LG Drops 3D & 10000+ sign petition to restore it

[whippet]

Maybe we can import 3D tv's from China! It's just a normal decline in interest that we've seen since inception of 3D filmography. Ebbs and flows every 20 years?

[levcore]

There's such a herd/ sheep mentality with manufacturers. One drops it, so another follows suit and so on and so on. They're just following what they think the trend is. I partly blame 4K for being 'the next big thing' and distracting manufacturers into thinking they should pool all their efforts into that, when they're ignoring the fact that both can co-exist.

I'll have to upgrade sooner rather than later, although I wasn't planning to as my Samsung is still working fine.

[NARMAK]

3D is dying because it was poorly used and marketed as well as sub par performance in the home and even to this day I don't believe there was even a standard made for TVs to be calibrated to or glasses to adhere to. So that was the first sign in the coffin. VR is also the new fad and seems to be the gimmick they're going to go for.

The last and final nail was probably the UHDs not having 4K in the actual spec and now they're demoing 8K to us at CES 2017. I think the consolation for some may be that the 2016 OLEDs did 3D really well as did other sets but the tech has suffered a prolonged under supported death. VR is the natural successor and honestly, I've not watched a 3D movie on my TV in years. Watched one at the cinema the other day and it was awful. So dark I couldn't see any of the detail I would have on 2D

[mar3o]

I'm truly sickened by this news. They should be ashamed. This will mark the death of 3D blu-ray. What's the point going forward? You won't be able to buy any 3D TVs so what's the point of 3D discs? I thought LG understood the fact that there is an audience for home 3D. Especially since they had the best 3D on the market, especially on their 4k sets. This also means we can all forget about any more vintage 3D films getting a release going forward. Nobody will put up the money to restore 50's-80's era 3D films for blu-ray when there are zero manufacturers making 3D TV sets. Sony doesn't count since their 3D is absolutely horrid. And with LG out of the picture, passive 3D, and 3D in general, is now officially dead for the home market. Luckily I just bought a new LG UHD 3D LCD TV this past year, but it won't last forever. If I was smart, and if I had the money, which I don't, I would grab a current-gen 3D OLED set and put it in storage so when my new LG LCD set dies I will still have a new 3D TV to get me through another few years. But I also don't want to reward LG for making this decision. I was loving LG since I bought my new set and experienced the amazing 1080p passive 3D, which was way better than my old Samsung active set, but LG is now on my most hated list for killing home 3D.

First no 3D UHD specs, and then the manufacturers all drop 3D TVs. Mind boggling. What an amazing technology, and yet it's being totally abandoned. The mind truly boggles. We can also blame UHD and HDR - it's clear they want to push that now. I see no reason why both can't co-exist, since the technology for 3D already exists and are in current UHD models. But then nobody ever accused these companies of making smart decisions.

On a side note, I will not be going to see any more 3D films at the theatre after this news. Hollywood has been enjoying a nice boost in ticket revenue thanks to the popularity of 3D tickets for big summer blockbusters. I will not reward the studios for killing home 3D by paying 30% more for a 3D ticket, just to be angered at the fact that if I do enjoy the 3D movie, I won't be able to buy it on disc. That would frustrate me to no end, so I won't do that to myself. I'll just skip the 3D going forward.

HOW ARE PEOPLE SUPPOSED TO WATCH THEIR EXISTING COLLECTION OF 3D FILMS??

Seriously, they are dropping support for a current home media format that is being sold right now in stores. And as I said above, 3D ticket sales are raking in lots of cash for the studios. I cannot fathom what these brain-dead manufacturers are thinking by dropping support of a current format.

[TM2-Megatron]

We'll certainly still get 3-D Blu-Ray releases; I wouldn't worry about that for a while. There are tons of 3DTVs in homes today, and those will continue working for some time yet. And if the upcoming vintage 3-D releases sell well then studios will be willing to back more, even if there aren't any 3DTVs currently being manufactured (do we have confirmation on Sony dropping it in their 2017 models? I can't find any reference to that other than the one person who mentioned it in a post in this thread).

[DJR662]

I just purchased a high end 4K TV WITH 3D only 6 months ago but this news makes me wanna go out and buy a 3D enabled TV for back up...

[mar3o]

Originally Posted by TM2-Megatron

We'll certainly still get 3-D Blu-Ray releases; I wouldn't worry about that for a while. There are tons of 3DTVs in homes today, and those will continue working for some time yet. And if the upcoming vintage 3-D releases sell well then studios will be willing to back more, even if there aren't any 3DTVs currently being manufactured (do we have confirmation on Sony dropping it in their 2017 models? I can't find any reference to that other than the one person who mentioned it in a post in this thread).

I think you're being too optimistic. I wish I could be too but I can't. I can't see how studios will continue to spend money releasing 3D discs when no new 3D TV models are made or sold. The studios will simply drop the format, since there is now zero support for the format by the TV manufacturers.

Truly sickening. The research has been done. The money has been spent. I'm betting the cost of keeping 3D support in their sets is negligible, considering the cost of my 55" LG UHD LCD 3D TV was only $1,600 just a few weeks after release. So why did they feel the need to drop it? It should just be considered a standard feature now. That would take away nothing from their UHD and HDR push.

[mar3o]

Originally Posted by dyoung18

This truly sucks. I hope Sony stick with 3D this year but it doesn't look good. I think 3D will still exist in projectors tho which why I'm glad I have one with the capability

Sony's active 3D is garbage compared to LG passive 1080p. Bad 3D just adds to the negative opinions of 3D. LG does 3D right. There are loads of threads on AVS about Sony's awful crosstalk caused by the active technology. I have virtually zero crosstalk on my LG passive set.

