Why Blu-ray for SD quality shows/movies

[styl3s]

Originally Posted by tilapiah6

The proof is constantly rising sales percentages. A simple google search will indicate that the sales of Blu-ray have climbed much the same way DVD did when it first started. It doesn't take a genius to know that history is repeating itself, this time for Blu-rays.

This is because HDTVs are now standard, and Blu-ray prices are dropping. The average consumer isn't concerned with BD Live or uncompressed audio, but money talks.

dvds are still the leading market, like i said when BR has half the market ill think about doing the full switch till then its just another format ill buy stuff on

if you want to completely switch then ok.. but to say its going to take over is being too optimistic IMO im not going to argue what one is going win, look at the statistics and you will see DVDs are still dominating like i said if you want to switch or already did good for you, ill continue to buy DVDs.

[statikcat]

1. Blu-ray discs have a scratch proof coating and are much more resistant to damage than a dvd.

2. Blu-ray has a modern, and easier to navigate menu system. You can access menus while the movie is playing, etc. (Dvd menu get on my nerves!) This is nice in general but can be handy to browse episodes while one is playing.

In addition to that .. hopefully we will see more SD content per disc. Also, I imagine rendered SD -> HD is going to look a little better than real time upconversion from a player.

So, assuming the price is the same Blu-ray still offers some good value over DVD. Let's not forget Blu-ray has many features in addition to just PQ - although TV shows might not utilize them all (like BD Live, etc).

[YodasFootPowder]

Originally Posted by styl3s

almost every dvd has the same special features.. BR usually gets a few useless extras like BD live and the video commentary when i have 0 interest in

just because something gets extra special features does not mean BR is taking over, DVD sales are still destroying the market, when BR has half the market then i might stop buying DVDs but like i said to each to own

i dont believe BR is going to completely take over like DVD did, as of now theres no proof of it doing so

Dude, forget about special features and video commentaries. The video quality on every Blu-ray I have seen blows away its DVD counterpart when viewed on an HDTV. If you're still using a CRT for your viewing then I think DVDs look great and the jump to Blu-ray will likely mean nothing. But, when you own an HDTV 32 inches or larger, I don't know how Blu-ray isn't a no brainer. I have no desire to buy any DVDs and haven't for probably over a year now. If it's not on Blu-ray I may buy it if I know it's never coming to Blu-ray otherwise I'd rather wait a year to have it on Blu-ray VS having it right away on DVD. Blu-ray VS DVD is no contest and I just don't know how anyone with an HDTV can see it any other way!

[Atreyu]

I think blu has the potential to take over dvd but will take a few more years at least as some "casual" movie watchers are not so into picture and audio quality so long as they can have a copy of their favorite videos in any format. Also it will take a few years for all the small dvd manufactures to get on board with blu. I still by some dvds if i feel the blus of them will not be out for awhile. Example: I just became a fan of the Astro Boy cartoon series and recently purchased the 2 1960s box sets. The masters are sadly, in rough shape, and I think it will be light years before they ever see the light on blu).

[styl3s]

Originally Posted by YodasFootPowder

Dude, forget about special features and video commentaries. The video quality on every Blu-ray I have seen blows away its DVD counterpart when viewed on an HDTV. If you're still using a CRT for your viewing then I think DVDs look great and the jump to Blu-ray will likely mean nothing. But, when you own an HDTV 32 inches or larger, I don't know how Blu-ray isn't a no brainer. I have no desire to buy any DVDs and haven't for probably over a year now. If it's not on Blu-ray I may buy it if I know it's never coming to Blu-ray otherwise I'd rather wait a year to have it on Blu-ray VS having it right away on DVD. Blu-ray VS DVD is no contest and I just don't know how anyone with an HDTV can see it any other way!

not every BR has superior picture quality, and alot of BRs that do look better then the SDVDs dont look THAT much better

im not saying every BR looks like ass but not every single BR has eye popping PQ, i like BR, i buy BR.. but i still buy DVDs, if you dont then dont buy them like i said im not going to argue over DVD/BR, if you want to make the jump and never buy another DVD good for you but ill continue to buy both.

[Monkey]

Originally Posted by YodasFootPowder

Dude, forget about special features and video commentaries. The video quality on every Blu-ray I have seen blows away its DVD counterpart when viewed on an HDTV. If you're still using a CRT for your viewing then I think DVDs look great and the jump to Blu-ray will likely mean nothing. But, when you own an HDTV 32 inches or larger, I don't know how Blu-ray isn't a no brainer. I have no desire to buy any DVDs and haven't for probably over a year now. If it's not on Blu-ray I may buy it if I know it's never coming to Blu-ray otherwise I'd rather wait a year to have it on Blu-ray VS having it right away on DVD. Blu-ray VS DVD is no contest and I just don't know how anyone with an HDTV can see it any other way!

