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

[jonmoz]

Originally Posted by JavaJulien

It's a normal Blu-Ray. Sony is intentionally using buzzwords to get people to double dip.

I realize that but the masses might not.

[jonmoz]

A lot of the issues catalogue titles have on their Blu-ray transfers is down to laziness rather than lack of a 4k scan.

2k scans look great if handled with care,and there is still the issue of whatever you scan at you still only end up with 1080p which is roughly 2k.

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by jonmoz

A lot of the issues catalogue titles have on their Blu-ray transfers is down to laziness rather than lack of a 4k scan.

2k scans look great if handled with care,and there is still the issue of whatever you scan at you still only end up with 1080p which is roughly 2k.

Agreed. 2K done well with newer scanning equipment can look great.

[tylergfoster]

Originally Posted by Cabby

I'm still confused, haha. So if I bought the 4K version of Taxi Driver and put it on side-by-side next to the one I already own. Would it look exactly the same? What's the real difference? It's sounding like these aren't even worth picking up.

Again:

The reason Taxi Driver is not worth picking up is because Taxi Driver was already scanned at 4K from the original negative for the previous Blu-Ray. Same with the 2010 - 2012 films, which had 4K digital intermediates.

Ghostbusters had a dated master with wonky contrast. They scanned the negative at 4K and then created a new standard Blu-Ray based on that master. It looks significantly better than the old release.

In terms of the technology, these are basically like Superbit. Same format, but they've tried to emphasize the PQ. They are worth picking up if you love the films that are getting a significant upgrade, or if you have a 4KTV (which Sony claims these discs are somehow "optimized" for, with "Expanded Color"). Still, they're just Blu-Rays -- Sony has created these discs because there's no 4K media player yet and they want people who do buy 4KTV to have content for it.

If you have Spider-Man on SD-DVD, that one's probably worth getting. Taxi Driver, not so much.

[blu-ray_girl_fan]

Originally Posted by jonmoz

I realize that but the masses might not.

In the U.S., most stores aren't carrying them. Mass retailers like Walmart and Target still sell more media than other places. (And before someone mentions Amazon...the spending habits of people who use sites like BD.com are very different from "the masses".)

[tylergfoster]

The one store I've seen these in is Fry's.

[mattob]

Originally Posted by blu-ray_girl_fan

In the U.S., most stores aren't carrying them. Mass retailers like Walmart and Target still sell more media than other places. (And before someone mentions Amazon...the spending habits of people who use sites like BD.com are very different from "the masses".)

They're usually sold next to the new Sony 4k tvs in stores that sell the TV.

[jonmoz]

Originally Posted by mattob

They're usually sold next to the new Sony 4k tvs in stores that sell the TV.

Which is again suggesting the Discs are something that they are not ie 4k movies,the packaging is pretty ambiguous too.

[jonmoz]

Originally Posted by blu-ray_girl_fan

In the U.S., most stores aren't carrying them. Mass retailers like Walmart and Target still sell more media than other places. (And before someone mentions Amazon...the spending habits of people who use sites like BD.com are very different from "the masses".)

It would be better if they just removed the "Optimized for 4k ultra HD TV's" line at the bottom of the disc,as these discs are no different than any other regular Blu-ray that has been mastered from a 4k source.

[TheShape31]

I personally care nothing for extra features, and really only care to pay for my favorite movies with the best quality video and audio that can be crammed onto a single disc.

As long as the releases show an improvement in video quality and aren't just a cash in, color me excited.

And I really appreciate this thread with all of the updated pre-orders!

[TheHighRoller]

Originally Posted by blu-ray_girl_fan

One time, someone wrote something along the lines of, "You don't know anything because you only have 8 movies in your collection!"

One time, someone wrote something along the lines of "I have more feedback than you, so that shows who is more trusted by this community".

[blu-ray_girl_fan]

Originally Posted by TheHighRoller

One time, someone wrote something along the lines of "I have more feedback than you, so that shows who is more trusted by this community".

