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Author Topic: Blu Disc Mess
Paul Adsett
Film God

Posts: 5003
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2003


 - posted June 17, 2008 07:20 PM      Profile for Paul Adsett     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
The more I look into the possibility of getting a Blu Ray Disc player, the more I get turned off. I found out first hand today that it takes over 3 minutes for a BD player to load up and start playing the latest DVD's! Then there's all those useless features that come with the very latest BD players with BD live(at a steep price of course), such as picture-in-picture, live internet connection to useless juvenile extra features, etc etc. As far as I can discern, the experts right now do not like any of the stand alone DVD players and are recommending you purchase a PS3 player and use it as a BD player, but of course the PS3 has no IR remote, requires lots of menu navigation, and who wants a gaming system as the basis of a home theater ?
So here we have the latest technology, with no decent BD player yet on the market! What a damned mess! Sound s like HD-DVD was far superior all round for movie buffs.
Blue Ray Disc player anyone ? No thank you! [Mad]

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The best of all worlds- 8mm, super 8mm, 9.5mm, and HD Digital Projection,
Elmo GS1200 f1.0 2-blade
Eumig S938 Stereo f1.0 Ektar
Panasonic PT-AE4000U digital pj

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Steven J Kirk
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 873
From: Southern England
Registered: Apr 2008


 - posted June 17, 2008 08:23 PM      Profile for Steven J Kirk   Email Steven J Kirk   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I'm getting into blu-ray but haven't got a player yet. I will let other forum members know my adventure as I go along. I'm attracted to the potential picture quality through my video projector. Not worried about the start up time - how long does it take to thread a movie projector and set rack and focus?

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VistaVision
Motion Picture High-Fidelity

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Joerg Polzfusz
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 815
From: Berlin, Germany, Europe, Earth, Solar System
Registered: Apr 2006


 - posted June 18, 2008 05:29 AM      Profile for Joerg Polzfusz   Author's Homepage   Email Joerg Polzfusz   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Hi,

the PS3 comes with a "SIXAXIS-Controller" that can be used as a remote as well and works via bluetooth (= no cables). And there's an optional "traditional" remote ("BD Remote") as well - but AFAIK it works via bluetooth, too, ... so you're correct: There's no IR-remote...

Jörg

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Rob Young.
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1633
From: Cheshire, U.K.
Registered: Dec 2003


 - posted June 18, 2008 05:43 AM      Profile for Rob Young.     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Paul, I think Steven makes a very good point; it is what ends up on the screen that matters.

I have recently bought an HD projector and for now am running it with a bargain price Toshiba HD-DVD player and buying very cheap HD-DVD movies. The reason I haven't gone Blu-Ray just yet is that I think the format still has to settle. The latest Panasonic players are really, I think, the first to be sensibly priced for a future proof, quality, machine; I think these are just the beginning of a new wave of better, affordable players.

But considering that the actually quality on screen of HD-DVD and Blu-Ray is similar, I would say that (based upon what I have seen from HD-DVD) that HD material is vastly, vastly superior to standard def and that if Blu-Ray survives and thrives then it is a must for anyone projecting larger images.

Although I also believe you get what you pay for. The Toshiba upscales standard discs quite well, but occasionally the result is worse than the 576i picture from my older, much more expensive Sony! Hopefully good quality Blu-Ray players will also upscale better. I have read that the opinion concerning the Playstation 3 is that it is a bargain in that it does play Blu-Ray movies well AND is also a great games console, but if it's films you're interested in, give it a miss as the quality isn't as good as stand alone players. Basically this is a format still in it's infancy.

As for connecting to the internet, I'm with Paul in that I'm not really interested in accessing the aditional features, but would add that internet connectivity is a God send in being able to upgrade projectors and players. Only today I am about to upgrade the Toshiba because, as good as HD stuff is, it isn't sending the projector a 24 fps image. Hopefully a simple upgrade via internet will fix this...imagine trying to fix such issues before internet connectivity; so it isn't all about silly extras!

