*** All Sony 240HZ displays will soon be added to the list ***
A few days ago I read a professional review in a magazine that mentions that the Sony displays that offer 240HZ will properly display 1080P/24 BLU-RAY discs at 240HZ using a true 10:10 pulldown method when Motionflow is turned off. Details of the review will follow in a later post.
Sony 3-D TV's and policy information regarding 3-D displays being added to the 1080P/24 list
For people interested in 3-D. Sony plans on offering late this Summer or early fall the LX900 which is fully HD 3-D capable out of the box. The Sony HX900 and Sony HX800 displays shipping earlier this summer will be 3-D ready and full 3-D with a future firmware update (The release dates and final product features could change).
Policy information regarding 3-D displays being added to the list
A 3-D display will only qualify to be added to the 1080P/24 list if the display offers a multiplies of the original frame rate mode for both 2-D material and 3-D material.
Example:
1. The display must bypass the 3:2 pulldown process when receiving a 1080P/24 2-D or 3-D signal.
2. The display must offer a repeating frame method that bypasses both interpolation of new frames and black frame creation.
3. The display must offer true 1920 X 1080P on screen quality for both 2-D and 3-D BLU-RAY source material.
** Modifications to this 3-D policy may occur as new detailed information is released regarding the 3-D format.**
Only 3-D displays that display both 2-D and 3-D material similar to the way it is displayed in a movie theater will be added to the list
So far I have only seen some 3-D displays that properly handle 1080p/24 2-D signals. So far I have not seen any brand or model of 3-D display properly handle 3-D signals like a film projector does.
No 3-D display qualifies to be added to the list yet.
Sony 240HZ KDL-52NX800 LCD screen with Edge-lit LED backlighting
June 2010 Home Theater magazine review
Finally we have a documented professional review that proves that the Sony 240HZ LCD displays are just like the Samsung 240HZ LCD displays when it comes to offering a film quality true 24fps feature. The Sony 240HZ displays will all properly display 1080p/24 source material at 240HZ when Motionflow is turned off (True 10:10 pulldown repeating frame method just like a film projector).
The following are select quotes from pages 44-46 of the June 2010 Home Theater magazine review
"The KDL-52NX800 operates at 240-hertz refresh rate. Motion-flow 240Hz is Sony's go-to feature for reducing motion blur, and it has three settings (off, Low, High). If you select Motionflow 240Hz in either of its active settings, the Sony will add nine interpolated frames to each real frame of a 1080p/24 source to bring the source refresh rate up to 240 Hz. If the source is either 1080p/60 (or 30 frames per second interlaced, deinterlaced by the set, and if needed, unconverted to 1080p/60), the Sony will add three interpolated frames to reach the magic 240 Hz. When Motionflow 240Hz is off, the picture still needs the extra frames, but it repeats them instead of interpolating them."
"However, like similar features in other sets, Motionflow 240Hz has the unhappy side effect of making film-based sources look like video. If you like The Lord of the Rings served up as The Days of Our Middle Earth Lives, you might like this. I don't, so I turned Motionflow 240Hz off for all of my tests and viewing (it is engaged by default out of the box)."
"The Sony's uneven black level is something of a fly in the soup of an otherwise very tasty dish. You won't see it often. Some of you may never see it at all, particularly if you don't do a lot of viewing in a dim or dark room. But as with other edge-lit sets we've tested, it tempers our enthusiasm for a set in this price range."
New Sony 2010 240HZ and 120HZ LCD screens added to the list
The following new Sony LCD screens have been added to the list. In 2010 Sony LCD's with Edge-lit LED backlighting out number standard LCD Sony models. Prices on Sony standard 1080P LCD displays that are 120HZ can be found at excellent prices online.
LG 47LE8500 120HZ LCD display with Local Dimming LED backlighting
(June 2010 Home Theater magazine review)
The LG LE8500 series has Deep black levels with Local Dimming LED technology. It properly displays 1080p/24 material at 120HZ using a 5:5 pulldown method when TruMotion is turned off. The display has been added to the list.