Feedback is given by others. You can add as many titles as you want to your "collection", even movies that you haven't bought.

[jonmoz]

Originally Posted by blu-ray_girl_fan

Feedback is given by others. You can add as many titles as you want to your "collection", even movies that you haven't bought.

I always thought when people put movies in their collection they owned them, or in the case of future releases had at least pre-ordered the movie in question.

[Tech-UK]

Originally Posted by jonmoz

It would be better if they just removed the "Optimized for 4k ultra HD TV's" line at the bottom of the disc,as these discs are no different than any other regular Blu-ray that has been mastered from a 4k source.

Although they are encoded with xvYCC, that can be utilised with 'regular' Blu-ray equipment (player, receiver, HDTV), of which support it.

[jonmoz]

Originally Posted by Tech-UK

Although they are encoded with xvYCC, that can be utilised with 'regular' Blu-ray equipment (player, receiver, HDTV), of which support it.

That's because they are pretty much regular Blu-ray's that are advertised as something else.

Even if you sell them next to 4k T.V sets they are still regular 1080p Blu-ray discs that are mastered from a 4k source,not as Sony seem to be implying actual 4K media.

[Tech-UK]

Originally Posted by jonmoz

That's because they are pretty much regular Blu-ray's that are advertised as something else.

Even if you sell them next to 4k T.V sets they are still regular 1080p Blu-ray discs that are mastered from a 4k source,not as Sony seem to be implying actual 4K media.

I was just stating a difference, not arguing the point of them being advertised as 4K discs, although:

'Mastered in 4K'

'Optimised for 4K Ultra HD TV's'

Are valid statements. If consumers buy in to this then it is partly their fault. Sony like any other business makes money from marketing stunts such as this one. 'Optimised' is a great word to use as it implies that its 'compatible', 'ready', but it doesn't imply that they are 4K Blu-rays. What they are doing is valid, fair? That's up to you to decide. They are just being clever with how they describe the product.

A little research goes a long way, for example this thread has probably saved a lot of people from buying these but not enough. Its up to the consumer's these days to research what their buying.

[Infernal King]

The only "Mastered in 4K" movie I don't already own and would even consider buying is Spider-Man 2. I'm assuming it has no special features and only the theatrical cut (the latter is fine by me since Spider-Man "2.1" was not as good as the original cut). Hmmm...

blu-ray_girl_fan, what should I do?

[blu-ray_girl_fan]

Originally Posted by jonmoz

I always thought when people put movies in their collection they owned them, or in the case of future releases had at least pre-ordered the movie in question.

...and who's checking to see if people actually own the movies listed in their collections?

Originally Posted by Gate

The only "Mastered in 4K" movie I don't already own and would even consider buying is Spider-Man 2. I'm assuming it has no special features and only the theatrical cut (the latter is fine by me since Spider-Man "2.1" was not as good as the original cut). Hmmm...

blu-ray_girl_fan, what should I do?

I would just get the old trilogy box set on the cheap. I've seen it priced between $10 and $20.

[jonmoz]

[QUOTE=blu-ray_girl_fan;7768835]...and who's checking to see if people actually own the movies listed in their collections?



I suppose that may go on a little but I bet a lot of peoples collections are legit.

[dvdmike]

Originally Posted by Tech-UK

I was just stating a difference, not arguing the point of them being advertised as 4K discs, although:

'Mastered in 4K'

'Optimised for 4K Ultra HD TV's'

Are valid statements. If consumers buy in to this then it is partly their fault. Sony like any other business makes money from marketing stunts such as this one. 'Optimised' is a great word to use as it implies that its 'compatible', 'ready', but it doesn't imply that they are 4K Blu-rays. What they are doing is valid, fair? That's up to you to decide. They are just being clever with how they describe the product.

A little research goes a long way, for example this thread has probably saved a lot of people from buying these but not enough. Its up to the consumer's these days to research what their buying.

It is nothing new, Laserdiscs had Mastered in HD on them