Sony "Mastered in 4K" Blu-ray Titles May 14 and July 16

[DMRI2006]

sure have!

Btw...I should also add that I think 4k will be MORE of a niche than laserdisc was. There were SEVERAL positives to laserdisc. The only thing that 4k will tout is a higher picture quality. We're already at lossless sound and studios are skimping on extras lately.

They're going to be shooting themselves in the foot by moving on to 4k so quickly.

I agree totally. It's all too much, too soon. Besides, I believe the people who are going to benefit from 4K are in a niche by themselves already...as in, you're going to need a HUGE screen to see a genuine benefit from it. The folks who have spent thousands on that kind of set-up are not in the mainstream, and will be the ones who primarily will be spending money on 4K product.

You're also right that 4K is probably going to be a smaller niche, much smaller than laserdisc ever was. The only way 4K Blu-Ray would ever compare to laserdisc is if it produces thousands of titles -- which it's never going to (successful or not, they won't ever have the kind of catalog available that laserdisc did. Many older films are never going to get 4K treatment. I mean, we have already seen major studios bail at releasing catalog content on Blu-Ray itself! Never mind 4K -- and yet they're already onto the "next thing"? Ridiculous).

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by Ao-Pyramid

This play from Sony, is either going to be really cool, or really stupid.

If the 4K resolution is valid and a success, who knows what the next step in home video media will be. Personally, I hope there won't be a successor to blu-ray because who wants to go through all that again? Most likely the next format will be downloadable.

Now I'll have to adjust my eyeballs to the next level of HD

I disagree. Being able to see films in their native resolution will not happen with present download speeds. Even if the speeds were fast enough the ISPs would stop you in your tracks with their usage caps. Physical media is going to be 4K's best card to play. Sony knows this and so does the BDA.

[Metallix87]

Well, I've decided to give it a shot. I reserved the Ghostbusters 4K Blu-Ray. I hope it's a decent improvement over the current Blu-Ray release, which I have right now.

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by Metallix87

Well, I've decided to give it a shot. I reserved the Ghostbusters 4K Blu-Ray. I hope it's a decent improvement over the current Blu-Ray release, which I have right now.

It will probably be a marginal upgrade to the present BD release in terms of contrast levels and grain resolution.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by DMRI2006

Any serious movie fan was into laserdiscs back in the day.

There mustn't have been many serious movie fans back in the day because over its lifetime LD never broke 2% household penetration.

I'm just saying...

[IndyMLVC]

Originally Posted by octagon

There mustn't have been many serious movie fans back in the day because over its lifetime LD never broke 2% household penetration.

I'm just saying...

There weren't many serious movie COLLECTORS.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by Ao-Pyramid

Personally, I hope there won't be a successor to blu-ray because who wants to go through all that again?

This has been a freaking blast. I would love to go through it all again.

Originally Posted by DMRI2006

I agree totally. It's all too much, too soon. Besides, I believe the people who are going to benefit from 4K are in a niche by themselves already...as in, you're going to need a HUGE screen to see a genuine benefit from it. The folks who have spent thousands on that kind of set-up are not in the mainstream, and will be the ones who primarily will be spending money on 4K product.

I'm an apartment dweller so I'm hoping for a perfect storm of large, thin, affordable direct-view displays -or- an affordable short-throw laser projector.

Right now we're creeping up on 50 inches being the median TV size in the US and it wasn't that long ago that 50 inch TV were behemoths banished to garages and basements. Who knows what the average screen will be in five years or so.

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by octagon

There mustn't have been many serious movie fans back in the day because over its lifetime LD never broke 2% household penetration.

I'm just saying...

If a 4K physical format does become reality I think it will do better than 2% even in this economic climate.

[octagon]

If this economic climate lasts long enough to impact 4K adoption rates we'll all probably have bigger things to worry about

Kidding aside, if I had to bet I'd say 4K will almost certainly do better than 2% household penetration. Even if it adds very little to the overall viewing experience I can see it eventually becoming the standard. I can see a time when people buy 4K projectors because that's all there are.

[Guydowood]

source thehdroom

Sony is beginning its big 4K resolution push in a big way with the upcoming release of 55" and 65" Ultra HD sets, a media server, and a selection of Blu-ray re-releases that have been remastered to take advantage of 4K resolution.
Included in the first batch of ten 4K Mastered Blu-ray offerings from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment are Battle: Los Angeles, Ghostbusters, Taxi Driver, The Karate Kid (2010), The Other Guys, Glory, Angels & Demons, The Amazing Spider-Man, Spider-Man and Total Recall (2012). Each carries an SRP ranging from $19.99 to $40.99 and is not expected to include any of the bonus features available on the previously released Blu-ray versions. They will also be available pre-loaded on the upcoming Sony 4K media server.

