Suspiria (Synapse BD vs. IT UHD-BD)
This is the most extensive one I'v ever done (and will ever do I guess) and I do hope that it will be viewed at least by some, since it really was a lot of work.
Focus is actually more on TLE vs. Synapse instead of UHD-BD vs. BD (which is also the reason why there are so many caps). I am well aware of the fact that the comparison is slightly unfair in this regard though - but there's nothing I can do about that.
As I said before, I really value both works. I do prefer the TLE though and you will (of course) notice that when reading my comments. I do give my reasons for preferring the TLE though and some of those reasons are also rather objective ones imho. You still don't have to agree with me of course - prefer whatever version you want. But please don't tell me which version "is best". Thx. There are two great versions now. Be happy.
I won't make any claims as to which version is more accurate, quite often it will be rather clear what I think though, especially when I point out things that I consider to be actual pq issues. If you can't handle me preferring the TLE, maybe better don't read it at all.
One more comment in general: What I noticed quite a lot when doing the caps, is the Synapse having considerably less print damage. You'll also see that in a lot caps. Whenever it was the case, I didn't hesitate to use the according frames illustrating the damage on the TLE. So Synapse really did a great job in that regard (not saying that TLE did a bad one mind you). So credit where credit is due: Synapse really is best in that regard imo. Examples: #20 and #94 (the latter maybe being the "best" example).
Because of the many caps (it's 130, yeah I know), I didn't do the whole screenshotcomparison thingy this time. It would've been a little pointless without thumbs and comments anyway. I did a very small one with a few selected caps though and tried to pick some of the caps that I consider to be mouse-over-worthy. The according caps are: 59, 89, 93, 95, 110 and 120. I also added according caps of my IT BD below for comparison purposes. Point being: If you don't see anything upgrade-worthy in those, I guess you may just want to stick with your (German or UK) BD TLE version. There are other examples as well and I often mentioned a note-worthy detail increase.
I really tried to cover the whole movie, so here you go. (And I think it may be worth it to go through it all (the thumbs/comments that is) - also because there's still plenty of interesting stuff towards the end.)
http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/116990
Synapse BD (upscaled) left, IT UHD-BD right:
1.
2. Synapse looking "too hot":
3. TLE could use a little more contrast:
4. blown out highlights on the car headlights (discussed to death before):
5. blown out highlights on the car again:
6. and blown out highlights once more; I for one also prefer the dynamic range and colors of the TLE in this scene:
7. very much prefer the better contrast of the Synapse here even though the UHD has its benefits as well (but that's unfair):
8. first case of the "blue-less" TLE; matter of taste; I really like it and the look is very consistent throughout:
9.
10. UHD being much more refined:
11. very much prefer the contrast of the Synapse here again:
12. very much prefer the contrast/colors of the TLE here:
13.
14. noticable uptick in detail:
15. Synapse being extremely boosted which actually leads to clipped greens here imho; really don't like it at all and imho there's really no way that this can be accurate:
16. Synapse looking really ugly to me in this scene; it's also blowing out highlight detail again (the lightbulb is basically gone in the 3rd cap at the latest):
17.
18.
19. very much prefer the warmer look of the TLE; the Synapse also having slightly crushed blacks:
20. print damage on the TLE
21. Synapse being too boosted for my liking again:
22. Synapse being "too black" again imo:
23. and no doubt about black crush/contrast boost on the Synapse in this scene:
24. black crush AND boosted/clipped reds:
25. and consistently so:
26. until they maybe forgot to apply it, since the black levels are almost identical here:
27. with this one, I initially just wanted to show the boosted/clipped reds, but the whole scene is an interesting one:
28. much better dynamic range on the TLE (almost seems like comparing a SDR converted HDR UHD to a BD to me):
29. - 33. next is a picture series to show the difference between the two releases properly (Synapse first row; UHD second row; the first 3 frames are gap free);
what I noticed in motion here is that the Synapse goes purple here in exactly one frame; it starts slightly purple already, goes "full purple" for just one frame and after that is just boosted compared to the TLE;
I, again, prefer the TLE which has the more "natural" lighting here in my book:
34. and the Synapse being completely blown out at the end of this shot (again, looking almost like HDR vs SDR):
35. boosted Synapse plus I really prefer the skin tones on the TLE:
36. boosted Synapse again and losing detail because of it on the right (the red pattern is basically gone):
37. UHD destroying the Synapse imho (the skin tones being a matter of taste though):
38. and again, very much prefer the lighting/contrast/colros/everything of the TLE:
39. the Synapse is really way too hot for my liking in this scene (next 5 caps); colors are there on the TLE as well, but the Synapse just overdoes things imho, especially with the red lighting:
40.
41. this part of the scene looks particularly bad to me (the red skin):
42. UHD looking great here btw:
43. and this looks particularly bad to me on the Synapse as well (the faces):
44. I for one again very much prefer the TLE in the next two; better dynamic range and simply less boosted look;
also, blown out detail in the yellow area in the first one on the Synapse:
45. "lack" of blue on the TLE:
46. the infamous "where's the blue?" scene and I can understand that people might be missing the blue, but I for one very much prefer the more nuanced colors of the TLE (and as I said before: it is very consistent in doing what it does):
47.
48. Synapse simply looking more ugly to me color-wise in this scene (next 3 caps) and also completely blowing out highlight detail again at times (the lamp almost becomes white):
49.
50. "white lamp" on the Synapse:
51. the sleeping hall scene (with the lights still on) looks very ugly "whiteish" (incl. purple) and contrast-boosted on the Synapse to me; also very nice detail improvement with the UHD here:
52. plus "too black" and (IMO) ugly skin tones:
53. actually better contrast on the TLE here and this scene (next three shots) also has much better colors on the TLE imho:
54. just look at the nightdresses or the hair in the next two - all kinda greyish on the Synapse, much better preserved colors on the TLE:
55.
