Ynot Posted August 3, 2014 Share Posted August 3, 2014 Have I missed something along the way, because I've been looking to buy a couple of larger monitors (around 22 to 26") but don't particularly want wide screen. As they'll be used to view a 4:3 video signal, it sort of seems a waste, and the picture will inevitably either be stretched to WS format or squared off in the middle of a screen, which doesn't really look ideal. The largest I've found anywhere so far is 19", with plenty of 19 and 17 knocking about - haven't found a single one larger than that though. So - as I ask - have I missed the advent of anything larger than 19 having to be WS...?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cedd Posted August 4, 2014 Share Posted August 4, 2014 You're not alone! We use large screen 4:3 at work and are very quickly finding that cheaper ones just aren't available. A few specialist manufacturers still make them, but they're very industry specific and therefore very expensive! Take a look at Planar. An American firm who I think might still make them. Barco do one specifically for the Air Traffic Control market, but it'll involve a mortgage! Our problem is that a radar picture is, by nature, square (a circle within a square box). 4:3 allows a square display with a small on screen control panel to the side. Widescreen is just daft and a waste of screen space. You need a very wide display to get back the size of square display you had with 4:3, and then the control panel area is huge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timsabre Posted August 4, 2014 Share Posted August 4, 2014 I think it's just down to market forces... the vast majority of panels manufactured are widescreen which drives the cost down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ynot Posted August 4, 2014 Author Share Posted August 4, 2014 You're not alone! Well, glad I'm not alone, though obviously not so much that it IS the case :( It's not a massive issue if I have no choice but to go down the WS route, though as CEDD says, to get the same ratio on screen for a 19" 4:3 on a WS would probably negate the benefit of having it larger.. Oh well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin D Posted August 4, 2014 Share Posted August 4, 2014 I don't know if it helps, but I went into a studio a couple of weeks ago where they had large several WS screens mounted on end with what looked like two 4:3 images per screen, one above the other. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Posted August 4, 2014 Share Posted August 4, 2014 It's driven by technology improvements and the march of 'progress'. Back when consumers started to switch to digital TV/widescreen TV the largest LCD panels you could get at a reasonable price were 17"/19" units. As it became possible to make larger panels, the demand was for widescreen units and so no-one ever really made larger 4:3 panels as there was no demand to justify tooling up a production line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimWebber Posted August 4, 2014 Share Posted August 4, 2014 In the defence world, we use a lot of 4:3 stuff - for exactly the reasons Cedd suggests..... You may want to try Beijer Sample link but again, it may be overkill for what you want, and it will be bloody expensive.... Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce Posted August 4, 2014 Share Posted August 4, 2014 What's the video source? The drop in popularity - and hence availability - of 4x3 monitors is to some extent matched by a corresponding drop in availability of 4x3 cameras etc. I'm guessing this is for show relay - would it make sense to use (cheaper) widescreen monitors and replace the camera with a 16x9 source? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emsgeorge Posted August 5, 2014 Share Posted August 5, 2014 look for cctv suppliers - theres still a large market there for decent sized but 4:3 screens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AHYoung Posted August 5, 2014 Share Posted August 5, 2014 its a common problem in a few niche areas... we do a fair bit of gallery stuff and if its an older work its liable to be 4/3. We sourced some NEC pro monitors a while back, but a 22" 4/3 unit was from memory over 600... The other option that you have is to look at cctv units which are generally 4/3. The Vigilant Vision ones are pretty good and have a neat metal bezel with vga, hdmi and composite video ins, but again from memory 19" is pretty much as big as it goes... basically there are a few enormous factories churning out the lcd panels and they are all in standard sizes which is why tellys and computer monitors all tend to be the same size - deviate from this and its going to cost if you can even find it at all... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the kid Posted August 5, 2014 Share Posted August 5, 2014 Might be worth looking at free stuff or ebay, or even a school/college might have a couple floating about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ynot Posted August 8, 2014 Author Share Posted August 8, 2014 What's the video source? It can vary depending on the use. Either show relay, or occasionally feeding stuff to be viewed by the performers. Usually composite or VGA. Nothing too HD or complex. Might be worth looking at free stuff or ebay, or even a school/college might have a couple floating about.Fleabay and Amazon were my first ports of call - 19" aren't uncommon and not too bad a price, so I'll have to stick to that I reckon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmr Posted August 8, 2014 Share Posted August 8, 2014 Samsung did a couple of 20" 4:3 monitors, 204B, and 204T both ran at 1600x1200. They pop up on ebay occasionally. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tow Posted August 9, 2014 Share Posted August 9, 2014 I have 3 Samsung Syncmaster 214T, which are a 21 inch, 4:3, 1600x1200 monitor with VGA, DVI and Composite inputs. I got them 2nd hand one at a time from Germany on eBay. They are a quality monitor, but suffer from bad caps in the PSU which are an easy fix. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sleepytom Posted August 9, 2014 Share Posted August 9, 2014 Dell 2007fp - these are very good IPS monitors with great off axis viewing. You can get them refurbished for around £100 each. They are 1600x1200 and have composhit, s-video, VGA and dvi inputs. They come with a very robust stand which detaches very easily for transport, or they fit with the stand attached still in a peli 1600 case. CheersTom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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