1080p to the extent that it is worth two to three times as much as a very good 720p setup?"

It has been interesting to read some of the previous comments. I am the Pres/CEO of The Projector Place and have been in the AV industry for over 40 years. I just wanted to comment that I do see some web comments that are really off the wall. I also want to verify that Evan Powell is the Number one authority on projectors in this country and I know of no one in the industry that is more respected by his professional peers. You may disagree with Evan but the odds are the right answer is in Evan's favor.

I think Evan Powell hit the nail firmly on the head. While I am not as much in agreement with Leonard R. Eckian's comments here and there, and feel they are a bit over the top. Obviously Leonard is a die hard 1080p videophile. Now I have seen Blu-ray via hdmi through both native 1080p and native 720p models. I have a very, very picky eye, and even standing there seeking out even the slightest of improvements in native 1080p projectors using Blu-ray via hdmi, I did in fact see a slightly sharper image, and naturally better blacks and contrast(but mind you-there are plenty of 720p projectors that have the same or superior blacks and contrast as most 1080p models). But honestly the difference is not really that big. Let's face it- both are indeed true HD. The only difference is that one has more pixels than the other which means a sharper image. So in my opinion 1080p offers better sharpness which means a slightly clearer picture. So on that level I do indeed agree. But I have seen many projectors in action, both 720p and 1080p native with Blu-ray and though I see a difference and a superior image with the 1080p signal, I do not agree that 1080p is that significant of an improvement over 720p because it is an overstatement to say it is. Evan Powell's article seem to suggest this opinion somewhat as well.

There is a VERY visible difference between watching SD dvd's on a 720p projector and watching Blu-rays or HDTV on a 720p projector. As far as the difference between watching the same blu-rays and HD content on a 720p or a 1080 projector? Not nearly as much of a difference. Slight improvments only and the general population won't notice the differnce at all. Its up to each individual to decide if the 1080p premium is a good ROI.

Max you will see a big difference because the 1080P projector in addition to more resolution will have better contrast, black level and shadow detail. This is not like two identical cars one with a 4 cycl. and one with a 6 cycl.--The 1080P projector in addition to the higher resolution will have many other improvements not available in any 720P projector.

the only exception to what they are saying above is the three chip dlp projectors at 720p still outperform the 1 chip 1080p projectors, my infocus 777 three chip 720p has a much better picture than my neighbors 1080p jvc.

To go 720p or 1080p will depend on a few factors in different part of the world. 1) Cost- 1080p prices are higher for blu-ray player and Projectors. In Malaysia, the Blu-ray disc cost about USD 45.00 per piece.Almost 2-3times the price of standard definition DVD. 2) Titles Release- At this point of times, disc titles are still limited. 3) Technology- Blu-ray player reading the data take a while to select the scene due to large amount of data in the disc and improvement need time to perfect. 4) 720p performance is acceptable with current SD DVD and is affordable. Will upgrade at a later date if all the above has improve for the better!

(Note: I'm *not* the Doug Pratt who publishes The DVD Newsletter.)

I own a Panasonic PT-AX200U, and I have absolutely no 1080 envy, thanks in part to the invisible pixel grid. Everyone who's seen my PT-AX200U has been totally blown away by the picture, whether watching widescreen 480p DVD, HDTV on a FiOS DVR set to 720p, or my son's Xbox 360.

My .02 cents:

Native contrast levels, color accuracy, and the amount of light the projector throws should be far more important than 720p versus 1080p.

An entry-level LCD 1080p unit can be bested visually by higher-end 720p DLP units that are often priced less to begin with.

At the same screen size and the same seating distance from projectors of the same type (LCD and LCD or DLP and DLP), unless you are right on top of the screen *few* people would be able to distinguish a 1080p image from an 720p one without seeing them both side by side and comparing.

Only by freezing both displays on a single frame and comparing will differences (sometimes) be visible, and then it will greatly depend on the quality of encoding on the BD disc and how the movie was shot to begin with, the condition of the film stock when transferred, and if the film is new or old...where older films tend to show alot of grain in the image, which in turn can destroy detail (which is intended, by the way).

Having said all that....the days of 720p are coming to a close, in another year or two there wont be any new 720p displays being produced. And as such, the price of 1080p displays will again come down. Many of us have chosen to spend a small amount on a good quality DLP 720p projector in the short term, and upgrade to a higher quality 1080p unit somewhere down the line when they become more affordable.

The $2000-and-under LCD 1080p units do not impress me so far visually, and my "buy" point is closer to $1200 anyhow.

How should the question be answered when we are talking about own movies produced with HD-camcorders? I'm planning about buying a HD-camcorder and will probably watch a lot of my own movies. Which should I buy then? 1080p with 24p? Many thanks!

Has anybody compared the quality when using 1080p vs 720p when using a 720p native projector? Just curious as my Optoma can down convert 1080p to 720p, but as the ps3 can display both, I'm wondering if it'll look better set to 1080p or 720p...

"If you are more interested in displaying a computer screen at 1024x768, then 1080 is what is needed, right? It seemed to me interlaced would be better for computer projection than 1080p, does it matter?"

Modern computer displays and graphic cards are all progressive, not interlaced.

If you are interested in displaying a computer at 1024x768 you do *not* need a 1080p capable display (TV, LCD, projector, etc). You just need a display capable of doing 1024x768.

Now if you want to display your computer image at 1080p, then the resolution will be 1920x1080. If you are planning on using it for gaming, you better get a hell of a good video card. Otherwise your fps count will be so low that the games will suck.

I currently have a PC with a Geforce 8800GTX running at 1080p (1920x1080) at highest settings in all games with an LVM-37w3 and it is just beautiful.

I also have another computer which was previously connected to an HP VP6120 projector at 1024x768 and then I upgraded to the HD1000 at 1280x720 (720p). However due to problems with the HD1000 not doing 1:1 image in the VGA input at 1280x720, I am going to return that projector and buy something else.

If you are more interested in displaying a computer screen at 1024x768, then 1080 is what is needed, right? It seemed to me interlaced would be better for computer projection than 1080p, does it matter?

Great article for novice. How do they relate to the Standard television programs? I need to replace my benq because it is too dark to view regular tv. Please advise.