Professional Calibration - Blu-ray Forum

DealsR4theDevil · 11-08-2007, 04:12 PM

I have asked about this before, but as my scheduled callibration is this saturday, I want to make sure I wanna spend $300. I recently called the Pioneer store in california and asked the lady who worked there about callibration, she said that it is a very popular service but the pioneer elites in her store that were proffessionally callibrated by ISF certified people for display purposes turned out looking worse then before and the store employees ended up reseting the factory settings. What do you guys think? Did any of your ISF certified proffessional callibrations turn out looking worse than before?

Also, if the guy cant get me a better picture does he still charge me?

CptGreedle · 11-08-2007, 04:21 PM

First off, the factory settings are always set to be too bright, over saturated, and usually unbalanced colors.... this is so it will stick out when next to other brighter saturated TVs in a store.
I find a lot of sales clerks know little to nothing about good images. They are likely still comparing them to the other TVs and thought "it's not as bright or vibrant anymore". But if you know ANYTHING about photography/cinematography, you will know that over saturated and bright images ruin the data in the highlights and shadows. You will see banding and pixelization and moire pattern and other artifacts and errors.
It will look less bright, but it will show the details in the highlights better. The colors will not bleed anymore and the darks might be less intense but you will see more detail.
It is always worth it, as for the $300 charge, they will charge you either way, but they are there to satisfy you. So if you want to change something, just be there when they are there and tell them if you don't like it. Ask him what they are doing as they are doing it and they will explain the process.
Also, make sure your sound is set up so he can adjust that too.

wostertag · 11-08-2007, 04:22 PM

Get it done. I've had a CRT RPTV and a Front Projector professionally calibrated. At first, it looked completely different (seemed darker - people still say that the first time they see it), but after watching them for a while, you will notice how much better the colors and details are.
The retail store ... well, they have the contrast and brightness turned up so high and are used to it that way, that of course they would think it looks worse. You will not regret it

DealsR4theDevil · 11-08-2007, 04:41 PM

I hope you guys are right.

Once it is done, can I switch between the factory settings and the callibrated settings as I please? or is it a done deal and cant really be changed?

GreenMotion · 11-08-2007, 04:54 PM

I personally wouldn't spend 300 on getting it professionally calibrated. I find that just a little bit too expensive.

I found a lot of articles online regarding my Panasonic Plasma and it's optimum settings. I used those as a starting point, made some small tweaks, and it looks pretty darn good.

househead · 11-08-2007, 05:15 PM

There is no possible way an isf certified calibration (done correctly) could look "worse". It's a science. Either you picture meets smpte standards, or it doesn't.

If you want the best picture possible for your display, a true calibration is worth every penny.

You have a blu-ray player/pioneer tv and are obviously serious about high quality PQ, it should be well worth it.

cawgijoe · 11-08-2007, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DealsR4theDevil

I hope you guys are right.

Once it is done, can I switch between the factory settings and the callibrated settings as I please? or is it a done deal and cant really be changed?

Yes you can. Just make sure you record the settings....unless they do this for you so you can go back to those calibrated settings.

What I would do first though is buy and use a disc such as Digital Video Essentials to calibtrate your TV. It falls short of professional calibration because it stays out of the service menus....just uses the adjustments on your TV, but you may find the picture to be just what you want.

clyon · 11-08-2007, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreenMotion

I personally wouldn't spend 300 on getting it professionally calibrated. I find that just a little bit too expensive.

I found a lot of articles online regarding my Panasonic Plasma and it's optimum settings. I used those as a starting point, made some small tweaks, and it looks pretty darn good.

I don't think it would be needed on such as 'small' tv, If you had a 60"+ tv or a front projector it would be a thing too look into. Most tv have very good set-up adjustments but the thing is you still need to know what does what.

The HD calibration disc is suppost to be coming out soon ($19.99) & then if your still not happy then spend the $300 on a pro

http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Video-.../dp/B000V6LST0

onyxx · 11-08-2007, 05:40 PM

A IFS calibrated screen is worth every penny, there is no way that an uncalibrated Pioneer can look better than a calibrated one (accept maybe to my granny). They will calibrate one HDMI port based on the source and when you play a BD movie from that source on that HDMI port it will look as good as it possibly can. If you ask me, a IFS calibrated Pioneer Elite with a good BD player attached to it is absolutely unbeatable picture-wise.

You will get a new option in the menu on that source (if I remember correctly) when the calibration is done, that way you can switch between the options and see the results for your self.

househead · 11-08-2007, 08:28 PM

the guy above me is 100% right.

also, if you enjoy B&W movies ask the guy if he can calibrate one of your settings to 5000k (or whatever it is).

black and flicks will look incredible - what a difference!

