Physical & Digital EST: The Future of Home Video Discussion Thread

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

What 3D glasses do you guys use? I Have (2) XPAND 3D Glasses Lite RF, Model X105-RF-X1 and (2) Sony TDG-BT500A. I lke the Xpands better.

My TV uses passive glasses which I vastly prefer to the heavier active shutter glasses. Two pairs came with the TV and I have bought 4 more pairs by another manufacturer that included two clip-ons for people with prescription eye glasses. These four pairs of passive glasses were more affordable than a single pair of active shutter glasses. The active shutter glasses are much more expensive, require batteries and recharging, and some people say they can even hear the glasses as the shutters open and close during quieter scenes.

[CV19]

Originally Posted by Vilya

Modern 3D often does look amazing. I would not own 213 titles on 3D if I was not impressed by it on both new and vintage films.

Ready Player One is the most recent stellar application of the format. The 3D blu-ray reviews on this website rate the 3D aspect of the release in the video section.

Just looking at the 3D discs on Amazon, and there were certainly far more recent releases on blu-ray than I thought if I'm honest. I guess a 3D TV will have to be on my shopping list pretty soon.

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

Nowadays most 3D is post process but some post process titles can look quite good. I prefer titles made with 3D cameras. A list here.

Thanks for the link Wendell, it's interesting to see which are the "real" 3D films, so to speak.

[Ender14]

Originally Posted by Vilya

My TV uses passive glasses which I vastly prefer to the heavier active shutter glasses. The latter are much more expensive, require batteries and recharging, and some people say they can even hear the glasses as the shutters open and close during quieter scenes.

Both of my TV's are passive as well. 3D really shines on a 4K set so it's really a shame it has all but been abandoned in the U.S.

[The_Donster]

I’m genuinely curious Wendell. What’s with the constant testing? It isn’t going to change anyone’s perspective or preferences in this thread. So who are you doing this for

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by CV19

Just looking at the 3D discs on Amazon, and there were certainly far more recent releases on blu-ray than I thought if I'm honest. I guess a 3D TV will have to be on my shopping list pretty soon.

Thanks for the link Wendell, it's interesting to see which are the "real" 3D films, so to speak.

Finding a 3D TV might be hard as production of them pretty much ceased in the 2016 model year. There might be a few models still available in either new or in used condition, but new is probably unlikely.

Projectors and Virtual Reality headsets are readily available, though, until we see if 8K TVs support 3D or not.

3D is just a lot of fun; it can make a movie far more immersive in ways that even a 4K 2D presentation can not achieve.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

3D movies at home. Something some people absolutely adore but in couple of years it’s going to be impossible to buy movies.

Were 3D movies at home 'replaced by a new story telling format' or did they simply fail in the marketplace?

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Oh and 3D goes back to the 50’s, so it is a old storytelling format.

3D in theaters goes back to the 50s and 3D in theaters seems to be doing fine today. In fact, it's arguably doing much better in theaters than ever. It started out as a gimmick, it resurfaced every couple decades as a gimmick and now it's an actual thing.

So what else you got?

[CV19]

Originally Posted by Vilya

Finding a 3D TV might be hard as production of them pretty much ceased in the 2016 model year. There might be a few models still available in either new or in used condition, but new is probably unlikely.

Projectors and Virtual Reality headsets are readily available, though, until we see if 8K TVs support 3D or not.

You're right Vilya, thanks. I should have realised the TV's are becoming scarce. Now a headset on the other hand - never thought about that to tell you the truth, but yes that's an interesting option for sure.

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by Vilya

My TV uses passive glasses which I vastly prefer to the heavier active shutter glasses.

Most front projectors are active 3D devices so I have no choice but to use active glasses. But it is fun to watch 3D on a really big screen, size does matter.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

Most front projectors are active 3D devices so I have no choice but to use active glasses. But it is fun to watch 3D on a really big screen, size does matter.

I would love to own a gigantic home projector set-up, but I would also want it to support 4K with HDR and Dolby Vision and that animal does not exist yet as far as I know.

