What kind of screen caps you use to judge quality?

[Canada]

When using Caps-a-holics I am interested what kind screen caps you use to judge quality? Personally I like using faces, I believe you can see a hell of a lot more little in a face, than say a car, a jet or a plane, what do you like to use?

Braveheart
Philadelphia
Superman

[nick4Knight]

None. They are not representative like on blu-ray sources where it's actually what the disc is showing across the entire image. The colours being converted to SDR 8-bit for display on web/PC/device sources makes it about 50% effective to judge.

4K UHD is hardly about detail uptick. It's always nice but the compression uptick and 10-bit nature of the format accounts for a lot of the perceived increases over blu-ray detail. Proof? New release upscales compete with native 4K DI routinely.

[Sky_Captain]

I don't.

Those Youtube comparison videos can eff off too.

[Geoff D]

Yep, you shouldn't use them as the only measure of judging quality. Competent caps from a competent capper allied with being able to view the disc in HDR and at full-rez will give a far more rounded interpretation of whatever disc.

[lgans316]

Use your own eyesight and a proper equipment to judge the UHD HDR PQ.

[Rusty100]

I think caps-a-holic are fine as long as you realise they're not the full picture and take them with a grain of salt. They're useful for being indicative of the general quality and look - but the colour is always going to be off, and sometimes can present artifacts that aren't in the source due to the hdr > sdr conversion. So all that said, they're still useful, in that you can still tell if something is an upgrade over the blu-ray, and you know the real thing will look even better.

[cleeve]

Originally Posted by nick4Knight

None. They are not representative like on blu-ray sources where it's actually what the disc is showing across the entire image. The colours being converted to SDR 8-bit for display on web/PC/device sources makes it about 50% effective to judge.

4K UHD is hardly about detail uptick. It's always nice but the compression uptick and 10-bit nature of the format accounts for a lot of the perceived increases over blu-ray detail. Proof? New release upscales compete with native 4K DI routinely.

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Yep, you shouldn't use them as the only measure of judging quality. Competent caps from a competent capper allied with being able to view the disc in HDR and at full-rez will give a far more rounded interpretation of whatever disc.

I've always approached it from the POV of comparing detail/compression/noise reduction/etc... never HDR or colors. Is this a decent way of going about it?

[Geoff D]

Yes, but even then the conversion may be affecting how artefacts appear because they might be buried in the proper brightness when viewed in HDR.

[koberulz]

Originally Posted by lgans316

Use your own eyesight and a proper equipment to judge the UHD HDR PQ.

I see this argument all the time, and it's beyond stupid. If I want to know whether a Blu is worth upgrading to UHD, you're telling me I have to buy the UHD to find out?

[King Crimson]

Originally Posted by koberulz

I see this argument all the time, and it's beyond stupid. If I want to know whether a Blu is worth upgrading to UHD, you're telling me I have to buy the UHD to find out?

Yes we are stupid by suggesting you form your own opinion with your own two eyes! Excuse us

[Doctorossi]

The kind in my mind's eye.

[lgans316]

Originally Posted by koberulz

I see this argument all the time, and it's beyond stupid. If I want to know whether a Blu is worth upgrading to UHD, you're telling me I have to buy the UHD to find out?

You got a point but all you can do is check the reviews posted on Internet and in the forums, and make an informed decision.


If you are still not satisfied, you have to buy or rent and decide on your own.

If you do this way then we agree you have the "Commonsense" like many of us has lol.

[koberulz]

Originally Posted by King Crimson

Yes we are stupid by suggesting you form your own opinion with your own two eyes! Excuse us

Suggesting I spend $20 on a disc to figure out if it's worth spending $20 on is stupid, yes.

[brian9229]

Absolutely none. For the best judge of quality, try watching the film in motion.

[bradnoyes]

I don't think you can judge the quality of a UHD without watching it on your own equipment. And when it comes to deciding what to blind-buy I'd rather just read the impressions of some of our users than look at any screen caps.

[LoSouL]

They can help you get an idea of some aspects of the image sometimes, but aren't really reflective of how it looks on screen in HDR. In some cases, I think they're useful for showing massive improvement in detail, mastering and source quality, ie: Dark Crystal 2008 BD vs 2018 UHD

https://caps-a-holic.com/c.php?d1=11553&d2=11554&c=4561

But even then, it's not doing it full justice.

Another one that shows a remarkable difference is Brawl In Cell Block 99, which has no HDR:

https://caps-a-holic.com/c.php?d1=11836&d2=11837&c=4665

I also was able to get a good idea of the differences between the various region and format releases for one of my favorite movies, Dredd, and have ended up with the NA UHD, NA BD, French BD and Japanese BD steelbook, but that one isn't well archived on CAH. So I still like caps, even if it's not to be taken as gospel.

[nick4Knight]

I'm not gonna say I never get giddy seeing pretty images, and the detail promise you can guesstimate; But the issue with them is really in using them to decide or not to buy a UHD disc.

Really wouldn't want the bean counters to decide to dry the well even a little over sales because even hardcore movie lovers are scrutinizing PQ in this weak of a methodology Nah't'I'mean? In other words buy T2 like a good soldier...

[JohnCarpenterFan]

They can be extremely useful, although they are pretty dangerous too considering how many of the people who use them don't seem to understand how their eyes/brain works, and how easy it is for opinions to be accepted as fact.

[Leterface]

Originally Posted by Canada

When using Caps-a-holics I am interested what kind screen caps you use to judge quality? Personally I like using faces, I believe you can see a hell of a lot more little in a face, than say a car, a jet or a plane, what do you like to use?

Braveheart
Philadelphia
Superman

Be it with my own eyes or a screenshot comparison, I usually do as you and look for facial close ups. However the overall strength of any release is much more complicated due to, for beginning with, the equipment made to produce the film. I allways however find the film more important and try only to get films I like. Good reviews and fellow forum membera have helped me alot to chose when I don't know myself about a particular movie.

[DJJez]

Absolutely nothing lol you need to see it It in person in motion