"Club Penton" - Ask questions to Hollywood insider "Penton-Man"

[Truewitt]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

The biggest problem I've had is a lack of Apples to apples comparison. The Samsungs tend to be poorly placed, while the Panasonics tend to be placed the best when it comes to a good viewing environment. I haven't seen the Sony sets outside a Sony Style store.

Based solely on installations in stores and the demo discs they were running, without an apples to apples comparison, I'd have to say the Panny sets are noticeably better, the Sony's are no slouch, and the Samsungs are trailing behind.

Ironically Samsung's glasses were far and away the most comfortable and Panasonic are much worse than the competition

The Samsung glasses are the most comfortable; you are right. I own a Samsung plasma that I bought after careful consideration. We have a Panasonic plasma where I work and I would say it is a little better than the Samsung, but not far and away. The Samsung LEDs are a different story. They are definitely far behind the competition and look the worst of the three you mentioned.

[Kris Deering]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Good to see you back. It’s difficult to speak about this motion picture without giving away parts of the story to readers who haven’t seen the movie yet either in the theater or on Blu-ray...which includes probably a lot of folks here.

I can tell you that the D.P. purposely pushed the limits of the camera during the interiors and night scenes because of the lighting which was utilized…all under the direction of the fine Director Michael Haneke. For example, for the interiors, no direct light ever hit the set with a minimum amount of aluminum reflectors being used with the light source Berger and Bartenback developed over a decade ago. In certain scenes, the meter read out in the highlights was F 0.5.

The nighttime scenes were constantly *pushing the toe* in regards to negative density with the color temp. clocking in significantly below 2800K. This type of acquisition is naturally going to accentuate the grain in the color negative stock, which the filmmakers didn’t really want audiences to key on consciously or subconsciously in the first place. The Director wanted to refrain from giving the picture any look of real warmth or nostalgia…he was more interested in a *clinical* look or something I think Christian Berger has referred to as a “modern B&W look”. So, what’s one to do in post?

The above philosophy concerning the film’s look is even carried over into the bright daytime exteriors which many would describe as overexposed and flat. Overall, I think the motion picture looks beautiful both in the Digital Cinema and via the Blu-ray format.

P.S.
Even a tad of sharpening was done in post…purposely…as the *screenshot scientists* with magnifying glasses wince, whilst they read this.

For the record, it was nominated for the 2010 Oscar for Best Achievement in Cinematography and won the American Society of Cinematographers award back in Feb.

Thanks Penton. I didn't have any issue with the photography so much as the obvious issues with compression, namely how obvious it was in some of the shots that had little to no movement.

I watched A Single Man last night. By far one of the best movies I've seen from last year. I actually thought Colin was a better fit for Best Actor than the Dude! Brilliant film and I LOVED the style of the photography and the changing color.

[sharkshark]

I say nothing about today's match, save for this link from a few years back I was unaware of:

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/f...rs-800471.html

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by sharkshark

I admit to figuring that given their usual -actual-, in motion refresh rate superiority that Plasma would have far fewer artifacts than their LCD brethren. Frankly, if there was a nice way I could retrofit my Kuro I'd go ahead and do so for those very (=very=) few events/films where it'd be warranted.

Hmm, I’ll have to try to remedy that. One moment.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by sharkshark

- Oh, my...it just started with Jimi H...

Watch for a full concert featuring him ^ in 3 dimensions coming to Blu-ray…with of course, accompanying great audio.

[Penton-Man]

I know….all you purists are now shouting back to me, “But I want my 3D ‘au natural’, not the fake conversion stuff”.

Okay, we can do that too vis-à-vis music video………….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PploPgx2inQ

[Penton-Man]

I know…I know, some of you techies just can’t get invigorated with even viewing 2D pics…

WARNING – Do not look at the WC toolbar at the very bottom of the following link as it contains, or will contain (depending on the time of day) World Cup results. Keep your eyes glued to the pretty pics….
http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/w...up#sport=World Cup&photo=11335747

So, for you guys, I’ll smarten up the discussion a tad in order to get you geeky-fied aroused. While you’re watching the World Cup in 3D on your 3D sets, don’t come into the match expecting soccer balls to be flying out of the screen at your face. It was decided to err on the conservative, or more subtle side so to speak (I call it *sophisticated 3D*), so as not to give audiences all over the word, the impression of a 3D broadcast ‘gimmick’, ergo the decision by the tech gurus to roughly use a depth budget of 2-2.5% positive parallax (into the screen) and 0.5-1% negative parallax (out of the screen).