The following are select quotes from the June 2010 Home Theater magazine (review located on pages 48-51)
"The set operates at a 120-Hz refresh rate and scans the backlight to produce a 240-Hz-like effect."
"With a 24-frame-per-second source (24 fps or 24 Hz), such as 1080p/24 from a Blu-ray, and with Trumotion on, the set generates four interpolated frames for each real frame. This brings the total refresh rate up to the set's native 120 Hz. With TruMotion off, the set simply repeats the four added frames rather than interpolating them. For 60-fps material (including native 1080p/60 and both SD and HD interlaced sources that are deinterlaced and converted by the set to match its native 1080p resolution), the repeat/interpolation rate is one added frame for each real frame."
Some 240HZ displays are really only 120HZ displays
So far only Sony and Samsung offer true 240HZ refresh rate displays with a 10:10 pulldown option. Toshiba and LG displays that are labeled as 240HZ are really 120HZ refresh rate displays with 5:5 pulldown and the so called 240HZ is a scan of the backlight to produce a simulated 240HZ like effect.
The so called 240HZ LG displays on the list were labeled as "1080p/24 material refreshed at 120HZ" and "60HZ sources refreshed at 240HZ". I have updated the list so all the so called 240HZ LG displays are labeled as "60HZ sources are refreshed at 120HZ". This is more accurate description since all the 240HZ LG displays are really 120HZ refresh rate just like the so called 240HZ Toshiba displays.
The Samsung UN46C8000 and UN55C8000 will not be added to the list
3D displays like the Samsung and Panasonic models are just starting to appear in retail stores. The Samsung UN46C8000 will not be added to the list since it inserts dark frames between the normal frames when watching a 3D BLU-RAY. In fact all 3D TV's so far are not using the multiplies of the original frame rate and do not qualify to be on the list. It is unknown at this time if any future company plans on making a consumer display that has the multiplies of the original 3-D film rate feature. Perhaps within the next couple of years we might start seeing 3-D displays that offer true multiplies of the 3-D film rate. The 3-D specifications are new to the industry and as more time goes on more knowledge will be gained on this new technology. The Samsung UNC8000 series does properly display 2-D 1080P/24 images at 240HZ using a 10:10 pulldown method when Auto Motion Plus is turned off according to the Home Theater magazine review. So for those interested in a new 2-D display now they might consider getting a 3-D display. All the higher-end displays have 3-D as a standard feature. Possible in several years all 1080P displays will be HDMI 1.4 and 3-D compatible. Panasonic, Samsung, Sony, Denon, and other companies are either making 3-D BLU-RAY players out of the box or are 3-D ready with a future firmware update. There still is no 3-D BLU-RAY movies to purchase in the new 3-D BLU-RAY format. The only 3-D movies that are available right now are the ones that come with a purchase of select 3-D displays. Perhaps by the end of 2010 there might be up to a dozen 3-D movies to purchase. I would not get too excited about 3-D until we start seeing a few movies released. For most consumers that already own a 1080P display they will not even consider upgrading to 3-D until at least a 100 BLU-RAY 3-D titles are released.
The following are select quotes from the Home Theater magazine review
"The Samsung UN46C8000 operates at a 240-hertz refresh rate for 2D sources. For 3D, it refreshes at 120 Hz for each eye and is used with active shutter glasses. With a 1080p/24 filmbased 2D source, it repeats each frame nine times to bring the source frame rate up to 240 Hz. So with 1080p/24 3D sources, the set refreshes at 120 Hz using a combination of repeated frames and dark frames (LED Motion Plus defaults to on for 3D). If the set receives a filmbased source other than 1080p/ 24—that is, one mastered with 3:2 pulldown—it recognizes this, converts it back to 24 Hz (using reverse 3:2 pulldown), and again repeats frames as dictated by the 240-Hz refresh rate. If the source isn’t film-based, the Samsung repeats frames as needed for a 240-Hz refresh."