That plus I have read that in the future, it may be possible to sit down and watch HD trailers for bang up to date films via your Blu-Ray player and internet connection, before you settle down for the main feature on Blu-Ray disc...that's sort of enticing, isn't it?

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Paul Adsett
Film God

Posts: 5003
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2003


 - posted June 18, 2008 12:16 PM      Profile for Paul Adsett     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Probably the best thing is to sit this out for about another year. We all know that the $500.00 Sony BD player of today will be selling in Wal-Mart for less than a $100.00 in a couple of years. The problem is though , how many people (like me) have been turned totally off from Blu Ray because of a) the unavailability of a good, no frills, player at a decent price of say less than $200.00, b) the the much higher price of BD movies compared with the same DVD movie, and c) the general lack of great classic films in the BD catalogues.
All in all, not a great start for Blu-Ray, and you have to wonder how long it will survive.

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The best of all worlds- 8mm, super 8mm, 9.5mm, and HD Digital Projection,
Elmo GS1200 f1.0 2-blade
Eumig S938 Stereo f1.0 Ektar
Panasonic PT-AE4000U digital pj

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Steven J Kirk
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 873
From: Southern England
Registered: Apr 2008


 - posted June 18, 2008 03:39 PM      Profile for Steven J Kirk   Email Steven J Kirk   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
The first film I purchased on Blu-Ray was THE SEARCHERS - originally VistaVision. There are older titles coming through - BONNIE AND CLYDE, 2001... There are those 'Ultra Resolution' transfers of technicolor titles like WIZARD OF OZ, that surely will emerge in time if they haven't already. Also the IMAX films are starting to appear, a fact that has tipped me into starting buying discs.

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VistaVision
Motion Picture High-Fidelity

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Claus Harding
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1149
From: Washington DC
Registered: Oct 2006


 - posted June 20, 2008 09:27 AM      Profile for Claus Harding   Email Claus Harding   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
While I still run regular discs as well, since I got the Playstation 3, I actively seek out Blu-Ray material since it just looks so much better in 1080 on my 58-inch Panasonic plasma screen.

The PS3 is without a doubt the best unit out there for Blu-Ray playback. It is a solidly built machine, and I can't say I really care that it was originally considered for gaming. With the optional remote, the unit works quickly and well; it doesn't take long for a disc to start. Through the HDMI hookup the image quality is stunning (when the disc comes from a good master source.)

Also, shop around. Discs don't have to cost a fortune; Amazon is a good source for comparison pricing.

Best,
Claus.

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"Why are there shots of deserts in a scene that's supposed to take place in Belgium during the winter?" (Review of 'Battle of the Bulge'.)

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peter booth
Master Film Handler

Posts: 258
From: scarborough,north yorkshire
Registered: Jul 2004


 - posted June 20, 2008 09:46 AM      Profile for peter booth   Email peter booth       Edit/Delete Post 
Hi,I recently bought the Sony BDP S300 from Amazon for £249,it came with 6 free discs,Spiderman Trilogy and Pirates Of The Caribbean Trilogy.First class results on the screen with improved sound.After the initial set up,programme,from switching on to playing a disc must only be 90 seconds.Paul Foster sells a lot of Blu ray films at reasonable prices,I bought Rio Bravo from him for £11.99 plus post.In HMV they were charging in excess of £20 for this title,I don't find Amazon cheap unless its a second hand disc,regards,Peter.

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Graham Ritchie
Film God

Posts: 4001
From: New Zealand
Registered: Feb 2006


 - posted June 21, 2008 11:38 PM      Profile for Graham Ritchie   Email Graham Ritchie   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Watched a bit of Blu-ray in a store I was impressed in the quality, the TV was a Panasonic 42inch Plasma with 2 million pixles one of the latest. The detail was amazing, speaking to the salesman we have known for years he recomends waiting for a year or so as there is still not enough discs on the market, plus those players are not multi-zone, however they were running a "Pearl Harbour" Blu-ray through a Panasonic VP once again the quality was impressive. I was really tempted and there are titles already out there I would like to watch in Blu-ray "2001" being one, well I was lucky my wife was with me she said... "NO".. [Roll Eyes] just as well, but I am not sure how long I can resist the temptation before taking the plunge. [Eek!]

