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DON'T GET IT ...screen too large = eye strain???

Recently I was reading a post on projectorcentral.com, where they were discussing proper screen size - and referring to 2.35:1 screens and such, as well. In the article (and I've heard this point/argument made before) they mentioned that too large of an image can cause eye-strain, due to your eyes having to move back and forth across the screen to track the action (and uses the "tennis match" analogy) - inferring that a smaller image keeps your eyes more "at rest", with less need for excessive movement.
I DON'T GET THIS AT ALL!!!! Infact, if anything (and I've never heard anyone EVER complain at a tennis match that they're eyes hurt, nor anyone at a movie theater sitting in the "nose-bleeds"), our eyes are constantly moving around CONSTANTLY in our day to day lives. I actually find that sitting with your eyes "fixed" in one position (like when you're staring at a computer all day) IS WAY MORE STRENUOUS, and that keeping eyes moving in a sitting like this, would be LESS straining!
Anyway, I don't necessarily agree with their position.
I have heard that movies are usually shot with much less camera motion (largely), as compared to tv programming. And that that excessive motion can give you a head-ache, and such. But I 've NEVER EVER heard anyone say their eyes are tired from having to pan back and forth across a large screen image!
Anyone else have any feedback on this, or opinions?
I think it's an important enough topic to helping people consider their PJ setups, screen sizes, proximity to screen, etc.
iplaynaked

Showing 1 response by markphd

markphd
667 posts
 
I've never heard of eye strain from excessive muscular use. There must be an optometrist somewhere here in Audiogon with an opinion on this.

I find that an excessively large screen relative to your sitting position is not enjoyable because you can't take it all in, so to speak. You can't see the forest for the trees. I guess the audio equivalent would be to eliminate an instrument or two from the original music during mixing. Or use a tone control and turn the treble or bass all the way up or down so that some instruments essentially disappear or are masked. You can hear some of the instruments, but not all of them.
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