Anyone refusing to go to 4K Blu-ray UHD?

[Ryandj]

I'm sure there are a dozen or so threads here but I honestly dont have time to look through pages of history to find one that speaks directly to my question.

My question- have any other blu collectors simply refused to jump to 4k UHD disc? if so, why?

My personal feeling is the following:

1- i love my collection and i love the continuity that basically all the titles i love are on one format (blu ray) aside from a few that never got released.
2- it would seem to me that by purchasing a 4k hd hdr tv (55 inch+) tv for my apartment (currently have a 46 inch 1080) that, for the most part, the difference wouldnt be too negligible in the first place. size and upscaling would potentially negate the need to spend hundreds of dollars on hardware and new disc.
3- streaming and digital just doesnt appeal to me. unless an all inclusive subscription service (ala iTunes music) comes along and opens the flood gates to almost unlimited content, theres no sense to me in having half my collection digital and the other physical.

keep in mind i had a fairly large dvd collection (300+ titles) and ultimately did make the plunge years ago to blu ray and double dipped all over the place so im a little bitter but nevertheless think my points are valid.

there are a few blus coming up (it, blade runner, etc.) that id like to get in blu ray but with the nolan 4ks just released and getting rave reviews im all screwed up and wondering if im just overthinking things or what.

appreciate your thoughts

[Brandon K]

The current trend is that new 4K masters of catalog titles are now being released as 4K discs (unlike, for example and comparison, Sony's part-double-dip, part-commendable-effort re-released "Mastered in 4K" Blu-rays of the Spider-Man trilogy and others) - and often these new 4K releases are combo packs with a regular Blu-ray included, but the Blu-ray will NOT use the brand new master - instead, they'll recycle the old disc!

So in other words, any catalog titles that already have a Blu-ray but could really use a nice new shiny one (old VC-1 discs, low bitrates, compressed audio, etc)... Blu-ray collectors are starting to be out of luck.

Meanwhile, 4K is still having all the early problems of a format. HDR format wars, too many 2K upscales that aren't true 4K content, and heaven help us, even DNR issues.

Collectors in this hobby will need to go 4K sooner or later, and hopefully 4K stabilizes and improves as a format.

It will be hard to refuse to go 4K. I'd guess for many that it's more a matter of when, not if.

[JonnyG1]

Originally Posted by Brandon K

The current trend is that new 4K masters of catalog titles are now being released as 4K discs (unlike, for example and comparison, Sony's part-double-dip, part-commendable-effort re-released "Mastered in 4K" Blu-rays of the Spider-Man trilogy and others) - and often these new 4K releases are combo packs with a regular Blu-ray included, but the Blu-ray will NOT use the brand new master - instead, they'll recycle the old disc!

So in other words, any catalog titles that already have a Blu-ray but could really use a nice new shiny one (old VC-1 discs, low bitrates, compressed audio, etc)... Blu-ray collectors are starting to be out of luck.


It will be hard to refuse to go 4K. I'd guess for many that it's more a matter of when, not if.

Not 100% true, although in some cases, yes. But a lot of the 4K remasters that have come out recently are getting blu equivalents of that master. Jumanji, Labyrinth, The Thing...all of the Arrow titles...we're not being entirely left in the weeds here and those 4K restorations still look spectacular in HD. There are a few notable exceptions, but having never bought the UHD titles in question, I can't confirm, but I thing The Mummy 1&2 are remastered in 4K on UHD but use the same rubbish transfer on the blu, and similarly the Dark Knight trilogy, maybe the Harry Potters. But for the most part, we are getting catalog titles remastered in 4K on blu as well.

[Crispy0009]

I’m very picky about display - so I haven’t made the jump until I find a TV that I am in love with.

[Member-222782]

Originally Posted by Crispy0009

I’m very picky about display - so I haven’t made the jump until I find a TV that I am in love with.

I've found that TVs are harder to shop for today than it was as recently as 2 years ago IF you're picky and know what you want. I was in the market for a new TV and wasn't keen on getting a "discount" set at Walmart just because it was cheap so I decided to go "high end" and bought a Sony 75" LED. Turns out even expensive sets could still be considered "low end", as I discovered. The model I chose, the 75X850E, doesn't even have local dimming, plus the apps are a bit sluggish. The remote is pretty crappy too, sometimes I have to push a button 3 times to get the function to work. PQ is decent but for two grand I think a TV should be damn near perfect.

As for 4K content on disc, selection is obviously limited but I hope that changes soon. I was "on the fence" like the OP and wasn't really interested and now I think I'm addicted (again). I'm having some 4K growing pains (no audio on Dunkirk and PQ that looks more like standard 1080P like Dredd) and I hope these, too, go away in time.

[Michael24]

Zero interest in 4K. The difference in quality between DVD and Blu-ray, I could see it. The difference between Blu-ray and 4K? Not nearly as much. I've been building up a nice collection of movies on Blu-ray. I'm not doing it again for another format where the difference is barely even noticeable.

[90s_kid]

Originally Posted by Michael24

Zero interest in 4K. The difference in quality between DVD and Blu-ray, I could see it. The difference between Blu-ray and 4K? Not nearly as much. I've been building up a nice collection of movies on Blu-ray. I'm not doing it again for another format where the difference is barely even noticeable.

I think it's pretty noticeable for some titles, but an unnecessary upgrade, where as upgrading DVDs was more needed.

[AGH]

Not me. My reason is simple: I’m happy with Blu. I’ve invested quite a bit in the format and the overall quality is still fantastic. I don’t see reason enough to upgrade. I don’t even buy into the whole 4K + Blu combos. Just give me Blu. To each their own.