"LED Motion Plus (three settings plus Off) is one of the two controls that Samsung claims reduce motion blur. LED Motion Plus doesn’t use frame interpolation. Instead, it inserts dark frames between the normal frames. This gives the LCDs time to return to their neutral positions while they’re out of sight, before the next image hits them."
"Like DLP displays’ rainbow effect, there are some aspects of 3D watching that will affect some but not all viewers. These may include the glasses, ghosting, fatigue, or wooziness. We’re still learning. Along with other 3D set makers, Samsung has issued warnings about possible 3D side effects as mild as those mentioned above or as serious as epileptic seizures in susceptible viewers. Check out manufacturers’ Websites or owner’s manuals for more details. Tens of thousands of viewers watched 3D at last January’s CES without any reports of serious 3D-itis. It’s likely to be very rare, but TV makers are well aware of the need for such warnings. Even as we speak, teams of lawyers are chasing 3DTV delivery trucks nationwide."
1080p/24 issue with 2-D material on the Samsung UN55C8000
According to CNET the new Samsung UN55C8000 does not even handle 1080p/24 signals properly for 2-D material. Possible a future firmware update will fix this issue.
The following are select quotes from the CNET website:
" Extremely expensive; subpar uniformity and off-angle viewing; lighter black levels than full-array local-dimming sets; black areas tinged bluer; doesn't handle 1080p/24 content properly; 3D exhibited ghost images along edges (crosstalk); does not include 3D glasses; terrible remote."
" Video processing: Samsung's Auto Motion Plus dejudder controls are the same as the ones we liked so much last year, but they behaved worse with 1080p/24 sources. There are three presets--Clear, Standard, and Smooth--that provide different levels of dejudder (smoothing) effect, as well as a fourth Custom setting that allows you to dial in Judder Reduction and Blur Reduction independently. Despite all these settings, we couldn't find one that handled the film cadence of 1080p/24 as well as we expect."
"We compared the C8000 to the B8500 in the same settings (Judder Reduction: 0; Blur Reduction: 10) on our favorite test material for film cadence, the helicopter flyover of the Intrepid from "I Am Legend." On the C8000 the shot looked smoother, with less film judder. We did see some judder, and certainly more than the higher Judder Reduction settings, but no changes we made could approach the true, smoothing-free look of film seen on the B8500 and the other displays in our comparison."
"Turning dejudder Off or to the Clear preset actually introduced the stuttering cadence of 2:3 pulldown, while LED Motion Plus (see below) had no effect we could discern. In the end we thought Custom 0 and 10 still looked best, but we're disappointed with the inability to remove all smoothing from the process (at least as far as we can tell). We'll update this section if Samsung issues a firmware update to fix this issue or tells us what combination of settings is required to accurately handle 1080p/24 properly."
" Black level: The shade of black the Samsung C8000 could produce surpassed that of most other edge-lit LED-based displays we've tested, such as the Samsung B7000, the LG LH5500, and the Sony NX800 in this lineup, but couldn't compete with the full-array local-dimming models or the Kuro plasma. In dark scenes, such as the star fields and the Romulan ship at the beginning of Chapter 4, or the shadowy classroom on Vulcan in Chapter 2, blacks appeared relatively deep for an LCD, but without that inky, lightless quality seen on the better sets in our dark room. The differences became less apparent in brighter scenes, as usual, but the UNC8000 still trailed those sets."
The Amazing super thin 2010 Samsung UN55C9000 and UN46C9000 displays
Historically the best consumer display every made for deep black levels and overall picture quality goes to the discontinued Pioneer Kuro 2008 models. The two year old 9th generation Pioneer displays are still used by CNET, Home Theater magazine, and many other professional reviewers as reference displays to compare other displays too.
The second best display in terms of picture quality is the 2009 Samsung UN55B8500 that lists for $4,499.99. The black levels and overall picture quality on the Samsung UN55B8500 and UN46B8500 are outstanding. The UNB8500 series are reference LCD displays that use Local Dimming LED backlighting.