[mar3o]

Originally Posted by cinerama

Sony, Panasonic, Epson, BenQ, Optoma and others make 3D projectors. I have a Panasonic 3d projector so no big deal for me.

I live in a small apartment. A projector is out of the question for people like me in apartments.

[mar3o]

Originally Posted by JJ

What a deplorable point of view.

- Owner of an LG OLED without 3D.

3D was only fun when I had a projector, that's where it shines. Since I reverted back to a display, I haven't even touched a 3D movie. Honestly, the gimmick is done now - put me down as preferring 4K HDR to 3D.

And yet I've been watching more 3D than ever since I got my 55" LG passive UHD set. I got several 3D blu-rays for Christmas, including two vintage titles I was missing in my collection.

[mar3o]

Originally Posted by levcore

There's such a herd/ sheep mentality with manufacturers. One drops it, so another follows suit and so on and so on. They're just following what they think the trend is. I partly blame 4K for being 'the next big thing' and distracting manufacturers into thinking they should pool all their efforts into that, when they're ignoring the fact that both can co-exist.

I'll have to upgrade sooner rather than later, although I wasn't planning to as my Samsung is still working fine.

This is exactly the problem. Herd mentality. They're just following each other. I thought LG was happy to offer 3D where other companies weren't. They basically said that last year - that they recognize there's a market for home 3D. Now they have done a 180 and dropped all support. Shameful.

My TV is less than a year old, but anything can happen. Electronics can fail at any time. If my set dies next month and Squaretade gives me the full value of the set, it won't do me any good as there will be no new 3D sets to buy with the money.

[Steedeel]

As I have said before, we need to be contacting L.G and letting them know how we feel. It's better than moaning to ourselves on here.

[s2mikey]

Originally Posted by mar3o

Sony's active 3D is garbage compared to LG passive 1080p. Bad 3D just adds to the negative opinions of 3D. LG does 3D right. There are loads of threads on AVS about Sony's awful crosstalk caused by the active technology. I have virtually zero crosstalk on my LG passive set.

100% true. My 65" OLED E6 model has perfect 3D. Literally. Every Sony thread or Samsung thread where they use active 3D is littered with complaints. This is really too bad.

Ill admit, I used to poo poo 3D and say its a gimmick, silly, stupid, etc. Then, I tried it on my LG OLED and did a complete 180 degree turn. Its a lot of fun and for certain content and films its wonderful. Sad to see it go. This is what happens when something is released improperly which 3D was. It was BAD out of the gate and people just couldnt get into it.

So glad I got the 65" E6 OLED model versus the non-3D model. Im set for a while and can at least enjoy the 3D thats out there. I expect fewer and fewer titles to be released from home though.

Originally Posted by mar3o

I live in a small apartment. A projector is out of the question for people like me in apartments.

Projectors also have plenty of other issues that make them a problem for a main viewing medium. They are great for man-caves but not too good for a living room. Good ones are expensive too.

[FreddieFerric]

This is just terrible news, since I like 3D.

[MegatronG1]

Bad news, I own a Sony 3DTV at the moment and wanted something bigger, the selections for Sony were very slim to the point where I would be looking more towards going the LG route. Even though I only own a handful of 3D movies, I do enjoy it, especially playing video games in 3D.

[AllOuttaBubbleGum]

Originally Posted by mar3o

I'm truly sickened by this news. They should be ashamed. This will mark the death of 3D blu-ray. What's the point going forward? You won't be able to buy any 3D TVs so what's the point of 3D discs?

It's hard not to reach this conclusion; it feels like a willful euthanizing of a format and market that's been stubbornly hanging on at a level the corporate bean counters probably deem "pesky." Not profitable enough, forever niche, so they drove a stake through it so they can finally re-purpose their production line devoted to polarized film panels.

I'll continue to snap up affordable 3D titles as long as an optimized for 2D disc is included, but seeking out a backup television feels like prolonging the agony when the stages of grief are upon us. I will go through them and, looking back, always remember how much fun the right tech--LG's passive--was, even at the 1080p level.

[dmode]

As depressing as this is, I wouldn't go hating on LG as they supported it the longest. There are other options, projectors, HMDs. I doubt 3d blu rays will disappear altogether. Maybe the 3d versions of newer movies will be licensed to 3rd party companies for release. Someone will see the value. There may be a premium for them, as they will probably be limited releases. We can always import, but that will be a little more expensive.

Either way, we should be thanking LG for sticking with it as long as they did.

[dkongzoom]

Any word if it's also dropped from the regular LED UHD and SUHD 2017 lineup? Lg only mentioned OLED....

[alexander1magician]

WTF MAN!!! what the **** is this,...so embrassing,..so dissapointed waiting!!!

better I buy E7 "65 inch for my tv replacement before it gone..just waiting for BIG SALE..DISCOUNT!!

[Interdimensional]

LG really helped establish the home 3D market. It's discouraging to see them drop a feature that was one of their main selling points above other manufacturers. No one did it better.

Judging by the space allocated in some local showrooms, I suspect less TVs are being sold overall and the market may be growing more competitive, so perhaps they feel any expense they can eliminate will benefit them.

But the idea that even their high-end tvs that cost thousands of dollars/euro will lack this functionality is baffling. The option is removed and they're not even giving the choice. If your top-of-the-line tv can't even do 3-D, sorry not interested.

It should be considered that one of the reasons that demand for 3dtvs may not be what it once was is because most of us who were enthusiastic about the technology have at this point already gone out and bought one, and may not be in the market again for another few years. 3-D always comes back, and if they won't do it, someone else will. Sooner or later TV manufacturers are going to run out of new features to hype. There'll be 8k, and 16k and hdr and high framerates and super thin displays, transparent displays, who knows what. We're already approaching the point of diminishing returns, where you make things better and better but less and less people can tell the difference. Inevitably 3-D has to come back around.