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HD Advisor 17Editor's Note: Each Friday, High-Def Digest's own HD Advisor will answer a new round of questions from our readers. If you have home theater questions you need answered, send an email to [email protected]. If you've already sent a question and don't see it answered yet, please be patient as we work our way through them. To browse through previously answered questions, visit the main HD Advisor page. Answers by Joshua Zyber Digitally Photographed Movies Q: My question is regarding movies shot digitally, such as 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button' and 'Cloverfield'. Correct me if I'm wrong, but since these movies were primarily filmed using digital video cameras, isn't their maximum resolution rather limited compared to movies shot on film? They may look spectacular now but in 20 years when we have Ultra Supreme High Def (or whatever we'll call it), won't they look crappy because of the limitations of digital cameras while an oldie like 'Casablanca' will look even better? A: In essence, you're correct. Movies photographed with digital cameras are forever locked into the resolution at which they were shot. Both of the movies you cite were similarly photographed with a mixture of Sony CineAlta F23 and Thomson Viper FilmStream cameras. As a result, they both have native resolutions of 1080p (or close to it, depending on the specific variables of each production). So, as you can see, they're both more or less at the same resolution as Blu-ray. With that said, digital cinematography has greater color depth and less video compression. The native format of these movies is still superior to Blu-ray in some respects. However, the crux of your point has merit. If the home theater industry were ever to move to a higher-resolution video standard (e.g. 4k), 1080p movies like these would need to be upconverted to that resolution, and would look inferior to newer content shot natively at the higher resolution. Or to 35mm film content scanned at that higher resolution. Likewise, this limitation also affects many modern movies shot on 35mm film. These days, a Digital Intermediate stage during post production is often used for color correction, visual effects, and whatnot. The movie is digitally scanned, adjusted, and then output back onto film. Sad to say, this DI stage is usually done at 2k resolution, which is very close to 1080p. So, even though the new 'Star Trek' was shot on 35mm, it's forever locked to 2k because that was the resolution of its DI. On the other hand, film is an analog photochemical medium. Its native resolution cannot be directly expressed in terms of pixels. There has been much debate about exactly what resolution 35mm film would equate to. Depending on whom you believe, a 35mm movie is comparable to anywhere from 4k to 25k. Much of the confusion stems from the difference between 35mm still photos and projected motion pictures, which cannot be measured the same way as one another. Factors such as film stock, lens choice, lighting, and exposure levels will also affect the apparent resolution of any given movie. I'm not going to pretend to know the correct answer to this, but I have a feeling that it's closer to the low end of that range. In any case, it's safe to say that 35mm film has a theoretical resolution much higher than our current 1080p home theater standard. So long as a movie didn't have a Digital Intermediate that locks it into a specific resolution, it can be rescanned in the future for a higher-resolution transfer. In that case, yes, an old movie like 'Casablanca' has the potential to look a lot better than a newer movie like 'Benjamin Button' on the next generation of home video formats. DVD Upconversion Q: From what I hear, the Oppo BDP-83 is supposed to be top-notch in terms of its upconversion capabilities. However, I have a 40-inch LCD display and I'm not sure I'd notice the difference between, say the BDP-83 and Oppo's own DV-980H. It's DVD only as you know, but also highly praised for its upconversion and considerably cheaper. Is there a minimum screen size at which the higher-end upconverters tend to be effective over and above cheaper alternatives? A: As I'm sure you know, DVD video is encoded at 480i resolution. In order to upconvert this to a higher resolution, that interlaced 480i signal must first be deinterlaced to progressive 480p frames, and then those frames will be scaled to your desired resolution. The scaling process is always based on whole frames, not on interlaced fields. If we're strictly looking at the DVD upconversion side of things (I'll assume that you get Blu-ray playback from another component), the primary difference between the two models you cite is that the BDP-83 has superior deinterlacing to the DV-980H. Deinterlacing is a very critical step. If not performed correctly, you'll get combing artifacts and jaggies in your video image, either of which will be perfectly visible on a 40" screen. That's not to say that the DV-980H has bad deinterlacing. When comparing well-authored DVDs transferred from film-based movies with a steady 3:2 cadence, I doubt you'll see much difference between these two players. That type of content is pretty straightforward to deinterlace. However, video-based programming or material with complex mixed cadences can be a much more difficult challenge. Anime