Graham. [Smile]

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Steven J Kirk
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 873
From: Southern England
Registered: Apr 2008


 - posted June 22, 2008 08:34 AM      Profile for Steven J Kirk   Email Steven J Kirk   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Take the plunge! I've got a Panasonic BD30 on order. It is taking its time because there are some shortages. I'm sure many good titles will come through now it is the only HD disc system on the market. The region coding is A,B and C. But as I understand it most distributors aren't using it currently so most discs are effectively multi-region. These coding confusions aside I believe for those of us that project it has to be a great system.

Incidently, the region 2 DVD of 2001 looks great on my Panasonic HD projector, the projector doing the upscaling. If the blu-ray is better it will be astonishing. Last time I saw 2001 in a cinema in 70mm the sound was so loud and crummy one speaker behind the screen was distorting and the bass was so boomy and imprecise it seemed more like building work going on outside. The image was good, once the projectionist got the huge hair out of the gate some time into the Moon sequence. Much better at home!

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VistaVision
Motion Picture High-Fidelity

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Robert Wales
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 100
From: Toronto
Registered: Nov 2005


 - posted June 22, 2008 10:30 AM      Profile for Robert Wales   Email Robert Wales   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
The PS3 loads quickly because it has a large hard drive needed for gaming. One of the side benefits is that you can use it to store your digital photos and view them on a large screen ( great for my photos from my trip to Australia last year ! ) as well as digital music files which you can play back over your surround system. The Sony PS3 store ( available through the PS3 via internet ) also has a large selection of high-definition trailers you can download and store as well. Granted, they are all for current releases in theatres and stores, but there are obviously a large number of trailer buffs on this forum. It has also had a series of updates ( again, automatically available free via internet ) that have kept it at the forefront of features and quality.

Easily the best electronic value I have found in my 25 years of home theatre. I bought it to safeguard against a more expensive loss if the format war went the other way but am constantly impressed with what it can do.

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Paul Adsett
Film God

Posts: 5003
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2003


 - posted June 22, 2008 11:57 AM      Profile for Paul Adsett     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
So why can't Sony take the best features of the PS3 and put it into a stand-alone BD player? They now have two BD players on the market, neither of which is as good as the PS3.
I have no interest at all in gaming, and do not want a gaming system as the basis of my home theater. So I guess I will have to wait it out until Sony or Panasonic gets it right.

--------------------
The best of all worlds- 8mm, super 8mm, 9.5mm, and HD Digital Projection,
Elmo GS1200 f1.0 2-blade
Eumig S938 Stereo f1.0 Ektar
Panasonic PT-AE4000U digital pj

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John Cook
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 183
From: Papillion, NE
Registered: Apr 2004


 - posted June 23, 2008 07:57 PM      Profile for John Cook   Author's Homepage   Email John Cook   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Paul

I believe you're selling the PS3 short, it's much more than a gaming system. We have our PS3 connected to our front projector. Bluray movies look great and it'll upconvert standard definition DVDs as well.

In addition if you connect it to your house intranet you can scan for many types of audio and video files on your home PCs and play/stream those at the press of a button via the PS3. You can also connect to and surf the internet including your favorite forum "8mm forum." Sorry a bit much there. In addition if you have a PC containing digital photos the PS3 can creat numerous styles of slide shows and averlay your favorite music.

And heaven forbid should you decide to play a game a PS3 will do that quite well too. I'm not much of a gamer myself but some of the racing sims on the big screen are enjoyable.

Don't fear the PS3, it'll do much more than a standalone player.

Regards, John

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Come visit The Pit
http://members.cox.net/home-theater

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