It is important to note that these films are still presented in 1080p Blu-ray resolution and playable on current Blu-ray players, but are mastered in a way to take advantage of the extra resolution provided by 4K TV sets. If you've been around long enough, think back to the days of "SuperBit" DVDs and the similarities are uncanny.

Those of you willing to take the roughly $5,000 plunge and become an early 4K TV adopter will be able to own each of these wave one Sony 4K Mastered Blu-ray films beginning May 14, 2013. Pre-orders are already available from Amazon.com and linked below, followed by the official cover art.

[yellowcakeuf6]

Aren't the existing or proposed home 4K servers around $10,000? Also I know I've heard that full 4K will need about 100" plus screens to be beneficial.

[Rinzler]

(Though this has already been addressed) I wonder why Angels & Demons and not The Da Vinci Code? Or both... that being said that Spider-man is very tempting given I only have the first on VHS, if they release all 3 like this that would be great. My only concern is whether or not the benefit would be discernible on a 1080p display... if these have been struck from new masters than we should be good.

EDIT: And I too am concerned about 4K at 55" or 65"... larger screens may cost significantly more but maybe lower cost/more widely available larger 1080p screens could go first? If Sony was making a 1080p screen beyond the 65" realm I would be more than interested. Also I'm curious... what is the consensus on size limitations for dimensions for viewing in 1080p, projector or otherwise?

[brian9229]

Originally Posted by yellowcakeuf6

Aren't the existing or proposed home 4K servers around $10,000? Also I know I've heard that full 4K will need about 100" plus screens to be beneficial.

You could easily see the benefit on 60", if you sit a little closer.

[GreenGaijin]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

If a 4K physical format does become reality I think it will do better than 2% even in this economic climate.

I don't know... Besides us collectors, I would bet most of the general public are used to streaming movies for free and not wanting to buy films, saving money and space. With netflix, hulu, internet, ultraviolet, etc. being the norm and most affordable - I would imagine 4k movies will be downloadable.

Maybe we don't have the technology right now, but it's only a matter of time before they can do it with ease. Also, think about the money saved on manufacturing. Retail stores are suffering trying to get rid of physical copies and production quality is getting cheaper.

In the future, no more discs. Just invisible waves of magic. The question is: How long until then?

[bboisvert]

Originally Posted by Ao-Pyramid

Personally, I hope there won't be a successor to blu-ray because who wants to go through all that again? Most likely the next format will be downloadable.

You can find posts saying the exact same things from 1996 on alt.video.laserdisc... or 10 years later on DVDTalk.com

If 4k actually offers noticable improvement, I'll buy in eventually and upgrade certain titles. But that doesn't mean that I'm dumping BD... just like I haven't dumped DVD or LD.

[yellowcakeuf6]

Looks like Sony has a 4K Media Player for only $699.

http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/07/s...ution-service/

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by bboisvert

You can find posts saying the exact same things from 1996 on alt.video.laserdisc... or 10 years later on DVDTalk.com

If 4k actually offers noticable improvement, I'll buy in eventually and upgrade certain titles. But that doesn't mean that I'm dumping BD... just like I haven't dumped DVD or LD.

IMO, there are going to be a lot of Blu-ray titles that will never see 4k. Blu-ray will be the best some movies will ever look. I think 4K will be mostly limited to new releases and the more popular catalog/classic titles (Wizard of Oz, Gone with the Wind, Spielberg classics, etc.)

[Aragorn the Elfstone]

The thing about 4K is that there's stuff being shot nowadays that won't even be capable of full resolution on 4K sets. Take Game of Thrones, for instance, which I think is shot in 1080p. Likewise, there's lots of films completed on 2K DIs nowadays. I'd personally rather just stay at 1080p. Plus, as I said earlier, there's no real incentive for me to buy a 4K tv - unlike when I upgraded to HD primarily for the Widescreen display.

[rickah88]

Originally Posted by Aragorn the Elfstone

The thing about 4K is that there's stuff being shot nowadays that won't even be capable of full resolution on 4K sets. Take Game of Thrones, for instance, which I think is shot in 1080p. Likewise, there's lots of films completed on 2K DIs nowadays. I'd personally rather just stay at 1080p. Plus, as I said earlier, there's no real incentive for me to buy a 4K tv - unlike when I upgraded to HD primarily for the Widescreen display.

I believe it's shot interlaced, not progressive scan. I don't know of a lot of TV shows shot in progressive scan, actually none off the top of my head.

[Emcg0211]

So another release of Spider-man without bonus features? Lame.