content in particular can often be a deinterlacing nightmare. You'll need to take your own viewing habits into consideration when making this decision. If you exclusively watch big-budget Hollywood movies from the major studios, either one of these players will probably suit your needs just fine. But if you watch a lot of anime, concert videos, documentaries, and other eclectic content, quality deinterlacing will make a lot of difference. The BDP-83 has essentially been built off the design of Oppo's previous top-end model, the DV-983H (now discontinued), with the new addition of Blu-ray functionality. It uses an Anchor Bay deinterlacing chip that is one of the best in the field for just about any type of content you can throw at it. On top of all that, it's also a great Blu-ray player. If you're looking for an all-in-one solution, it's worth serious consideration. RS-232 Interface Q: Despite my strong recommendation that the new projector my company just purchased should have an HDMI port, they decided that the manufacturer's stated contrast ratio was the most important factor. Pioneer will offer a professional level Blu-ray player this fall that supports RS-232, which begs the question: will RS-232 provide the same quality picture that an HDMI connection would? Is it as good as Component, even? A: In home theater gear, the RS-232 port is generally used for automation purposes (for example, turning on a string of equipment in sequence and adjusting each to the proper settings automatically). It is not used for transmitting video. For that, you will still need to use the Blu-ray player's HDMI or Component video outputs. If the projector your company bought lacks an HDMI connection, you'll need to use the Component inputs instead, assuming it has some. If that's not the case either, then it most likely will have a VGA input. In that scenario, you'll need to run the Blu-ray player's Component outputs through a Component-to-VGA Converter. Please note, a simple adaptor cable will most likely not work here. A Blu-ray player's Component connection outputs video in YPbPr format. Unless specified otherwise, the projector will almost certainly be expecting an RGB signal over its VGA input. Therefore, you'll need a Converter that can transcode the signal from YPbPr to RGB. This will be more expensive than a basic adaptor cable. One more note: Because a Blu-ray player's HDMI output is encrypted with HDCP, you also cannot use an HDMI-to-VGA adaptor or converter. The HDCP encryption will prevent the signal from being transmitted. You'll need to stick to Component. Homework Assignment: You Be the Advisor Some questions that the HD Advisor receives are best answered with a consensus of opinions from our readers. If you can help to answer the following question, please post your response in our forum thread linked at the end of this article. Your advice and opinions matter too! Budget A/V Receiver Recommendations Q: You mentioned previously that the PS3 can only internally decode Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio and send them out as PCM. The only Blu-ray player I use is a PS3. It's just too hard to find "Linear PCM" in the features listing on any web site. Are there any cheaper receivers that can accept uncompressed PCM at these bit-rates without having built-in decoders for the other two codecs? Check back next week for another round of answers. Keep those questions coming. Joshua Zyber's opinions are his own and do not necessarily reflect those of this site, its owners or employees.Posted Fri Jun 12, 2009 at 12:00 PM PDT by: -
Blu-ray Drama Days at Amazon[teaser]Pops will be proud as Amazon continues their Father's Day Blu-ray bonanza with a drama sale.[/teaser] Running now through June 21 Amazon's Drama Days lists nearly a hundred Blu-ray titles on sale. Once again, the sale page states some of the titles are as low as $13.99, but there are even a few cheaper ones in the mix like Category 7: The End of the World as low as $7.99. Click here for the sale page details at Amazon.Posted Fri Jun 12, 2009 at 11:00 AM PDT by: -
Universal Preps 'State of Play' Blu-ray for August[teaser]Universal will release 'State of Play' on Blu-ray this August.[/teaser] The film starring Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck, and Helen Mirren will release on August 11 and will feature 1080p video, lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and bonus features will include Deleted Scenes and The Making of State of Play. Exclusive to the Blu-ray is U-Control: picture-in-picture, U-Control: Washington, DC Locations, My Scenes and BD-Live connectivity. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is TBA. You can find the latest specs for 'State of Play' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under August 11.Posted Fri Jun 12, 2009 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