On the other hand, for good ole-fashioned horror, me? -I hope they make this motion picture as 3D radical as possible. Don’t need no sophistication with killer fishes or Spring Breakers at what looks like Lake Havasu Spring Break in a few scenes. (although, I wouldn’t know from personal experience, at least not after I was married).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdMO51GaTMs

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Kris Deering

Thanks Penton. I didn't have any issue with the photography so much as the obvious issues with compression, namely how obvious it was in some of the shots that had little to no movement.

Kris, maybe I didn’t make myself clear in order to avoid the do not resuscitate acronym, so as not to incite the natives…

In summation...Stressed primary photography -> accentuated film grain (which in this case was undesired by the filmmakers) -> grain reduction as a remedy vis-à-vis Baselight 8 color corrector after the negative was scanned at 4k.

What you’re seeing on Blu-ray is probably transparent to the digital master created in the digital intermediate suite in Austria.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by sharkshark

I say nothing about today's match, save for this link from a few years back I was unaware of:

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/f...rs-800471.html

Did you watch Terry’s interview to the press….followed by Lamp’s interview?
I caught both on Sky Sports News yesterday. I can't think of a more contrasting description as to the state of affairs in the England camp.

It makes me wonder what’s really going on over there too.

[Stacey Spears]

Penton,

Sony demonstrated a Google Maps feature in their Click to Edit software last year. Are you aware of anyone else who has done something with Google Maps?

I am finishing up a disc on lighthouses and I would like to include Google Maps via BD-Live. I think it would be nice to use this to show the location of each lighthouse.

[sharkshark]

Originally Posted by Stacey Spears

Penton,

Sony demonstrated a Google Maps feature in their Click to Edit software last year. Are you aware of anyone else who has done something with Google Maps?

I am finishing up a disc on lighthouses and I would like to include Google Maps via BD-Live. I think it would be nice to use this to show the location of each lighthouse.

FYI, I was calibrating a friend's new Plasma, using your disc that came with my Oppo, and showing off the footage you shot.

I regaled him with tales of this Stacey nutbar that would schlepp for hours and hours just to get this or that shot of a particular lighthouse.

Off in a couple weeks to my cottage in Shediac, New Brunswick, where there still is one of those Canadiana, white-and-red lighthouses just a few dozen yards away...

Anyhoo, I thought you'd find it amusing that your particular fetish made for a good conversation while I used your disc to make a TV look as pretty as I could

ps. Here's a fun vintage photo of the beach I found on somebody's site:

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Stacey Spears

Penton,

Sony demonstrated a Google Maps feature in their Click to Edit software last year. Are you aware of anyone else who has done something with Google Maps?

I am finishing up a disc on lighthouses and I would like to include Google Maps via BD-Live. I think it would be nice to use this to show the location of each lighthouse.

Stacey, sounds like a great idea but sorry, no, I’m not aware of anyone else. Since you’ve brought it (the lighthouse thing) up, do you have, and can you post a pic of yourself hauling your rig with the monster lens through the sand and surf in order to get the perfect shot?

Did anyone else with a camera accompany you on one of those excursions?

[Stacey Spears]

Cape Flattery (Washington)


Tillamook Rock (Oregon)


Tillamook Rock


I carry the camera in a Tamrac backpack and the tripod goes over my shoulder. I have another backpack for the 150-600mm lens. My friend Buck carried the 150-600 on the two locations above.

The Tillamook Rock viewing point was a 1.5 mile hike up a steep hill. This location is really close to the rock formations in the Goonies.

[JamesN]

Originally Posted by sharkshark

...Have you played with the Samsung? I'm not looking at you besmirching a competitor, but again I found it pretty underwhelming and certainly not ready for prime time.

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

...Based solely on installations in stores and the demo discs they were running, without an apples to apples comparison, I'd have to say the Panny sets are noticeably better, the Sony's are no slouch, and the Samsungs are trailing behind...

