LG 32LG40 LCD HDTV Review - Motion

Motion Summary
• Moving images tend to blur. • Some artifacting issues, mainly with 1080i, but they weren't particularly significant. • No problems with 3:2 pulldown or 24fps mode.
	Color Accuracy	Page 6 of 16	Viewing Effects

Motion Smoothness (5.0)

The LG 32LG40 had some issues with blurring. For this test we look at a few different images as they move around the screen. A few are pictures, one is a grid of color swatches, and one is a block of different gradients. As all of them moved, outlines blurred significantly, resulting in a lot of lost details in the pictures, some shadowing on the color swatch pattern (as the swatches moved, the area behind them was noticeably darker than it should have been).

We also tried this test with a 1080i display. This showcased about the same level of blurring as 720p. 

Motion Artifacting (6.5)

There wasn't much artifacting in 720p mode. We didn't see any on the pictures. On the color swatches, there were small blocks of increased contrast that appeared in front of each block in the grid. This is due to a processing error; the TV is trying to guess where the block is going to go and bumps up contrast as a means of heading off blurring. There was also a shuddering effect on the gradient pattern.

The artifacting was a bit worse on 1080i. The contrast issues on the color swatch were more noticeable. The shuddering effect was also much worse on the gradient pattern and even affected the photographs to a minor extent.

Overall, the 32LG40 didn't have the worst artifacting we've seen by any stretch, but it wasn't great.

3:2 Pulldown & 24fps (9.0)

We didn't see any issues with the 32LG40's 3:2 pulldown or 24fps modes. These modes try to emulate film quality by slowing down the framerate of the feed. In order to do this, however, a lot of information gets left out. Some TVs showcase some very obvious processing issues here, like gradients blurring together into flashing swaths of grey, or lava lamp-like motion appearing between alternating black and white stripes.

Some of our sections deal with relatively small differences. On our color gamut score, most people won't notice the difference between a TV that scores well and one that's average. On this score, however, the range of possibilities is far greater. TVs can showcase some annoyingly noticeable artifacting if their processing drops the ball on 3:2 or 24fps. The 32LG40, thankfully, showcases no such errors.