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ISF Calibration Not For Everyone....

66.185.84.74

Posted by Rich H on July 18, 2003 at 19:06:45

In Reply to: Will calibration make tv last longer? posted by bob1 on July 16, 2003 at 17:20:13:

Mmmm...ISF....

I thought I'd just interject what often goes undiscussed in AV circles. Not everyone prefers an ISF calibrated image. Yes, in theory at least you get a more "accurate" image, but like in high-end audio, "accurate" does not always equate to "looks better." Many have found an ISF'd display looks flatter and dimmer, less "alive." Other people have just the opposite reaction - it depends on what type of display you own, how it was set before the ISF guy arrived, and what your subjective viewing preferences are.

In the case of RPTVs it seems almost mandatory to have it ISF'd. I've rarely heard of someone NOT preferring the image of their RPTV after an ISF. And since the settings are usually so off factory-wise an increase in picture quality - in realism too - is often happily noted.

Myself, I prefer the least electronic-looking, most realistic, natural and believable image possible. I love that vibe like I'm looking through the camera lens itself to the actors on set.

While an increase in such realism can be the happy result of professional calibration, it is not the goal per se; the goal being to bring your display settings in line with NTSC standards. Accuracy to the source. Although it should be noted there is some art in the craft, as the final dialing in of the image is often done by eye, and hence to the ISF technician's taste. The thing is most people have their display ISF'd and figure "well, that's that: there's no way I could get a more convincing image than this - it's been done by a pro."

I had my plasma ISF calibrated by a noted professional and after living for months with the results ended up preferring the image I had previously dialed by eye (which, in turn, I had preferred to settings dialed via AVIA). I'm not a heathen: the plasma is far from torch mode, and in fact most films look less garish and more believable on my settings than my ISF'd settings (so far the 15 critical-eyed folks who have compared the settings agree).
I'm not the only one who has experienced this to say the least.

This actually is no knock at all on the ISF school, which I in fact highly support. I agree in the need for standards. But in the area of "picture quality, believability, realism" (vs strict accuracy) I found I could go further toward that goal on my own.

Just trying to add another angle to the discussion.

(That said, considering the type of TV owned by the original poster, I'd bet he would benefit from a professional ISF calibration).

Rich H.

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