4K Blu-ray Confirmed, Coming in

[stevo4264]

Originally Posted by GenPion

I'll raise it to...

Ultra HD 3D Blu-ray + Ultra HD Blu-ray + Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray + Blu-ray Bonus Disc + DVD + Digital Ultra HD + Digital HD.

In exclusive collectible packaging with a limited extra -- collect all ten releases!

This is entirely too possible..

[bailey1987]

Originally Posted by Lnds500

Won't a HDR movie be watchable on an older TV set? Obviously you won't be able to take advantage of the greater dynamic range but it will be playable.. no?

Apparently yes, the HDR element of the image is just meta data.

[Geoff D]

I don't think that's correct bailey. The HDR image needs metadata in order for the end display to recognise it as such, but the image itself will be encoded on disc (at least in the single-layer HDR implementation) with the HDR parameters, so up to 1000 nits of brightness etc, and it's up to the player to then downgrade it on the fly into SDR and Rec.709.

As an SDR 4K TV owner it's that step which troubles me the most; I'll grudgingly put up with losing out on HDR, WCG etc but if I'm also getting an incorrect or otherwise non-optimal SDR colour grade from UHD BD (compared to genuine Rec.709 material) into the bargain then that'll be the last twist of the knife.

[rdodolak]

Originally Posted by GenPion

I'll raise it to...

Ultra HD 3D Blu-ray + Ultra HD Blu-ray + Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray + Blu-ray Bonus Disc + DVD + Digital Ultra HD + Digital HD.

In exclusive collectible packaging with a limited extra -- collect all ten releases!

Good one. But the BDA currently has no plans for Ultra HD 3D Blu-ray at the moment and the studios have never listed bonus discs, to my knowledge, in the banner.

[Lnds500]

Originally Posted by rdodolak

But it would still require a new player.

Oh, I see. I missed the part in your post regarding player compatibility, I thought we were talking solely about TV sets.

[Richard Paul]

Originally Posted by Lnds500

Won't a HDR movie be watchable on an older TV set? Obviously you won't be able to take advantage of the greater dynamic range but it will be playable.. no?

For SMPTE 2084 the disc will have metadata that will allow the Ultra HD Blu-ray player to convert the HDR video stream to a SDR video stream.

Originally Posted by Geoff D

I don't think that's correct bailey. The HDR image needs metadata in order for the end display to recognise it as such, but the image itself will be encoded on disc (at least in the single-layer HDR implementation) with the HDR parameters, so up to 1000 nits of brightness etc, and it's up to the player to then downgrade it on the fly into SDR and Rec.709.

As an SDR 4K TV owner it's that step which troubles me the most; I'll grudgingly put up with losing out on HDR, WCG etc but if I'm also getting an incorrect or otherwise non-optimal SDR colour grade from UHD BD (compared to genuine Rec.709 material) into the bargain then that'll be the last twist of the knife.

The metadata on the Ultra HD Blu-ray disc will be professionally created so hopefully it will be as good as having a second SDR video stream. They will go through the same process as making a second grade of the movie when they create that metadata (with the difference being that they create metadata instead of a second video stream). I think the big problem for HDR will be live action HDR where they have to make a SDR version automatically in real time.

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

As an SDR 4K TV owner it's that step which troubles me the most; I'll grudgingly put up with losing out on HDR, WCG etc but if I'm also getting an incorrect or otherwise non-optimal SDR colour grade from UHD BD (compared to genuine Rec.709 material) into the bargain then that'll be the last twist of the knife.

I don't think it will be a problem.


They might even look better, even at standard levels, the same way a NTSC signal looked better downconverted from the HD version.

[uther]

Originally Posted by kristoffer

I wonder how big a deal HDR will become in the next 5 years?

Just like in theaters now the vast majority of people will be not be able tell what is a HDR 'color' and what is not, unless there is blurp popping up pointing the HDR 'color'.

[Richard Paul]

Originally Posted by uther

Just like in theaters now the vast majority of people will be not be able tell what is a HDR 'color' and what is not, unless there is blurp popping up pointing the HDR 'color'.

While the improved contrast ratio of the laser projector helped I think reviews of Tomorrowland in Dolby Vision show that HDR is noticeable and CNET gave a glowing review of it.

[singhcr]

Originally Posted by Richard Paul

While the improved contrast ratio of the laser projector helped I think reviews of Tomorrowland in Dolby Vision show that HDR is noticeable and CNET gave a glowing review of it.

Thanks for posting that. I'm very much looking forward to seeing a 4K laser projected image along with HDR.

As for the home, if it's done correctly, it can look incredible, too.

[Paul.R.S]

Here's hoping Fury Road is amongst Warner's first UHD BDs. Wow.