The super thin UNC9000 series
The UN55C9000 and UN46C9000 will not be added to the list since it inserts dark frames between the normal frames when watching a 3D BLU-RAY (2-D material is properly refreshed at 240HZ when Auto Motion Plus is tuned off).
The 2010 Samsung UN55C9000 does not have as good as picture quality as the reference Pioneer Kuro or reference Samsung UN55B8500 but the display is super thin. The Samsung UN55C9000 is amazing at only 0.31 inches think and includes a built in tuner. There is no external boxes used to reach that 0.31 inch thinness. These displays are starting to approach the thickness of a pencil or pen. Best Buy Magnolia section has the Samsung UN55C9000 on display and the cosmetic design of the display is very attractive for the average consumer. The weight of the 55 inch display is only 56 pounds. The thinner consumer electronics companies can make the displays the less they will weigh.
Perhaps within the next decade consumers might be able to purchase a 60 inch or larger display that is as thin as a wall poster and it might only weight 20 pounds or less.
Consumers that want displays that are only 0.31 inches thick will pay a large premium price in the year 2010 to get that attractive cosmetic design. The Samsung UN55C9000 list price is $6,999.99 and the Samsung UN46C9000 list price is $5,999.99.
According to Samsung's spec sheets the Samsung UN55C8000 has a better picture quality due to its much better contrast ratio when compared to the super thin lower quality UN55C9000. The Samsung UN55C8000 can be purchased for $3,499.99 which is $3,500 cheaper compared to the lower quality UN55C9000. The UN55C8000 is 0.9 inches thick. If I was in the market for a 3-D display I would rather have a better picture quality with a little thicker screen and on top of that save $3,500.
"He goes on to cite another technology that could offer something not available in the home—48fps movies, which are much smoother and more beautiful than 24fps. (I've seen 48fps, and it's truly amazing.) I would add 4K digital capture and projection as something else that can't be had at home—yet. Of course, 4K displays will reach the home market eventually, but not for a few years."
3-D frame rate information and why no 3-D home displays have been added to the list yet
In the movie theater 3-D films are flashed on the screen at a minimum of 144HZ (each eye sees 72HZ). The problem with 120HZ home based 3-D systems is a 6:4 pulldown issue (each eye sees 60HZ with 3:2 pulldown judder for each eye). So 120HZ 3-D screens will not be added to the list.
There are some LCD companies that use 240HZ 3-D technology with 120HZ for each eye but with the black frames being inserted each eye is only really seeing 60HZ. 3-D LCD screens are not using a true 10:10 pulldown (5:5 pulldown for each eye). Current LCD technology requires repeated frames with black frame insertion which results in each eye seeing 60 active images per second instead of 72HZ or 120HZ.
Maybe the first technology over the next few years that offers true 144fps or 240fps without black frame insertion might be plasma technology or a LCOS or DLP Front Projector. Of course a 480HZ LCD screen could offer 240HZ for each eye and then after the black frames are inserted you would have a true 120HZ for each eye.
"How are the left- and right-eye images displayed in a polarized system? In most commercial cinemas, a digital projector alternately displays the left- and right-eye images at a rate of 144Hz, or 72Hz per eye, using a circular polarizer that switches between clockwise and counterclockwise at the same rate. Of course, the film frame rate is 24fps, so each eye sees each frame three times."
"Home-theater 3D projectors will do much the same thing, but most likely at 120Hz, or 60Hz for each eye. For 24fps movies, that means introducing 3:2 pulldown, which is not optimal. Perhaps a manufacturer will develop a 240Hz 3D projector, which would allow 120Hz for each eye and display each film frame five times, avoiding 3:2 pulldown."