The 4K projectors that are on the market are very expensive. Replacing the bulb every 3 years or so is also costly. Laser lit 4K projectors cost still more and while the laser lasts much longer than a traditional bulb, I suspect replacing them is exorbitant. All of this would be a challenge to fund for a retiree on a fixed income, but I may still try someday if the prices come down.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by Vilya

The 4K projectors that are on the market are very expensive. Replacing the bulb every 3 years or so is also costly. Laser lit 4K projectors cost still more and while the laser lasts much longer than a traditional bulb, I suspect replacing them is exorbitant. All of this would be a challenge to fund for a retiree on a fixed income, but I may still try someday if the prices come down.

Give it twenty minutes. Projectors that we can only drool about today are going to be on the shelves at Wal-Mart in a few years.

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by Vilya

I would love to own a gigantic home projector set-up, but I would also want it to support 4K with HDR and Dolby Vision and that animal does not exist yet as far as I know.

Some of the newer ones do support HDR, mine does not. With a completely dark room there are lot of scenes where the brightness can almost be obnoxious, like a nighttime scene of folks sitting around a campfire, the flickering fire light can get on ones nerves if it last very long. In Flashdance the better half has to cover her eyes when the scene with the strobe light comes on. I have the projector in Low Light mode, never tried that scene in High Light mode. It switches to High Light mode for 3D because of the loss through the 3D glasses.

SMPTE 196M says a cinema needs to be about 14 ftL for proper cinematic playback in a darkened room, in low lamp mode I’m at about 18 ftL.

Front projection ≠ low cost, no argument there. Brand name replacement lamps are expensive and that is why I do my own lamp rebuilds.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by octagon

Give it twenty minutes. Projectors that we can only drool about today are going to be on the shelves at Wal-Mart in a few years.

Unlike some here, I look to the future with great optimism.

[Groot]

Originally Posted by octagon

Were 3D movies at home 'replaced by a new story telling format' or did they simply fail in the marketplace?



3D in theaters goes back to the 50s and 3D in theaters seems to be doing fine today. In fact, it's arguably doing much better in theaters than ever. It started out as a gimmick, it resurfaced every couple decades as a gimmick and now it's an actual thing.

So what else you got?

Exactly.

In the 50’s it died off. In the 80’s it died off. In the 00’s it’s dying off. It’ll be back for home releases at some point I’m sure, but not until the glasses, viewing angles and other things are a tad better (or glasses not necessary).

Nothing replaced it, as you said it just failed in the general home market.

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by octagon

Projectors that we can only drool about today are going to be on the shelves at Wal-Mart in a few years.

Well you probably will not drool over them but Walmart does sell several models of video projectors. I seem to remember Best Buy having a couple of models for sale but none on display. I can not remember if the Magnolia Design Center (Best Buy) nearest me had any on display.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Vilya

Almost all projectors still support 3D although they do require active shutter glasses. The Playstation 4 Virtual Reality headset supports 3D blu-ray viewing, also. There are persistent rumors that 8K TVs might include 3D and possibly without the need for any special glasses. 3D has proven most difficult to kill.

3D is huge in many parts of the world; it is very popular in China and India and these two countries represent about 40% of the world's population. 3D movies still do well in Europe and in the Americas, too. The supply exists because the demand does; it's that's simple really.

I know, I own the VR headset.

[Dynamo of Eternia]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

I know, I own the VR headset.

V.R. Troopers intro - YouTube

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Dynamo of Eternia

V.R. Troopers intro - YouTube

Meaning?

[The_Donster]

Originally Posted by The_Donster

I’m genuinely curious Wendell. What’s with the constant testing? It isn’t going to change anyone’s perspective or preferences in this thread. So who are you doing this for

I thought I’d repost this in case you missed it Wendell

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by The_Donster

I thought I’d repost this in case you missed it Wendell

To shut people up when they make silly claims about the quality of digital.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

To shut people up when they make silly claims about the quality of digital.

Digital streaming advocates seem quite happy with the level of quality they get and even I have observed very good quality when streaming some content, so good luck with shutting them up.

If they did shut up, this would be an entirely pointless thread if it hasn't become that already.