I'm not advocating any one CEM's 3D displays over another's, but those who have formed poor impressions of Samsung's 3DTVs, specifically in regards to crosstalk, should make sure they are demo-ing sets with the latest firmware installed. The first Samsungs to appear in stores (both LCD and plasma) had very objectionable crosstalk in 3D mode, but Samsung has since provided firmware updates that reduce crosstalk to levels on par with that of Pansonic's 3DTVs.

Also, many folks seem to believe that LCD and plasma are the only game in town for 3DTV, but in fact Mitsubishi is still producing 3D capable DLP RPTVs that look absolutely amazing. Those who dismiss DLPs as a viable consideration because of resolution limitations (their native "checkerboard" 3D format is technically half of full-HD resolution per eye) without actually auditioning one are doing themselves a disservice. The perceived resolution in 3D mode on these sets leaves absolutely nothing to be desired. And for those who are bothered by crosstalk, it is virtually non-existent on DLP sets and easily bests LCD and plasma in that regard. (And even the best theatrical 3D for that matter. To witness crosstalk in theatrical 3D, one need only see Day and Night the short accompanying Toy Story 3D.)

And there will soon be other alternatives as well. LG will soon be releasing a polarized LCD 3DTV that will require lightweight (and inexpensive) passive glasses. These sets will use a row-interleaved format, and will therefore be technically 1/2 full-HD resolution as well, but for those who despise the heavy and expensive active shutter glasses, it may be a worthwhile trade off.

Lots of options already out there and still emerging.

[aygie]

[Show spoiler]Now THAT was better England!!

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by JamesN

Also, many folks seem to believe that LCD and plasma are the only game in town for 3DTV, but in fact Mitsubishi is still producing 3D capable DLP RPTVs that look absolutely amazing. Those who dismiss DLPs as a viable consideration because of resolution limitations (their native "checkerboard" 3D format is technically half of full-HD resolution per eye) without actually auditioning one are doing themselves a disservice. The perceived resolution in 3D mode on these sets leaves absolutely nothing to be desired. And for those who are bothered by crosstalk, it is virtually non-existent on DLP sets and easily bests LCD and plasma in that regard. (And even the best theatrical 3D for that matter. To witness crosstalk in theatrical 3D, one need only see Day and Night the short accompanying Toy Story 3D.)

The Mits DLPs are great bang for the buck, no question. However, the handful of ISF calibrators I've talked to are not crazy with their PQ (color decoding errors) in general compared to the better plasmas or LCDs.

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by HeavyHitter

The Mits DLPs are great bang for the buck, no question. However, the handful of ISF calibrators I've talked to are not crazy with their PQ (color decoding errors) in general compared to the better plasmas or LCDs.

Yeah, they're a Katherine Heigl craving a cigarette to calibrate. I always pushed SXRD as a better solution for rear projection.

[sharkshark]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Watch for a full concert featuring him ^ in 3 dimensions coming to Blu-ray…with of course, accompanying great audio.

the audio intrigues me more than the processed 3D, of course, but good to see the estate pillage more money out of me

Me, I personally wish the Zappa Family Trust had as savvy a group behind their marketing as Hendrix's peeps.

[sharkshark]

Originally Posted by aygie

Now THAT was better England!!

No spoilage, my friend. Not nice.

THIS, however, was epic: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...ex.html?hpt=C1

Yes, it's a tennis link, and drew me away from the excitement of the afternoon matches just to stare in disbelief.

[Jeff Kleist]

Also, many folks seem to believe that LCD and plasma are the only game in town for 3DTV, but in fact Mitsubishi is still producing 3D capable DLP RPTVs that look absolutely amazing. Those who dismiss DLPs as a viable consideration because of resolution limitations (their native "checkerboard" 3D format is technically half of full-HD resolution per eye) without actually auditioning one are doing themselves a disservice. The perceived resolution in 3D mode on these sets leaves absolutely nothing to be desired. And for those who are bothered by crosstalk, it is virtually non-existent on DLP sets and easily bests LCD and plasma in that regard. (And even the best theatrical 3D for that matter. To witness crosstalk in theatrical 3D, one need only see Day and Night the short accompanying Toy Story 3D.)

Actually my presentation held solid the whole time crosstalk wise I'm waiting to pick up the Panny player myself that does checkboard for my 3D DLP. I'm not trying to advocate any CE over another, simply giving my personal experience with the disclaimer that I was not able to do a true comparison in any way shape or form.

I look forward to checking out the Samsung sets in a better viewing environment with new firmware