Why Blu-ray for SD quality shows/movies

[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.

[SkullPhyre]

Before the flame war starts here. You said you have it but have yet to hook it up. Hook it up get one of the said movies,tv shows in both Blu-ray and dvd. Watch the dvd then watch the Blu-ray. All of your questions will be answered. And if you still want to watch dvd's after that. Well then we cannot help you here.

[Monkey]

"But with upconverting DVDs how would a movie, like Taxi Driver or Bullitt be any better with Blu-ray than a DVD?"

Upconverting doesn't magically bring back resolution to above 480p. Movies like Taxi Driver inherently have lost tons of resolution when captured to DVD. Even Blu-ray doesn't retain all the resolution from the original source for Taxi Driver but is insanely better than DVD.

[kevinbr100]

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.

well bluray is replacing dvd format so that is one good reason. another is a lot of tv series were actually shot on film
so even though digital high definition technology was not available at the time the show was created, film resolution is still higher than the high definition technology available today. so definitely you can see an improvement in quality with older shows in this case.

[bboisvert]

Originally Posted by BJMRamage

But with upconverting DVDs how would a movie, like Taxi Driver or Bullitt be any better with Blu-ray than a DVD?

Taxi Driver isn't an "SD quality" movie.

How is Taxi Driver or Bullitt any different than, say, Funny People or The Hangover? They're all still shot on film (which has a much higher resolution than a DVD). The age of the film doesn't matter.

Honestly, rather than ask this question, I'd suggest doing a comparison. Watch an "older" BD - Gone with the Wind, The Adventures of Robin Hood, Casablanca, The Wizard of Oz, etc. - and compare it to an upconverted DVD of same. I think you'll be shocked at the difference.


It's all about resolution. If the source (movie or TV) has more than 480 lines of resolution, you'll see benefit by going to high definition. It's really that simple.

[styl3s]

im not a audio freak and no im not replacing my DVD collection.. i still buy more DVDS then bluray because to be frank BR could end up going away and being replaced

I buy both, some BRs dont look that much better then DVDs so im not going to pay more just to have better AQ but to each to own.. i know people who have sold their entire DVD collection to upgrade to BR and personally i think its stupid.. i own well over 800 dvds not including TV shows and i only get rid of the ones im upgrading to (IE sold my lost sets to upgrade to blu) and ill continue to do that on blus worth owning but i still buy a buttload of standard DVDS

[Josh]

Originally Posted by BJMRamage

Why would one want a Blu-ray Disc over standard DVD for old movies or old TV shows?

Film typically has a much higher resolution than Blu-ray (depending on the size used) and will always look better in HD.

TV shows were sometimes filmed, but even those on NTSC video would benefit slightly from Blu-ray vs. DVD. NTSC is 525i and DVD is 480p. If you de-interlace NTSC to 525p and put that raw on a Blu-ray, you would get 45 extra lines of data. Of course, if you use a simple line doubler to 1050p, that will get you very close to 1080p.

[benricci]

Originally Posted by styl3s

i still buy more DVDS then bluray because to be frank BR could end up going away and being replaced

I think we can all agree we're well past that possibility. It's here to stay.

Yes, of course someday it will be obsolete, but that's true of any format. For now, though, I think it's silly to NOT buy blu over DVD because you think it's magically gonna "go away".

[42041]

Even silent films were shot to be displayed on a screen much larger than your TV, and given proper care transferring them to HD, they will blow away the DVD. Whether you feel they're worth buying in blu-ray is entirely your prerogative.

[styl3s]

Originally Posted by benricci

I think we can all agree we're well past that possibility. It's here to stay.

Yes, of course someday it will be obsolete, but that's true of any format. For now, though, I think it's silly to NOT buy blu over DVD because you think it's magically gonna "go away".

People said the same thing about laser disc, i know blu-ray is here to stay but who is say in 2010 or 2011 a new format doesn't come out? im a firm believer in DVD isn't going anywhere, not atleast for along time.. i dont believe BR is going to completely take over DVD like DVD did to VHS

i buy both, im not going to pay more for something that doesn't look superb when i can buy it cheaper on DVD and play it on my 1080i upconverter and have it look almost as good.. take burn notice season 2.. looks absolutely awful on BR, like i said some people have jumped to BR and cool.. im not going to because i don't believe dvds are going anywhere anytime soon.