(Maybe future 480HZ LCD models might make the list)
In theory Samsung 240HZ LCD screens will have a better 3-D picture when compared to other brands of 3-D LCD screens that have a 120HZ refresh rate. If some other brands of 3-D LCD screens only use 120HZ then the 3-D image for each eye would be 60HZ. Then if black frame insertion was used on a 120HZ LCD each eye would only see 30HZ. Most likely black frame insertion would not be used on a 120HZ 3-D LCD display or there most likely would be an unwatchable flicker on the screen when viewed with 3-D glasses.
The Samsung 3-D 240HZ displays will not be added to the list since they use a combination of repeated frames with black frame insertion which results in really only 60HZ for each eye instead of 120HZ for each eye. Now maybe if Samsung comes out with a 480HZ 3-D display then after black frames are inserted there would in theory be 120HZ for each eye (5:5 pulldown).
3-D displays are new and hopefully within a few years we will see models that properly display 3-D movies at multiples of the original frame rate. Back in 2006 the very first 2-D 1080P flat panel display that displayed 1080P/24 signals correctly without 3:2 pulldown judder was the Pioneer PRO-FHD1. Then about a year later in 2007 Sony started offering 120HZ 2-D 1080P LCD screens that properly handled 1080P/24 signals. In the year 2008 several LCD flat screen companies started offering the 1080p/24 feature on select models of LCD screens. Many Front projector companies like JVC and Sony offered all their 1080P models with the true 1080p/24 features around 2007.
The following are select quotes from Ultimate A/V magazine
"Samsung's 3DTVs implement a true 240Hz refresh rate, unlike many other LCD TVs that use a 120Hz rate. (Many companies claim 240Hz operation, but it's actually 120Hz with backlight flashing to simulate 240Hz.) This is a critical distinction for 3D LCD TVs, since the refresh rate is cut in half for each eye when displaying 3D content. As a result, 120Hz LCD TVs are unlikely to perform as well as 240Hz models in 3D mode."
"Why insert a black frame between each left and right image? Because LCD pixels take some time to change their state. In a 3D set without black-frame insertion, each pixel in the left-eye image is decaying while the right-eye image is appearing and vice versa. As a result, the right eye sees a bit of the left-eye image and vice versa, a condition called crosstalk, which can cause ghosting, smearing, and greater eye fatigue."
"Samsung solves this problem by inserting black frames between each image, which prevents viewers from seeing the pixel decay and thus reduces crosstalk dramatically. In this case, each eye sees 60 active images per second—240 divided by 2 for each eye, then divided by 2 again to account for the black frames."
There are currently 2 different 3-D Blu-ray formats
1.Anaglyph 3-D BLU-RAY format: Currently the most popular Blu-ray 3-D format is movies that use the old 2 color red and cyan glasses (Anaglyph format). This 3-D format is 100% compatible with all existing 2-D displays between 480I-1080P. In fact currently there are at least 10 Blu-ray discs that have been released in this old anaglyph 3-D format. Since 2008 people have been able to watch 3-D Blu-ray movies. The advantage of this format is that no new equipment needs to be purchased. One can use their existing Blu-ray player and 1080P display.
The big disadvantage of the Anaglyph 3-D format is that the 3-D quality is poor and the color separation quality is poor. In general the 2-D version of the movie has a better picture quality.