Donnie Eldridge · 11-08-2007, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by househead

the guy above me is 100% right.

also, if you enjoy B&W movies ask the guy if he can calibrate one of your settings to 5000k (or whatever it is).

black and flicks will look incredible - what a difference!

Close...it's 6500K

househead · 11-08-2007, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donnie Eldridge

Close...it's 6500K

I'm talking about 2 different calibrated settings, one for color movies and one for B&W.

I have a D6500 for color and 5400K setting for B&W. Good stuff!

CptGreedle · 11-08-2007, 09:33 PM

My Sony Bravia TV lets me choose different presets like Cool or Sports, etc.. which all have color casts and extra bright over-saturated images. I can then just select Custom and it goes back to the calibrated settings.

Sy- · 11-08-2007, 10:11 PM

You can get one of those calibration disks like Digital Video Essentials for $50 and get pretty close, like 90% of perfect! I don't know if it's worth it to spend $400 to get that last 10%.

MacHaggis · 11-09-2007, 02:47 PM

Speaking of Digital Video Essentials for Blu-ray, I just realized that the release date was pushed to the end of March 2008... I thought it was Nov/Dec 2007...

Is this correct?

Bogdan

N/M... found some other threads on this topic.

CptGreedle · 11-09-2007, 02:52 PM

In my opinion, it is not as minor as a 10% difference. But to each their own.
Nothing will ever compare to the quality of a professional calibration, but the price IS a different factor.

househead · 11-09-2007, 03:37 PM

my DLP looked like ass out of the box. With the DVE disc I was able to make improvements, but nothing compared to the isf calibration.

Every display is different, so you might be happy with what you'd get from the $30 dvd.

In my case the process took about 4 hours of work. All kinds of service menu adjustments, and readings with the spectroradiometer and tools he had. I had no idea it would be so involved.

Think of it this way:
Everyone here says HD DVD is just "good enough". Well, a $30 calibration disc is "good enough".

Just do it!

aqupunk · 11-09-2007, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by househead

my DLP looked like ass out of the box. With the DVE disc I was able to make improvements, but nothing compared to the isf calibration.

Every display is different, so you might be happy with what you'd get from the $30 dvd.

In my case the process took about 4 hours of work. All kinds of service menu adjustments, and readings with the spectroradiometer and tools he had. I had no idea it would be so involved.

Think of it this way:
Everyone here says HD DVD is just "good enough". Well, a $30 calibration disc is "good enough".

Just do it!

So what would I be looking at do you think for professional calibration? Also the picture is it amazing?

esteban2 · 11-09-2007, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by househead

There is no possible way an isf certified calibration (done correctly) could look "worse". It's a science. Either you picture meets smpte standards, or it doesn't.

that would be true - if one's definition of 'worse' is linked to smpte standards.

but if it's defined by what looks better to your own eyes, well then sure ISF calibration can look worse.

househead · 11-09-2007, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aqupunk

So what would I be looking at do you think for professional calibration? Also the picture is it amazing?

I'm guessing they go from $200-$500. I've even heard of people with front projection systems paying even more. All depends on who/what/where/when.

This site should have more info: http://www.imagingscience.com/

11-08-2007, 04:12 PM	#1
DealsR4theDevil Power Member Member since:Sep 2007 Trading Score:76	Professional Calibration I have asked about this before, but as my scheduled callibration is this saturday, I want to make sure I wanna spend $300. I recently called the Pioneer store in california and asked the lady who worked there about callibration, she said that it is a very popular service but the pioneer elites in her store that were proffessionally callibrated by ISF certified people for display purposes turned out looking worse then before and the store employees ended up reseting the factory settings. What do you guys think? Did any of your ISF certified proffessional callibrations turn out looking worse than before? Also, if the guy cant get me a better picture does he still charge me?

11-09-2007, 02:47 PM	#15
MacHaggis Active Member Member since:Aug 2007 Location:Burbank, CA Blu-ray collection:102	Speaking of Digital Video Essentials for Blu-ray, I just realized that the release date was pushed to the end of March 2008... I thought it was Nov/Dec 2007... Is this correct? Bogdan N/M... found some other threads on this topic. Last edited by MacHaggis; 11-09-2007 at 02:50 PM.