[blu_sharpy]

Originally Posted by styl3s

People said the same thing about laser disc, i know blu-ray is here to stay but who is say in 2010 or 2011 a new format doesn't come out? im a firm believer in DVD isn't going anywhere, not atleast for along time.. i dont believe BR is going to completely take over DVD like DVD did to VHS

i buy both, im not going to pay more for something that doesn't look superb when i can buy it cheaper on DVD and play it on my 1080i upconverter and have it look almost as good.. take burn notice season 2.. looks absolutely awful on BR, like i said some people have jumped to BR and cool.. im not going to because i don't believe dvds are going anywhere anytime soon.

If DVD's arent going anywhere then why do they lack in nearly ANY special features whereas Blu-ray has them all. This is just what happened when the transition between Laserdisc and DVD was taking place.
In my opinion, DVD was created so people could get used to owning something on a disc based format and was used as the middle man until Hi-Def was made available for home usage.

[detective392]

I'm not saying you should stop buying DVD's if that's what you like. But blu-ray is hear to stay and it is replacing DVD's by the end of 2010 you should start to see some blu-ray only releases. I would except until DVD totally dies out in a few years.

[benricci]

Originally Posted by styl3s

People said the same thing about laser disc

Lol, that's not really true, at least not in the sense you're taking my original post. Laserdisc never became a mainstream consumer product, which blu-ray has already done in three short years. You're right, DVD isn't going anywhere, but neither is blu-ray.

I think most people agree that they will co-exist for a number of years. But it's clear from the numbers that blu-ray's popularity is through the roof, and it's clearly the hi-def media of choice amongst consumers.

Laserdisc languished as a niche format for nearly 20 years before finally dying. It never posed a serious threat to VHS and never came close to becoming a dominant format. At its peak, there were only about 2 million Laserdisc players in the States.

[styl3s]

Originally Posted by blu_sharpy

If DVD's arent going anywhere then why do they lack in nearly ANY special features whereas Blu-ray has them all. This is just what happened when the transition between Laserdisc and DVD was taking place.
In my opinion, DVD was created so people could get used to owning something on a disc based format and was used as the middle man until Hi-Def was made available for home usage.

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

[Monkey]

If somebody prefers to stick with vastly inferior audio and video of DVD or youtube so be it. Some are fine with SDTV's versus HDTV's as well.

I however love top notch PQ and AQ which is why I go with blu-ray when available.

[detective392]

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

Except that some blu-rays are selling better then DVD's. Players are cheaper now and more people are switching over to blu-ray. So yeah blu-ray will take over like DVD did just not anytime soon in a few years I would suspect.

[tilapiah6]

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

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.

[YodasFootPowder]

Even if something else does come along, it's not going to look that much better than Blu-ray unless we're talking about viewing super resolution discs on a 100+ inch screen in your home, which most people don't and never will have. Blu-ray will always look good where as DVD looks pretty crappy now in almost all cases.


As for the OP, all movies are shot on film, which is a super high resolution. DVDs cannot display this resolution. Up-converting only shows the 480p at the TVs higher resolution. It isn't adding any picture information or resolution. So it's still going to look pretty crappy. A Blu-ray actually contains all that picture information and resolution so you're actually seeing it. Watch an old movie on DVD and then get the same movie on Blu-ray. You will be floored with the difference.

[drtre81]

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

lol you don't follow news very well.

blurays market share is pretty far past where dvd was in this time in it's lifecycle. Add to the fact that some blurays are actually outselling the dvd versions.

[My_Two_Cents]

Originally Posted by styl3s

DVD sales are still destroying the market

And why do you think this is?

Blu ray has only really been around for 2 years, now (since the format 'war' was decided), yet has grown significantly in that time. It's only been recently (<6 months) that BD players became affordable to the masses. To enjoy the full benefit of blu ray, you need an HDTV. Again, it's only been recent that HDTVs have become affordable to the Wal-Mart masses.

DVD will be around for awhile, at least until BD players become the standard in everything (cars, computers, portable players, etc), but you will see (and are already seeing) sales continue to decline just like the decline of VHS when DVD took over.

I see very little reason to purchase much of anything on standard DVD anymore if you have an HDTV and a BD player. In my case, I actually did purchase some DVDs for Christmas this year, but that was because:

1) The Shirley Temple sets I bought for my wife were not available on blu ray (and she wouldn't care less if they were)

2) I wasn't going to pay $8 more for the BD copy of Something, Something, Something Darkside when the BD advantages over the DVD were only minor, at best.