Monitors and viewing distance

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hbjdk

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A lot of people in here are showing interest in large monitors, i.e. 30+ inches.
But isn't even 28 inches monitors way too large for the average desk?

Personally I'm sitting just a little more than an arm's length away from my 24" screen, and I wouldn't want a bigger screen, I think (although recently I've been tempted to get a 27"!)

I could wall-mount a larger screen though and then move back my desk and office char - my room allows that.

Is that what you guys do - sit farther away from the screen?

I know the trend towards larger and larger monitors has been going on for many years now and it sounds like it's gonna continue. Just curious how people manage to actually sit behind and use the large screens available nowadays, that's all :)
 
I recently switched from a 24" to a 27" and was a little worried it was just going to be too big from 2 or 3 feet away. Well, it wasn't and I very easily adapted to the size. In fact, I would probably have a hard time going back to 24".

On the other hand, when you start talking about 30" or 32", this seems like it's getting a bit ridiculous for a computer monitor. But then again, that's what I thought about going from 24 to 27.
 
I agree with Brian Hauer here who has a priority list for desktop display features .
Displays need to fill as much of my field of view as possible. This means I won't stop until I have a 360 dome.

idome1.jpg


You're doubleclick away from immersive worlds.
idome9.jpg
 
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All of you 32" plus guys must be seriously bind is all I have to say...
 
LG 34UM95 user here. Sitting 32inches away from monitor. From monitor to my body. Loving it. :D
 
I sit 45-60cm away from 2x 27" 1440p monitors in an attempt to fill my field of view (27" is too small to do so) and reduce IPS/PLS glow (proper lighting also helps). I want 32" AHVA/IPS/PLS, but lack the gpu power and funds for 4K, plus there are no glossy, overclock-able and delay free 32" 4K monitors,
 
hbjdk said:
A lot of people in here are showing interest in large monitors, i.e. 30+ inches.But isn't even 28 inches monitors way too large for the average desk? Personally I'm sitting just a little more than an arm's length away from my 24" screen, and I wouldn't want a bigger screen, I think (although recently I've been tempted to get a 27"!) I could wall-mount a larger screen though and then move back my desk and office char - my room allows that. Is that what you guys do - sit farther away from the screen? I know the trend towards larger and larger monitors has been going on for many years now and it sounds like it's gonna continue. Just curious how people manage to actually sit behind and use the large screens available nowadays, that's all :)
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For desktop monitors comfortable viewing distance is typically 1-1.5 PH (Picture Height) but there is a factor of visual adaptation here and individual preferences. To give you own example, I was moving from 19"->24"->27" monitors. Each time new monitor was at first looking huge but after some time it looked normal and much more comfortable. Even more, the previous monitor looked definitely small and idea of returning to it felt crazy. Thus, even if you do not feel the need, change to a 27"@2560x1440 monitor and let us know after some time, even better change to 30"@4K and tell us :D.

Based on the experience of each bigger monitor feeling better I started looking what would be the maximal size of desktop monitor. To find this, one has to take into account firstly the height of the display. The screen can not be too high since head would have to be up resulting in a very nonergonomic position ideal for chronic neck pain. Eye level should be at minimum in the middle of the screen, preferably higher, up to around 3/5 of the height, . Now assume that the display lower edge is touching the desk, which is minimum possible position (though it could in priniciple get lower with a special desk). Then maximum height of the screen for proper eye position is around 20"/50 cm. This height corresponds to the 40" 16:9 display. But now one has to consider the width of the display. Width of the 40" is about 36"/90cm meaning that viewing angle towards edge of the display is getting quite big which may require moving/shifting head when looking there . One thus will have to check experimentally if the 40" monitor feels comfortable due to its large width and fortunately 40" 4K monitors are just appearing so this is my next year plan for experiments. Note that this concerns only flat monitors. For curved monitors there will be essentially no limit on their width, they could even substitute the current multimonitor systems. Note also that using desktop monitor is not the same as using a very big monitor hanging on a wall. There is psychological factor here of personal space vs. public space. Personal space feels exclusively ours, this can be illustrated on an example of contact with other people. Normally people keep at certain distance when interacting in public, too close distance feels very uncomfortable and too far distance does not feel private contact.
 
agree, no need for big monitors when sitting about 50cm to 1m away from it. i like small panels with high ppi, for me ideal would be an 24'' with 1600p or 1440p and even 4k with proper scaling.
 
63jax said:
agree, no need for big monitors when sitting about 50cm to 1m away from it. i like small panels with high ppi, for me ideal would be an 24'' with 1600p or 1440p and even 4k with proper scaling.
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Typically unwillingness for change to bigger monitor is due to the lack of experience and/or first-look stereotype ("it's so big it will hurt").

Typically after trying bigger monitor people do not want to return to a smaller one.
 
hbjdk said:
A lot of people in here are showing interest in large monitors, i.e. 30+ inches.
But isn't even 28 inches monitors way too large for the average desk?)
Click to expand...

No. I have my 28" at ~30" distance and it's fine. It's flanked on each side by two 24" monitors in portrait mode.
 
Having used LCDs in the past, 25"-30" is the sweet spot for me. I'm currently using a 21" CRT because the only bigger CRT is the FW900 and it is just wider, not taller. It would be nice if my monitor was bigger, though.
 
wirk said:
Typically unwillingness for change to bigger monitor is due to the lack of experience and/or first-look stereotype ("it's so big it will hurt").

Typically after trying bigger monitor people do not want to return to a smaller one.
Click to expand...

Yep.
Being able to sit further away reduces eye fatigue.
This is one reason why I use a projector.

The main reason I wouldnt advise moving to a larger display (at the same res) is if you cant sit far enough away.
ie your desk is too small or you cant pull it away from the wall and mount the display further back.
 
Nenu said:
Yep.
Being able to sit further away reduces eye fatigue. This is one reason why I use a projector.
Click to expand...

I think argument about eye fatigue is not valid if monitor displays elements at proper size. Projector used as monitor? You sit a the desk and project on the wall??? What is your projector resolution, room lighting conditions, picture size, viewing distance and what kind of surface are you projecting? How the projector is positioned?
 
wirk said:
I think argument about eye fatigue is not valid if monitor displays elements at proper size. Projector used as monitor? You sit a the desk and project on the wall??? What is your projector resolution, room lighting conditions, picture size, viewing distance and what kind of surface are you projecting? How the projector is positioned?
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I didnt make a statement that everyone should/can use a projector so I'm not sure why you have a bee up your arse about it.
I stated my situ because it is relevant.
Make the sensible assumption that it works very well here :p

I was actually backing up your point and added a sensible reason why people might not be able to use larger screens.
Reading comprehension ftw.
 
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