Abandoning Blu-ray for a while.

[Filterlab]

Well, I bought the Panasonic player a few weeks back and I'm already thinking that it's been a mistake - at this point anyway.

The picture quality is superb, contrast between dark and light is seriously excellent and to have no 'blocking' or 'toothing' is great. Sound quality is extremely good even though my processor isn't HDMI and is simply running Dolby/DTS via Coaxial.

But this juddering, it's really getting on my nerves. No matter what I do I can't seem to stop the problem. I've tried switching from PAL to NTSC, changing the resolution from 1080 to 720, watching via composite - but nothing works.

Oddly the problem wasn't prevalent until I updated the firmware to 1.4 (from 1.2) but since it's not possible to revert to a previous firmware level, I'm stuck at 1.4. Panasonic have been NO HELP whatsoever, failing to reply to three helpline requests via Panasonic.co.uk.

I'm very miffed as I spent £700 ($1,372) on a Blu-ray player that is uncomfortable and distracting to watch.

However, on playback of normal DVDs, whether viewed via upscaling or standard definition, there simply isn't a problem. No judder, just clean and smooth motion.

As I said I've gone through every setting possible to try and cure the problem but it just seems to me that this technology has been released without really being properly thought through.

There seems to be a huge question mark over what and how the varying frame rates and consequential pull-down should be addressed and the whole thing smacks of disagreement.

With 24fps trying to be 25fps (24.97fps is it?) and 1080/50p really being 1080/50i trying to be displayed at 1080/60 on a 60hz TV which is actually 50hz in the UK anyway even when on NTSC mode and some BD players having 1080/24 mode but the displays not being compatible because 24 is not an integer of 60 blah blah blah, what is going on?

Will these issues ever be rectified or is this format money down the toilet?

I'd imagined that buying a Panasonic HDTV for £2,000 ($3,920) and a Panasonic Blu-ray player that it should produce a perfect image as both units must definitely be compatible, but nope.

Any ideas anyone, or do I sell the BD player and go to the other camp?

[Nismobeach]

Trade it in for a PS3.

[Filterlab]

Unfortunately that doesn't help as from what I've read the PS3 suffers similar problems, unless you have experience that it doesn't?

[nhaase]

I've had no problems with my PS3, apart from not being able to use the X button to pause Big Fish when using the controller as my remote (I posted that on here and was told by other members that the remote you can buy for it works just fine). If you're still within the return time from where you bought it, you could exchange it or get a different player. If you can do that and can't find one for a cheaper price, remember that Sony is releasing a $600 player this summer, June, I think.

[Filterlab]

To be honest it's not really a price thing (as my signature may hint), I just want smooth high definition films. Since the BD10 got great reviews I naturally went with that.

However, if the PS3 is the way to go then I can return the Panasonic and grab one.

[nhaase]

I figured price wasn't a problem, but I thought I'd mention it if you were trying to be frugle. If you like video games, then the PS3 is excellent, since you get that ability and BD playback. However, if you're just getting it for the BD playback, first I'd try exchanging for another Panasonic, maybe your player is just a lemon. However, if you've heard about a number of problems on it, then I'd return it for a different brand player.

[Blu_Ray_UK2007]

PS3, all the way!
I've watched 11 BR films on mine and all run perfectly.. including the latest us releases like Happy Feet.

You'd have to be a mug to join the other camp

[Unkn0wn47]

I have not had any problems with a PS3. To be honest, I think itworks better, and actually looks better!

[Filterlab]

Cool!

Spoken to the shop and they're happy to take it back. I'll toddle along to the Playstation shop and grab a PS3 + the remote + Motorworld which looks very good.

[nhaase]

Good choice.

[HDJK]

Good Choice indeed

I'm very happy with my PS3 and even though there is no 24P yet, the motion looks good and the picture itself just grand! I'm actually thinking of getting Motorstorm myself (despite my sig)

[pikafunk]

I have noticed jitter on my PS3, I had assumed it was done in the translation to BR, but it could also be my flat panel Viewsonic N3760W. I noticed it on 5th element and slightly on blackhawk down. It was only an issue during the intro text though, not noticable in movie.

[mrinck]

Good choice! Motorstorm is really fun.

Mathieu

[Solar Driftwood]

Obviously, as I've explained in my private message to you, I'm very sorry to hear about your problems - and this links up with the identical problem I saw last weekend on a friend's Samsung BDP-1000. Very frustrating and not what you'd expect of a format that has been soak-tested in two different territories before Europe (Japan/USA). Not good news at all.

I really wanted to buy a Blu-ray player, but now I'm wondering if that's a sensible thing to do or not. For instance, my Toshiba HD-DVD player doesn't exhibit any judder problems - why does its supposedly better rival?