10 of the current Anaglyph 3-D Blu-ray titles available for rent or purchase (works with all existing displays and Blu-ray players)
1. Journey To The Center Of The Earth (UPC 794043123412) 2. Polar Express, The: Presented In 3-D (UPC 883929036288)
3. My Bloody Valentine 3D (UPC 031398109525)
4. Final Destination In 3-D, The (UPC 794043130014)
5. Friday The 13th: Part 3 - 3D (UPC 097361406244)
6. Hannah Montana And Miley Cyrus: Best Of Both Worlds (UPC 786936767186)
7. Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience - Deluxe (UPC 786936790832)
8. National Geographic: Sea Monsters 3D (UPC 727994753582) Appears to be discontinued by studio (out of print)
9. Coraline: Collector's Edition (UPC 025195055147)
10. Coraline: Limited Edition Giftset (025192051944)
2. Battery powered active shutter glasses with new 3-D Blu-ray Specifications: The new Blu-ray 3-D format requires the purchase of all new equipment. A new HDMI 1.4 3-D display, new HDMI 1.4 3-D Blu-ray player, and a new HDMI 1.4 3-D A/V receiver (New A/V receiver only needed if one wants to use their A/V receiver as a video and audio switcher). Plus one will need $150 3-D glasses and some 3-D movies. The big advantage of the new 3-D Blu-ray format is the picture quality is a lot better when compared to the old Anaglyph 3-D Blu-ray movies. Currently there is no movies at all that can be purchased for the new 3-D Blu-ray format that uses active shutter glasses. Samsung and Panasonic have some exclusive agreements with the studios to bundle 3-D movies with select 3-D flat panel displays. I understand the advantages of exclusive agreements for Panasonic and Samsung but hopefully this exclusive 3-D movie bundling will not last more then 1 year. The new 3-D Blu-ray format will never take off if one has to purchase a certain brand of display to watch one 3-D movie and then one has to purchase another brand of display to watch a different 3-D title. There are 120HZ computer monitors that already are 3-D ready and other flat screen companies planning on making 3-D displays. If there is no 3-D Blu-ray movies to purchase because of exclusive contracts then a 3-D display is useless for 3-D. Most likely within the next 12 months exclusive 3-D titles being bundled with 3-D displays will end.
Some Consumers are already confused over 3-D
As mentioned before there are a total of 10 anaglyph 3-D Blu-rays already available for purchase (started coming out in 2008). Some consumers think those 3-D Blu-ray movies are for use with the new 3-D displays and the new 3-D format. The studios are still releasing some new Anaglyph 3-D Blu-rays in 2010. To avoid consumer confusion the studios should stop releasing movies in the old Anaglyph 3-D format and only release 3-D movies in the new 3-D format that uses Active Shutter glasses. Right now in retail stores and/or mail order companies there are 10+ titles of the old Anaglyph 3-D BLU-RAY format and 0 titles of the new 3-D format for use with the real 3-D TV's.
10 of the current Anaglyph 3-D Blu-ray titles available for rent or purchase (works with all existing displays and Blu-ray players)
1. Journey To The Center Of The Earth (UPC 794043123412) 2. Polar Express, The: Presented In 3-D (UPC 883929036288)
3. My Bloody Valentine 3D (UPC 031398109525)
4. Final Destination In 3-D, The (UPC 794043130014)
5. Friday The 13th: Part 3 - 3D (UPC 097361406244)
6. Hannah Montana And Miley Cyrus: Best Of Both Worlds (UPC 786936767186)
7. Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience - Deluxe (UPC 786936790832)
8. National Geographic: Sea Monsters 3D (UPC 727994753582) Appears to be discontinued by studio (out of print)
9. Coraline: Collector's Edition (UPC 025195055147)
10. Coraline: Limited Edition Giftset (025192051944)
The following 3-D Blu-ray title will end up being the first Disney 3-D Blu-ray movie released for sale individually.
November 16th 2010 might be the first time a 3-D title is released for the new Blu-ray 3-D format
(for sale individually at retail)
(requires special 3-D display, 3-D BLU-RAY player, etc)
The 1 disc 2-D Blu-ray version of the Disney Christmas Carol will list for $39.99. For those that want to own the Christmas Carol in 4 different formats it will cost a extra $10 with a list price of $49.99.
4 disc version of the Christmas Carol will ship with the following 4 optical formats:
1.3-D Blu-ray (requires all new 3-D equipment) 2. 2-D Blu-ray 3. DVD 4. Digital Copy on DVD-ROM for portable devices
On pages 24,26, and 27 of the May/June 2010 Widescreen review magazine is a review on the Nuvision FX5LS 55 inch LCD with Edge-lit LED backlighting. This display offers a true 5:5 pulldown mode for 1080p/24 material.