[Jameron4eva]

Originally Posted by Michael24

Zero interest in 4K. The difference in quality between DVD and Blu-ray, I could see it. The difference between Blu-ray and 4K? Not nearly as much. I've been building up a nice collection of movies on Blu-ray. I'm not doing it again for another format where the difference is barely even noticeable.

It's technically the same format. I myself, i'm waiting till i can actually afford to get the stuff for it. But i do plan on starting to pick up 4K copies, and just viewing the BD, that way when i DO get full involved, i'll have a nice 4K stock already.

[Crow]

Originally Posted by Michael24

Zero interest in 4K. The difference in quality between DVD and Blu-ray, I could see it. The difference between Blu-ray and 4K? Not nearly as much. I've been building up a nice collection of movies on Blu-ray. I'm not doing it again for another format where the difference is barely even noticeable.

Your comment sums it up perfectly.

[Bluyoda]

Originally Posted by ROSS.T.G.

What’s ironic is UHD is the format where studios are finally getting it right. The work that Sony, WB, Paramount, Fox and even LG have been doing with their catalogue titles is outstanding. It’s a terrible time for cinephiles and videophiles to sit on the sidelines.

You mean like Terminator 2, Jurassic Park (III), The Bourne Identity, Forrest Gump, etc.?

Let's face it, studios will always half-ass it. They get some right, but some wrong. The good thing is that some BDs are getting good UHD releases, such as Die Hard, The Mummy, MI, Predator, etc, but I don't believe for one second that studios have finally learned how to do it. They never will.

[ROSS.T.G.]

Originally Posted by Bluyoda

You mean like Terminator 2, Jurassic Park (III), The Bourne Identity, Forrest Gump, etc.?

Let's face it, studios will always half-ass it. They get some right, but some wrong. The good thing is that some BDs are getting good UHD releases, such as Die Hard, The Mummy, MI, Predator, etc, but I don't believe for one second that studios have finally learned how to do it. They never will.

Lol Yeah, you’re right. The handful of titles out of the hundreds released is reason enough to sit it out. Oddly enough the tittles you listed minus 1 still best their BD counterparts.

[nick4Knight]

Originally Posted by Bluyoda

You mean like Terminator 2, Jurassic Park (III), The Bourne Identity, Forrest Gump, etc.?

Let's face it, studios will always half-ass it. They get some right, but some wrong. The good thing is that some BDs are getting good UHD releases, such as Die Hard, The Mummy, MI, Predator, etc, but I don't believe for one second that studios have finally learned how to do it. They never will.

I don't see how they could be argued to be half-assing it based on you only finding like under 10 discs (of 300+) with issues and some of that is arguable, Forrest Gump for one? .... Seems your mistake is expecting everything to be a home run when humans and capitalism is still the driving force behind these even happening at all...

Gladly the studios are taking it on the chin with likely the lowest profit margins ever for the supposed home theatre aficionados around these parts.

Inclined to agree with Ross sentiments from his "What's ironic is" post. Time they are doing their best work is the time they are getting the protest vote nonsense attitudes... wat

[dobyblue]

Originally Posted by Michael24

Zero interest in 4K. The difference in quality between DVD and Blu-ray, I could see it. The difference between Blu-ray and 4K? Not nearly as much. I've been building up a nice collection of movies on Blu-ray. I'm not doing it again for another format where the difference is barely even noticeable.

It's funny looking back at this post now, because for me thanks to all the advantages OTHER than resolution that 4K Ultra HD brings to the format, the difference is the biggest yet. Bigger than VHS > DVD and bigger than DVD > Blu-ray. The picture we are seeing now with its stunning dynamic range and superior color is beyond anything I could have imagined back when watching DVDs in 1999 on my 27" 480i CRT.

[Ggould1975]

Not refusing but however I'm already in 4K I have quite a few titles so far. But 4K is definetly the last for me. I may have said standard bluray was my last but yes this is it and I honestly feel like it will be it after 4K as in the last format.

[jonmoz]

Originally Posted by dobyblue

It's funny looking back at this post now, because for me thanks to all the advantages OTHER than resolution that 4K Ultra HD brings to the format, the difference is the biggest yet. Bigger than VHS > DVD and bigger than DVD > Blu-ray. The picture we are seeing now with its stunning dynamic range and superior color is beyond anything I could have imagined back when watching DVDs in 1999 on my 27" 480i CRT.

I think I would much prefer is there was some way to have the increased resolution offered by 4K,but have a option to turn off the HDR aspect as it just seems all over the place to me,and the results just vary so much depending on which player or display you have.

And I still feel the biggest jump in the home movie formats was from DVD to Blu-ray.

[Monterey Jack]

Since I'll likely never have a TV that would be big enough to see the difference, I'm not re-buying my collection for the FIFTH goddamn time (VHS, laserdisc, DVD, Blu).

[90s_kid]

Originally Posted by Monterey Jack

Since I'll likely never have a TV that would be big enough to see the difference, I'm not re-buying my collection for the FIFTH goddamn time (VHS, laserdisc, DVD, Blu).

4K makes things more sharp, so on a smaller TV, when you come closer to the TV, you will see the difference. But when you're sitting in your chair, you can't really differentiate the resolutions. What you can notice, though, is the HDR/Dolby Vision, and that's really what makes the big difference in UHDs. Films like Blade Runner bring a tear to my eye

[Batman90]

I refuse to but movie that’s not shot in negative 4K.

[90s_kid]

Originally Posted by Batman90

I refuse to but movie that’s not shot in negative 4K.

I don't think it matters much Ex Machina was shot in 4K and is a "true" 4K title, but the aesthetic of the film doesn't really showcase what UHD can do. Meanwhile The Shallows was up-converted from 2K and that's one of the best-looking titles IMO.