[Derb]

Originally Posted by Paul.R.S

Here's hoping Fury Road is amongst Warner's first UHD BDs. Wow.

I'd take the movie from your avatar first.

Have Training Day on every home video format. PSP too. lol

Seen it a few times upscaled to 4K. Good reference disc. I would immediately tell if UHD is worth all the talk.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

I don't think it will be a problem.


They might even look better, even at standard levels, the same way a NTSC signal looked better downconverted from the HD version.

Because of the oversampling, sure. But it's not the quality in and of itself that concerns me, it's correctly mapping the HDR highlights and the WCG colour to get it as accurate to the planned intent as standalone SDR/709-graded content would be. I've spent a lot of time and money calibrating my set and I'd hate for that work to be undone when viewing this mapped 4K material.

As Penton and Richard have said, there will be information included on the discs (was it a 1D LUT and a 3x3 colour transform?) to map that content but until I can see and compare it for myself I'll remain sceptical.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Richard Paul

While the improved contrast ratio of the laser projector helped I think reviews of Tomorrowland in Dolby Vision show that HDR is noticeable and CNET gave a glowing review of it.

Nice Tomorrowland review by Geoffrey. He doesn’t always know what he’s talking about, but I don’t think he can be accused of being an infomercial vehicle for any particular company, or individual, for the purposes of cultivating a relationship for more *access*. I think the only pandering he does is to fellow colleagues at cnet; otherwise, he calls ‘em as he sees ‘em.

Anyway, Dolby should really get the reporter-types together in a conference room and explain, or else clarify to them, the difference in scene reflective white (diffuse white) vs. specular reflections and emissive light sources above diffuse white (peak brightness) in order to at least ally the fears of those concerned with higher nits. Maybe even run a combined image histogram showing the luminance of diffuse white and the highlights of certain scenes throughout the movie to show that viewers are not being bombarded with full screen peak brightness all the time.

Far from it.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by raygendreau

I came across this blog while looking for some details on Samsung's proprietary HDR specifications. Anyone know Joseph Rosensteel? He worked for Sony for around 10 years in compositing and lighting. Check out his resume and demo reel. I was surprised by this comment:

"Remember that “HDR” isn’t a standard, but the UHD Alliance’s HDR will be a standard. The Blu Ray Association will support “HDR” from a variety of sources, including Dolby Vision. Dolby is also a member of the UHD Alliance. So that is going well.

I haven’t found any information on the technical differences, but sources familiar with the matter (that’s right, jerks! I have a source!) told me that the UHD Alliance is adopting Samsung’s SUHD as their draft, and the “HDR” that Fox is using."

Later in the blog he states that UHD BR is backward compatible and will play on existing players. We all know that's wrong, so it makes me wonder if his comment about the UHD Alliance adopting Samsung's HDR is credible. http://joe-steel.com/2015-05-20-Bag-...amic-Hurt.html

If Joe wishes to serve and thinks he is qualified to do so, send an email to the UHD Alliance and someone in return will send him a membership kit including an application and the UHD Alliance bylaws.

I would say that the UHD Alliance appears headed towards a baseline (open HDR) standard as well as an optional, more elite or premium HDR standard. But unlike which would appear similar to the Ultra HD Blu-ray spec announced by the BDA, the ‘Alliance’ debate is over which transfer function (ST 2084) vs. something else (an enhanced traditional gamma function). The former being more future-proof and flexible vs. the later , which could be brought to market quicker by some content distributors.

[bailey1987]

Heres something: http://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/a...yer-this-year/

Apparently Samsung's Ultra HD Blu-ray Player will launch this year. Nothing much but it confirms Samsung.

[jono3000]

Originally Posted by bailey1987

Heres something: http://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/a...yer-this-year/

Apparently Samsung's Ultra HD Blu-ray Player will launch this year. Nothing much but it confirms Samsung.

Good news. Would of been nice to have a quote from Samsung though.

[spectre08]

Originally Posted by bailey1987

Heres something: http://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/a...yer-this-year/

Apparently Samsung's Ultra HD Blu-ray Player will launch this year. Nothing much but it confirms Samsung.

Interesting aside at the end

Prices of Ultra HD Blu-ray movies are expected to be comparable to prices of regular Blu-ray titles.

I wonder what their source on that is.

[FilmFreakosaurus]

Originally Posted by spectre08

Interesting aside at the end

I wonder what their source on that is.

This is what Panasonic reps have been saying. Though are they talking in comparison to street pricing or MSRP??

[Geoff D]

I'm not surprised. I mean, the discs will come with a premium but won't be in the $40-$50 territory like some folks were thinking. I'd expect them to sell (as in actual street pricing) for between $20-$30 with the 100GB discs at the upper end of that scale, perhaps with a little more on top if it transpires that Sony have the only viable 100GB production line.