56. the red cross on the dog looking oddly boosted/pinkish on the Synapse (and in case one wants to argue: the Synapse matches the color of the TLE in shot #65 EDIT: and in #12 as well already):
57. contrast boosting on the Synapse:
58. odd red cross color again and the UHD smashing the BD here (it's all relatively, so relax) (#3 IT-BD upscaled):
59. contrast boosting and crushed detail on the Synapse again; much better colors and more detail on the TLE/UHD:
60. bavarian folk dance hall going Saturday Night Fever on the Synapse and just looking off imho:
61. by no means extreme, but still noticable, UHD detail increase here (next two):
62.
63. think I actually find the colors of the Synpase more fitting here:
64. nice UHD improvement here:
65. I said I'd get back to the odd red cross color, and here we are, and it's basically the same color now (I know it's night now, but still, seriously):
66. the "white guys" looking very distracting/off/boosted on the Synapse:
67. kudos to the Synapse for really looking extremly good here when compared to the UHD - seriously, really just a great looking BD:
68. very much prefer the colors of the TLE here (next 3) again (skin tones, "lack" of purple) - everyone's free to disagree with me of course:
69.
70.
71.
72. really rather bad black crush on the Synapse in this part of the scene (and the UHD also being more refined at the wall for ex):
73.
74. Synapse looking really way too hot in this scene again; really, it's just too much with the green in this scene (and again, I really cannot believe this to be accurate);
I was also surprised by the Synapse (for whatever reason) having the warmer skin tones here for a change (where imho pale does suit better):
75.
76. Synapse going white with the lightbulb:
77.
78. and Synapse goes the pale route again (skin tones):
79. Synapse, again, being ever so slightly too hot for my liking:
80. subtle, but still noticable UHD improvement in this close-up:
81. another infamous "where's the blue?" scene, but I really like the look of the TLE:
82. with this part of the scene in particular, I like how on the TLE you're getting "the blue" only with the opening of the door which gives a really nice effect that just isn't there with the Synapse imo, since everything is bathed in blue there in the first place:
83. I also prefer the more nuanced/better preserved colors on the TLE again; the TLE on the other hand would benefit from a little more contrast at times here (next 4 caps) (which is also just my opinion of course):
84.
85.
86.
87.
88. nice little uptick in detail here (#3 IT-BD upscaled):
89. and here again:
90. and again - this whole scene (as I said quite often before) also has much "better" (as in I very much prefer it) colors/skin tones throughout on the TLE:
91.
92.
93. UHD (relatively) smashing the BD here (#3 IT-BD upscaled):
94. and the best example of the Synapse having really much less print damage (aka none) in the last frame of the same shot:
95. UHD again with a very nice uptick in detail in this aerial shot (#3 IT-BD upscaled):
96.
97. more detail on the window (due to Synapse being boosted imo):
plenty of differences in the bat scene (I think I mentioned all of them before somewhere):
98. notice the difference with the red wall and the shadows here - I prefer the TLE:
99. consistent "lack" of blue on the TLE again:
100. "lack" of red on the Synapse:
101. "lack" of purple on the TLE:
102. and I'm kinda missing the purple on the foot on the Synapse in the next shot for consistency (the shoe still kinda has it):
103. TLE again being completely devoid of any purple and the Synapse of yellow:
104. consistent "lack" of da blue (and kinda purple) on the TLE again in this scene (next 2 caps); I said it before, I'll say it again: I get it, if people prefer the blue version, but the TLE does look very nice to me and it has a very consistent look:
105.
106. if one wants to argue that the TLE is lacking blue, one might also argue that the Synapse is lacking some green in this scene:
107. Synapse looking too hot to my eyes again:
108. "lack" of yellow on the Synapse in this scene (next two caps), and the wood really looks too "normal" to me here on the Synapse:
109.
110. nice little uptick in detail and more "pop" on the TLE (#3 IT-BD upscaled):
111. slightly more pop (red) on the TLE again:
112. UHD being an ahole reg. filmic look (both look very nice though):
113.
114. another very interesting one; with the Synapse everything's just blue while the TLE is blue as well, but doesn't "paint" Suzy blue as well - both versions have sth here imo, the Synapse having a little "weird effect" when blue Suzy is walking in front of the blue background though (which may or may not be intentional):
115. "lack" of blue on the TLE, "lack" of yellow on the Synapse:
116. "lack" of green on the Synapse (the curtain):
117. "lack" of da purple on the TLE (again: consistently so):
118. prefer the warmer/less yellow-green look of the Synapse here:
119. crushed detail on the yellow window on the Synapse:
120. nice little uptick in detail (#3 IT-BD upscaled):
121. black crush on the Synapse (and more detail on the UHD):
122. black crush on the Synapse again; also, the pattern of the dress of the lovely lady on the chair is basically gone on the Synapse:
123. TLE/UHD preserving more detail:
124. more (intense) green on the TLE (and I prefer the look in general):
125. very much prefer the color/contrast and lack of purple/pink of the TLE again; TLE/UHD also retains more detail on Suzy again:
126. green (and more intense) flash on the TLE vs. yellow flash on the Synapse:
127. really slightly problematic, boosted scene on the Synapse - look at the blue on the floor and the blue cupboard:
128. and it's even worse in the next frame, which seems to be a problematic frame in general, but the Synapse makes it worse by what it's doing with the blues (and I noticed this in motion):
129.
130. (#3 Synapse Italian version)
If you made it that far: Thanks for your time!
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