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11-08-2007, 04:21 PM	#2
CptGreedle Blu-ray Ninja Member since:Jul 2007 Location:Sworn super-hero now services Atlanta (and suburbs). Blu-ray collection:128 Blu-ray reviews:5	First off, the factory settings are always set to be too bright, over saturated, and usually unbalanced colors.... this is so it will stick out when next to other brighter saturated TVs in a store. I find a lot of sales clerks know little to nothing about good images. They are likely still comparing them to the other TVs and thought "it's not as bright or vibrant anymore". But if you know ANYTHING about photography/cinematography, you will know that over saturated and bright images ruin the data in the highlights and shadows. You will see banding and pixelization and moire pattern and other artifacts and errors. It will look less bright, but it will show the details in the highlights better. The colors will not bleed anymore and the darks might be less intense but you will see more detail. It is always worth it, as for the $300 charge, they will charge you either way, but they are there to satisfy you. So if you want to change something, just be there when they are there and tell them if you don't like it. Ask him what they are doing as they are doing it and they will explain the process. Also, make sure your sound is set up so he can adjust that too.

11-08-2007, 04:22 PM	#3
wostertag Member Member since:Oct 2006	Get it done. I've had a CRT RPTV and a Front Projector professionally calibrated. At first, it looked completely different (seemed darker - people still say that the first time they see it), but after watching them for a while, you will notice how much better the colors and details are. The retail store ... well, they have the contrast and brightness turned up so high and are used to it that way, that of course they would think it looks worse. You will not regret it

11-08-2007, 04:41 PM	#4
DealsR4theDevil Power Member Member since:Sep 2007 Trading Score:76	I hope you guys are right. Once it is done, can I switch between the factory settings and the callibrated settings as I please? or is it a done deal and cant really be changed?

11-08-2007, 04:54 PM	#5
GreenMotion Special Member Member since:Apr 2007 4K collection:82 Blu-ray collection:1064 Trading Score:10	I personally wouldn't spend 300 on getting it professionally calibrated. I find that just a little bit too expensive. I found a lot of articles online regarding my Panasonic Plasma and it's optimum settings. I used those as a starting point, made some small tweaks, and it looks pretty darn good.

11-08-2007, 05:15 PM	#6
househead Banned Top ranked HT gallery Member since:Sep 2007 Home Theater Gallery:9 Trading Score:4	There is no possible way an isf certified calibration (done correctly) could look "worse". It's a science. Either you picture meets smpte standards, or it doesn't. If you want the best picture possible for your display, a true calibration is worth every penny. You have a blu-ray player/pioneer tv and are obviously serious about high quality PQ, it should be well worth it.

11-08-2007, 05:40 PM	#9
onyxx Active Member Member since:Nov 2006 Blu-ray collection:214	A IFS calibrated screen is worth every penny, there is no way that an uncalibrated Pioneer can look better than a calibrated one (accept maybe to my granny). They will calibrate one HDMI port based on the source and when you play a BD movie from that source on that HDMI port it will look as good as it possibly can. If you ask me, a IFS calibrated Pioneer Elite with a good BD player attached to it is absolutely unbeatable picture-wise. You will get a new option in the menu on that source (if I remember correctly) when the calibration is done, that way you can switch between the options and see the results for your self.

11-08-2007, 08:28 PM	#10
househead Banned Top ranked HT gallery Member since:Sep 2007 Home Theater Gallery:9 Trading Score:4	the guy above me is 100% right. also, if you enjoy B&W movies ask the guy if he can calibrate one of your settings to 5000k (or whatever it is). black and flicks will look incredible - what a difference!

11-08-2007, 09:33 PM	#13
CptGreedle Blu-ray Ninja Member since:Jul 2007 Location:Sworn super-hero now services Atlanta (and suburbs). Blu-ray collection:128 Blu-ray reviews:5	My Sony Bravia TV lets me choose different presets like Cool or Sports, etc.. which all have color casts and extra bright over-saturated images. I can then just select Custom and it goes back to the calibrated settings.

11-08-2007, 10:11 PM	#14
Sy- Member Member since:Nov 2007	You can get one of those calibration disks like Digital Video Essentials for $50 and get pretty close, like 90% of perfect! I don't know if it's worth it to spend $400 to get that last 10%.

11-09-2007, 02:52 PM	#16
CptGreedle Blu-ray Ninja Member since:Jul 2007 Location:Sworn super-hero now services Atlanta (and suburbs). Blu-ray collection:128 Blu-ray reviews:5	In my opinion, it is not as minor as a 10% difference. But to each their own. Nothing will ever compare to the quality of a professional calibration, but the price IS a different factor.

11-09-2007, 03:37 PM	#17
househead Banned Top ranked HT gallery Member since:Sep 2007 Home Theater Gallery:9 Trading Score:4	my DLP looked like ass out of the box. With the DVE disc I was able to make improvements, but nothing compared to the isf calibration. Every display is different, so you might be happy with what you'd get from the $30 dvd. In my case the process took about 4 hours of work. All kinds of service menu adjustments, and readings with the spectroradiometer and tools he had. I had no idea it would be so involved. Think of it this way: Everyone here says HD DVD is just "good enough". Well, a $30 calibration disc is "good enough". Just do it!

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