Watched my first UHD movie today...

[singhcr]

I got a 65" LG C8 about 2 weeks ago. After breaking it in, I finally sat down to watch a UHD movie today at last. I watched The Expendables in forced Dolby Vision with my Oppo 203. While inbetween loading/menu screens I saw a grey screen, the movie itself was inky black as it should- the letterbox bars melted away.

The upgrade in detail was stunning. There's a fair bit of DNR at play in certain closeups and grain isn't really present at all, but even so every shot from long to close had a palpable level of firmness and sharpness that I've never seen on a BD.

This film is rather dark. The moment someone shined a flashlight on the screen in a dark ship in the beginning, I had to squint because it was that intense. Even candles late in the film really stood out, as did bright outdoor scenes in the jungle. In a dark room, this TV is remarkably bright.

But aside from obvious highlights, I also noticed how much more depth the color had. Skintones were especially rich, as were the greens of the jungle or the setting sun. Muzzle flashes stood out too as they weren't just a flat yellow. Everything had more punch and nuance, if that makes sense. Yet it looked very natural.

It's hard to compare TVs objectively these days as so few stores carry the models I want and if they do they are almost never in a dark room and certainly do not show proper 4K UHD movies on them. I was very torn between the Sony ZD9 and the C8, but the reviews and the free 5 year Costco warranty sold me on the OLED. As it's not a cheap TV, I was really worried that I'd made the wrong decision. I still am to be honest as I haven't seen the Sony in person. I know it's an excellent set.

But after seeing this movie, I think the C8 is a damn good choice too. I really see what people mean when they say that HDR makes as much if not more of a difference in the experience than the raw detail upgrade. I can also finally stop reading all you guys and gals gushing over releases and not be jealous because I didn't have the 4K gear to see it myself.

I have quite a few movies to get. Starship Troopers, A Few Good Men, pretty much anything Sony, the Jack Ryan and Mission Impossible sets.... oh my.... <3

[Minimejer05]

Welcome to the UHD club!!!

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by singhcr

But aside from obvious highlights, I also noticed how much more depth the color had. Skintones were especially rich, as were the greens of the jungle or the setting sun. Muzzle flashes stood out too as they weren't just a flat yellow. Everything had more punch and nuance, if that makes sense. Yet it looked very natural.

Yep, richer color and better contrast and depth thanks to subtle HDR are the two biggest upgrades IMO. The poppy, flashy HDR moments are just a cherry on top.

[bradnoyes]

Gross, but okay!

[Noremac Mij]

Good choice on the C8. Best TV on the market in my opinion.

[singhcr]

Thanks everyone!

[ROSS.T.G.]

Welcome to the “ better” club, just don’t wander to the normal BD threads without a buddy.

Congrats on the OLED. Wait till you watch some Sony titles.

[Fang Zei]

Reading over on avsforum that the C8 can be calibrated for four different types of dynamic range had me all kinds of excited.

When the price eventually comes down, I might just pick it up and spend the money I saved on a calibration. Since that will be a couple more years at the earliest, I’m also wondering if the Avatar sequels will result in a renewed push for 3D tech in home displays by then. I’m still kinda hoping real-d figures out the z-screen tv they were talking about years ago. As long as it doesn’t impact 2D picture quality in any way (I can’t stand the screen door effect of the fpr filter lg uses) it might finally be a perfect solution for “active passive”, but maybe that’s the real trick.

[singhcr]

Originally Posted by ROSS.T.G.

Welcome to the “ better” club, just don’t wander to the normal BD threads without a buddy.

Congrats on the OLED. Wait till you watch some Sony titles.

Hehe. Will you be my BD buddy?

Thanks! I look forward to them.

[mzupeman]

The black levels on this one aren't actually all that black a fair chunk of the time, and that was seemingly done by design. The Expendables takes on a heightened black level to produce more detail, or at least makes it look 'steel blue', in a sense, possibly as an aesthetic choice. I'd guess the former though. It's definitely a fairly flawless representation of the source though, so thumbs up all around there.

And better news yet, that The Expendables isn't even up there for me as one of my favorite looking discs, so if you were impressed by that, you're going to be impressed by so much of what this format has to offer you.

Welcome to the club!!!

[mysticwaterfall]

If you were impressed by Expendables you should be really amazed by a good 4k disc. Welcome to the club.

[Schu]

I am still dealing with what I feel are.crushed blacks, but other than that it's all gravy

[Geoff D]

Willkommen, bienvenue and welcome to the 4K club Singh. There will be pitfalls ahead, but in the main it's sooooo worth it.

[singhcr]

Thank you very much, my friends. It is so worth it.

[Cobolisdead]

Congrats on the new gear and welcome to the format! Pick up some of the new releases too so you can see some amazing newer films!

[HD Goofnut]

Watch the Blade Runner films next and prepare to be amazed.

[singhcr]

Originally Posted by mzupeman

The black levels on this one aren't actually all that black a fair chunk of the time, and that was seemingly done by design. The Expendables takes on a heightened black level to produce more detail, or at least makes it look 'steel blue', in a sense, possibly as an aesthetic choice. I'd guess the former though. It's definitely a fairly flawless representation of the source though, so thumbs up all around there.

And better news yet, that The Expendables isn't even up there for me as one of my favorite looking discs, so if you were impressed by that, you're going to be impressed by so much of what this format has to offer you.

Welcome to the club!!!

Thanks!

Yeah, I know what you mean. A lot of the movie is that dark steel blue. Some scenes are really black though (night scenes near the tattoo parlor) and the letterbox bars are definitely black so the C8 doesn't seem to have the raised black issue that others have described in DV. Granted, I'm using forced DV on HDR10 but as it's the DV mode I think it wouldn't matter, would it?


I am really looking forward to seeing the top tier of what UHD has to offer.

[punisher]

try it without the forced DV. This will allow you to open up the picture to several ratios with OPPO's zoom. My preference is 1.2 for non DV discs whether UHD or SBD. You can IMAX those movies like the way they were done in the theaters.

[fighthefutureofhd]

How does it feel now having your UHD cherry popped? Hurt to walk? That will go away in time. I cannot recommend The Matrix in UHD enough. It is my favorite UHD presentation I do believe.

[bradnoyes]

Originally Posted by punisher

try it without the forced DV. This will allow you to open up the picture to several ratios with OPPO's zoom. My preference is 1.2 for non DV discs whether UHD or SBD. You can IMAX those movies like the way they were done in the theaters.

Counter-point: don't do that and enjoy the films with the proper framing.