The following are select quotes from the Widescreen Review magazine
"Unlike many televisions that include a "film" mode for converting 24-frames-per-second film to 60-frames-per-second video, NuVision includes their FX5 technology, which effectively displays each film frame five times on the display at 120 Hz. Because 120 is an even multiple of 24 Hz, the need for special 3-2 deinterlacing is eliminated. This control is selectable in the Advanced picture control menu and is defaulted to On."
3-D displays and 3-D Blu-ray players most likely will be standard features one day
In the year 2010 every major consumer electronics company well be offering a 3-D display or 3-D Blu-ray player. So far no 3-D display appears on the multiplies of the original frame rate list since none of them offer that feature yet when the 3-D mode is activated. Hopefully within the next couple of years a consumer electronics company will release a 3-D display that displays 3-D signals at multiples of the original 3-D frame rate.
In several years from now 3-D 1080P most likely will be a standard feature found on all or most displays. The 3-D Blu-ray player feature might become a standard feature in 2-3 years found on all models. What most likely is going to happen is that the 3-D glasses in several years from now will no longer be included with 3-D TV's. The 3-D glasses will most likely become an optional accessory that consumers can purchase if they want to watch 3-D movies. This will keep the retail price lower on the 3D displays if the glasses are not bundled with a display. Also if the active shutter glass technology becomes a standard technology used for most 3-D plasmas and 3-D LCD screens then most likely there will be a 3-D shutter glass standard that all manufactories will use. The 3-D glasses need to be 100% compatible with any brand and model of display for this technology to catch on. In the future one might be able to choose from 10 different brands of 3-D glasses to use on their home 3-D display.
Even if 3-D displays become a standard feature found on all models in several years it does not mean people will be using their displays for 3-D viewing. Some people do not like wearing glasses and will end up only using the 2-D feature on their 3-D display. Only people that are interested in 3-D Blu-ray watching or 3-D broadcast TV watching will need to purchase the optional 3-D glasses. So even if all the hardware is 3-D capable one day only some people will choose to use that 3-D feature in their display. 3-D Blu-ray movie watching might become a niche feature that only 2 million people use. Perhaps some of the experts are correct and 3-D will one day become the next big thing that several millions of people use every day. It well take several years to find out how successful 3-D will be. There needs to be at least 100 movies released on the 3-D Blu-ray format for the average person to start getting interested in upgrading all their equipment. Historically the replacement cycle for a homeowners main display is 8 years according to the latest data available.
"My understanding is that 3-D Blu-ray discs will be encoded with 1080p video at 24 frames per second, the same frame rate as traditional 2-D Blu-ray discs. The difference is that the 3-D version will be encoded with each frame at a resolution of 1920x2205 pixels. This equates to both the left eye and right eye views for each frame, stacked on top of one another, with some extra blanking pixels in between. (See the HD Guru web site for a graphic representation.)
These "packed" frames will be transmitted to the TV at 24 fps. At that point, the TV will decide how it wants to process them and display them on screen. Most models will unpack the frames into separate left and right frames at the traditional 1920x1080 resolution each, and then display them in sequence, much like interlacing. Those original 24 frames now become 48 frames per second. The TV will then multiply those 48 frames to its native display rate of either 120 Hz or 240 Hz.
Now, this is where things get tricky. If the TV is a 120 Hz model, that means that the left eye and right eye views must be displayed on screen at 60 frames per second respectively. Because 60 is not an even multiple of 24, the TV will apply 3:2 Pulldown to each of the original frames. Thus, you will lose the 24 fps cadence and may notice image judder.
At first, I assumed that a 240 Hz model TV would display the left and right views at 120 frames per second each, thus allowing the set to apply 5:5 Pulldown and maintain the original cadence through simple multiplication of frames. However, reader Lee pointed out that these sets actually insert black frames in between the video content frames. Therefore, the screen still only shows 60 video content frames per eye per second. Essentially, this means that there's no way to avoid 3:2 Pulldown with 3-D at the present time. Whether that might change in the future, I can't say."
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