Originally Posted by Filterlab

With 24fps trying to be 25fps (24.97fps is it?) and 1080/50p really being 1080/50i trying to be displayed at 1080/60 on a 60hz TV which is actually 50hz in the UK anyway even when on NTSC mode and some BD players having 1080/24 mode but the displays not being compatible because 24 is not an integer of 60 blah blah blah, what is going on?

All UK plasma/LCDs run at 60Hz, I think you'll find. There are very few 50Hz models. A Sharp, I think, but that's about it.

[Solar Driftwood]

Originally Posted by nhaase

I figured price wasn't a problem, but I thought I'd mention it if you were trying to be frugle. If you like video games, then the PS3 is excellent, since you get that ability and BD playback. However, if you're just getting it for the BD playback, first I'd try exchanging for another Panasonic, maybe your player is just a lemon. However, if you've heard about a number of problems on it, then I'd return it for a different brand player.

Well, there isn't much by way of choice in the UK right now. There's a Samsung BDP-1000, but that exhibits an identical problem. The players from Pioneer and Sony are still pending. Frustratingly.

[Solar Driftwood]

Originally Posted by pikafunk

I have noticed jitter on my PS3, I had assumed it was done in the translation to BR, but it could also be my flat panel Viewsonic N3760W. I noticed it on 5th element and slightly on blackhawk down. It was only an issue during the intro text though, not noticable in movie.

You'll notice it on slow panning shots in movies, if the problem exists on the PS3. The open few scenes of Layer Cake are a good example.

Is there anyone who can check? It'd be infuriating if Filterlab returns his Panasonic only to find that the PS3 does exhibit the judder after all...

[Valore]

Originally Posted by Filterlab

Cool!

Spoken to the shop and they're happy to take it back. I'll toddle along to the Playstation shop and grab a PS3 + the remote + Motorworld which looks very good.

Good work...if you're into FPS games I highly recommend picking up Resistance: Fall Of Man Really shows the PS3's potential as well as providing an entertaining storyline.

Side Note: It's addicting...as is Motorstorm...prepare yourself.

[baccusboy]

These are grave times for Sony if they don't get this issue figured out. The need to put the screws to Samsung to fix these problems NOW, and fix their own problems as well.

Samsung's BR players have been receiving a lot of heat on the web. You can go to amazon and read the approval ratings of HDDVD players and BluRay players, and you'll find much lower rating on virtually all of the BR players.

Now that I've bought into the PS3, I'm a little concerned, although I guess I can always buy a cheap HDDVD player and still enjoy PS3 games for a long, long time, should BR lose.

People want something that works, and they want something priced around $200. The HDDVD players are cheaper, will likely hit that magic $200 price point around Christmas, and will be cheaper for a long time (Sony has a habit of trying to be more expensive). I also don't see Sony/Phillips allowing additional companies to make the BR Players anytime soon, but I can see HDDVD players produced by many.

The HDDVD players almost all have very high ratings.

If these Sony issues aren't cleared up FAST, then a lot of people are going to avoid Bluray.

Another concern I have is that the numbers of BR disks are inflated due to PS3 ownership. In the long run, that's not going to help much as people pick up more and more players based on price. When prices drop well below the price of a PS3, people won't be buying the PS3 for BR playing if they aren't gamers to begin with.

HDDVD will have cheaper players, and they appear to work better too (at this point).

My biggest fear, as a BR owner, is that by Christmas time, the following would happen:

1. Sony players might still be too expensive/unavailable/have a bad rep due to playback issues, while HDDVD players have a proven track record, are around that $200 to $300 price-point.

By this time, studios that were in the BR-only camp just want to cash in on the many HDDVD players for sale. They make more HDDVD disks available, where they were exclusively BR before. Computers with internal HDDVD drives become affordable, and are included in more computers.

All this time, Sony scoffs, fails to match player prices, and suffers from its own hubris, due to a multitude of disks available in the HDDVD format, proven players with high customer satisfaction, and lots of brands of low-priced players available.

The PS3 ownership bumping-up BR disk numbers mean very little at this time, IMHO.

If Sony loses, this is how it will go down.

[akadkins]

Originally Posted by Valore

Good work...if you're into FPS games I highly recommend picking up Resistance: Fall Of Man Really shows the PS3's potential as well as providing an entertaining storyline.

Side Note: It's addicting...as is Motorstorm...prepare yourself.

Tell me about it...my wife is getting tired of the time I spend playing RFOM - but I can't stay off the multi-player server!

[baccusboy]

By the way, I love my PS3 so far, and the one Bluray disk I played (Casino Royale) looked great.

And yes... Motorstorm is great. The gf and I are hooked on that, 2K7 baseball, and I like the basketball demo.

I never expected great demos available like this for free.