Some people are fine with craptastic Youtube quality... Nothing wrong with that, just some people don't care about having a vaslty superior experience.

[BJMRamage]

Wow, those were some quick responses. Thank you all very much.

Again, new to this area. And the Taxi Driver (and Bullitt) reference was merely movies I had seen from a VHS (and a Library copy at that) on an old CRT (well maybe slightly new CRT) so I just had those crappy images to go off. Thanks all for the comments.

Another question I have: Last year for Christmas I received Iron Man and Dark Night DVDs, etc. but never watched them-may not have even opened them, I am wondering if I should try and sell and rebuy as Blu-ray or just watch teh DVDs and hope for the best. Or maybe buy one of those as a Blu-ray and see the difference.

[snipemonkey]

First off, we need to clear up a common (it seems to me the MOST common) misunderstanding about film resolution:

A lot of people seem to be under the odd misapprehension that just because we've all gotten used to seeing older films/TV shows in low definition (480 or below) there is simply nothing more to see. As if somehow, at some ambiguously-defined magic moment in the past, camera film suddenly started absorbing more resolution and -- voila! -- high-def was born. Kind of like saying that anything pre-Star Wars (or pre-whatever) isn't capable of showing more image detail.

Not so. Older movies, when projected from a good print and on decent equipment, are capable of just as much image detail and resolution as anything filmed today. It's only because we've all grown up with (if not 'used to') shitty transfers of Taxi Driver and Bullitt that we think it'll never look better. Given a good print (hopefully one struck directly from the original camera negative, if possible) and a competent telecine artist, any older film will "pop" in high-def.

Whether you CARE about the added clarity is another question entirely. Most people, given an good, properly calibrated A-to-B comparison between standard DVD and Blu-ray, would be forced to concede that Blu-ray is clearly superior. Here's the rub, though -- the bee in the bonnet of all us cinema nerds: For most people, DVD is "good enough."

I might not get it, but it's pretty clear that, in general, the vast majority of the viewing public are just fine with Youtube as their entertainment-delivery vehicle of choice. High definition doesn't mean anything to the general public except "more expensive."

Se la vie.

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by BJMRamage

OK, I am new here. I actually have yet to install/mount/connect teh HDTV and Blu-ray, etc. So, that in mind, please bear with me...I tried searching but got no results and maybe used wrong phrases.

Why would one want a Blu-ray Disc over standard DVD for old movies or old TV shows? (I read and can understand TV series being on less discs and making it easier that way) But with upconverting DVDs how would a movie, like Taxi Driver or Bullitt be any better with Blu-ray than a DVD? Is part of it to have BD-Live or other content or keeping Discs in a similar package size?


Also, how many of you have gone out to replace your DVD collection with BDs?And do some of you just purchase a DVD in place of BD if the movie is ok, or not really "worthy" of HD? say a comedy that doesn't have a great audio track or noteworthy cinematography?


Thanks in advance, again I am new so take that into consideration.

For TV show I would say check the difference between the DVD sets of Star Trek The Original Series with the BD releases. After that tell me again that something old can't look that good on BD.

[CrEd424]

Originally Posted by BJMRamage

Wow, those were some quick responses. Thank you all very much.

Again, new to this area. And the Taxi Driver (and Bullitt) reference was merely movies I had seen from a VHS (and a Library copy at that) on an old CRT (well maybe slightly new CRT) so I just had those crappy images to go off. Thanks all for the comments.

Another question I have: Last year for Christmas I received Iron Man and Dark Night DVDs, etc. but never watched them-may not have even opened them, I am wondering if I should try and sell and rebuy as Blu-ray or just watch teh DVDs and hope for the best. Or maybe buy one of those as a Blu-ray and see the difference.

Do yourself a favor and return the dvds and get the blus up until 2 months ago those were 2 of the highest rated blus out there and still are only being surpassed by a few recent movies

[Deciazulado]

They said the same thing about DVD and VHS, oh, 10 years ago. I remember it well - Maurice Chevalier




Going back to the OT, this topic comes out from time to time and every season.

Movies and many TV shows are made on film, and images exposed on film are high resolution, even Silent Films. TV shows made on NTSC or PAL videotape of course excluded.

Here's some previous threads about the subject:

How do they make older movies into Blu-ray Discs?

Older movies with outstanding PQ and AQ

Blu-ray transfer of old movies

Old Movies in Blu-ray Format

Old movies in Blu-ray

etc

[BJMRamage]

Thanks again for the replies. I guess the old crappy transition to VHS or whatever they'd broadcast on UHF stations and from my aging memory for films I saw in the theater (and most likely caught again on TV years later) confused me on the subject.

[benricci]

On a side note, this thread got me wondering. What ever happened to Taxi Driver? Wasn't it announced for a 2009 release?

[jjocsak]

I was wondering if there was a site where DVD and Blu-Ray's were rated as to quality.

This maybe impossible but it would be helpful to see which DVD's do not play very well when up-converted on a Blu-ray player.

That way one would know whether going to Blu-ray on one of your DVD's in your present collection would be worth it.

Jeff

[BillieCassin]

Originally Posted by YodasFootPowder

The video quality on every Blu-ray I have seen blows away its DVD counterpart when viewed on an HDTV.

Sums it up for me.

[BaronVH]

Originally Posted by jjocsak

I was wondering if there was a site where DVD and Blu-Ray's were rated as to quality.

This maybe impossible but it would be helpful to see which DVD's do not play very well when up-converted on a Blu-ray player.

That way one would know whether going to Blu-ray on one of your DVD's in your present collection would be worth it.

Jeff

All BDs are better than the DVD. As to whether to replace them is subjective to the viewer. My friend that is an avid film buff told me just prior to getting his Blu-ray player that he would never buy a BD than he already owned on DVD. I told him that he would, and he said, "ask me in a year." A year is up and he replaced ALL of his DVDs with BDs. The jump is not as great as VHS to DVD, but once you get used to the quality of BDs, watching DVDs can be painful. The thing about this format is that this is the first time in history that you can watch some movies that equal or come close to the theatrical presentation in your home (some think it surpasses it in some cases, but I am a theater lover). Examples of serious jumps in quality with classic films: Seventh Seal, 2001, Godfather, Gone with the Wind, The General, and many others. Certainly the format may not be for all, but if you truly love film, it is the best invention since the television.

[Deciazulado]

Originally Posted by jjocsak

I was wondering if there was a site where DVD and Blu-Ray's were rated as to quality.

This maybe impossible but it would be helpful to see which DVD's do not play very well when up-converted on a Blu-ray player.

That way one would know whether going to Blu-ray on one of your DVD's in your present collection would be worth it.

Jeff

Well you can get an idea by looking at screencaptures in our BD reviews and comparing them to your DVDs paused in your computer.

[PA_Kid]

I don't have the skills myself, but I would love it if someone could capture a single frame of Jack Sparrow's back (with all the tattoos) in PotC:World's End in the part of the film where there are multiple copies of him walking all over the ship in these 3 formats and post them side by side:
DVD
Upscaled DVD on a BD player
BD on same BD player

For some people it is very hard to see the difference, but I did that for my wife and one of our friends once and the difference was eye opening. (Having 2 HDTVs, 2 PS3s, a DVD copy and BD copy made it possible.)

That showed them very clearly the difference between upscaled and BD quality. The tattoos I'm refering to are like small complicated lettering all over his back. On the upscaled DVD they were still blurry since upscaling can't add in any detail.

Granted, as someone pointed out, many people will still say upscaled DVD is "good enough" but this would be a great example to sticky (in my opinion of course) to explain the difference between upscaling and HD.

[thdeanmachine]

Originally Posted by styl3s

not every BR has superior picture quality, and alot of BRs that do look better then the SDVDs dont look THAT much better

im not saying every BR looks like ass but not every single BR has eye popping PQ, i like BR, i buy BR.. but i still buy DVDs, if you dont then dont buy them like i said im not going to argue over DVD/BR, if you want to make the jump and never buy another DVD good for you but ill continue to buy both.

first of all its BD. second of all if you cant see the difference between 480i and 1080p than yeah keep buying DVDs but don't continue to post on a site called "blu-ray.com" to just keeping arguing your point that the format will fail

[BJMRamage]

I did spend some time on the DVDBeaver.com (I think that was the name something Beaver-I know that can lead elsewhere if wrong) and some of the DVD->BluRay was really good. Others ehh and some looked very grainy/film-like

Would be interested in seeing the POTC image stated above.