New 'Transformers' Blu-ray Content Next Week[teaser]Paramount has announced that 'Transformers' Blu-ray owners will be able to access a whole slew of new exclusive content on June 16 via BD-Live.[/teaser] The new material will include: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Sneak Peek — Footage from the new film. From the set of Revenge of the Fallen: Day 1 — An exclusive inside look at the first day of shooting. From the set of Revenge of the Fallen: A Day in the Shade —A comical look at the differences between Megan and Shia's on-set treatment. Never-Before-Seen Deleted Scenes from Transformers. Fly on the Set: Pentagon — On the set filming of the Pentagon Military Command Center. Music and Mayhem — Renowned special effects house ILM deconstructs the blockbuster action of Transformers. Metal in Motion — Special effects tests and early robot animation. Stunts 101 — An in-depth look at the amazing stunts in Transformers. Choose Your Weapon —A fly on the wall glimpse into the selection of weapons and how they were used by the film's soldiers. The Man in the Ice — From design to production, watch the Arctic come to life on various sets in Los Angeles, California. Voices — The voices behind the Autobots and Decepticons. Audition Tapes: Megan Fox — Megan's original Transformers audition. For those without Blu-ray, the only way to access the content is by purchasing a new DVD marked to have an access code for the 'Transformers' site. 'Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen' will hit theaters June 24.Posted Fri Jun 12, 2009 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
'Management' Headed for Blu-ray[teaser]Image Entertainment has announced the Jennifer Aniston/Steve Zahn romantic comedy 'Management' for a Blu-ray release on September 29.[/teaser] The release will feature 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 video, DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and there's no word on extras as of yet, but we’ll make sure to keep you posted. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $35.98. You can find the latest specs for 'Management' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under September 29.Posted Fri Jun 12, 2009 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
FUNimation Announces 'Devil May Cry' for Blu-ray[teaser]Another anime complete series heads to high-definition this summer. [/teaser] FUNimation will bring the popular anime series 'Devil May Cry: The Complete Series' based on the video game to Blu-ray on August 25. Specs haven't been announced yet, but the supplements will include Special Interview: Toshiyuki Morikawa, Devil May Cry: The Game, Clean Opening Animation, and Clean Closing Animation. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray set is $59.98. You can find the latest specs for 'Devil May Cry: The Complete Series' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under August 25.Posted Thu Jun 11, 2009 at 12:00 PM PDT by: -
Warner Dusts Off 3 Catalog Titles for Blu-ray[teaser]Warner will be releasing 'Contact,' 'Ghost Ship,' and 'The Number 23' on Blu-ray on October 6.[/teaser] Technical specs haven't been revealed yet, but each disc will contain a fair amount of supplements. 'Contact' will include: Behind the Story, Commentary by Jodie Foster, Commentary by Robert Zemeckis (Director) & Steve Starkey (Producer), Commentary by Ken Ralston & Stephen Rosenbaum (Visual Effects), The Making of the Opening Shot, The Making of the NASA Machine Destruction, The Making of the Harrier Landing, The High Speed Composition Reel, Machine Fly By, Hadden's Plane, NASA Control Room, and a 5.1 music only track. 'Ghost Ship' will include: Max on Set: Ghost Ship {AKA Documentary), Secrets Of The Antonio Graza featurette, Visual Effects Featurette, A Closer Look at the Gore, Designing the Ghost Ship, Club Reel: Not Falling, and a Theatrical Trailer. 'The Number 23' will include: Commentary with director Joel Schumacher, Making of The Number 23 (featurette), Creating the World of Fingerling (featurette), The 23 Enigma (featurette, the legacy behind the obsession of the number 23,), How to Do Your Numbers (Game, the history of numerology, HD), Introduction, Calculating Your Number, Number Summaries, Additional scenes, and a Theatrical trailer. Suggested list price for the Blu-rays is $28.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Contact,' 'Ghost Ship,' 'The Number 23' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where they are indexed under October 6.Posted Thu Jun 11, 2009 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
Warner Details 'Wizard of Oz' Blu-ray[teaser]Warner is rolling out the yellow brick road for the Blu-ray release of the timeless classic 'The Wizard of Oz: 70th Anniversary Ultimate Collector's Edition' this September.[/teaser] On September 29, Warner Home Video's 'The Wizard of Oz' will be available for the first time in high-definition. The film has been meticulously restored from the original negatives in 8K resolution and remastered at 4K for the ultimate in quality. The two-disc set will present the film in limited edition numbered packaging and will include 1080p/VC-1 video, Dolby TrueHD 5.1 audio, and a whole Munchkin Land of bonus features. Some of the highlights include: The Dreamer of Oz (1990 NBC TV movie with John Ritter and Annette O'Toole), Victor Fleming, Master Craftsmen (documentary about the Hollywood director), Hollywood Celebrates Its Biggest Little Stars (featurette on seven of the original munchkins), The Magic Cloak of Oz (1914 silent film), The Patchwork Girl of Oz (another 1914 silent film), Sing-a-long track, Reproductions of Archival Material, Behind the Curtain (a 52-page miniature coffee-table book of unpublished material, photographs, memos, script pages, and more), exclusive Wizard of Oz Watch (a collectible numbered 70th anniversary watch with genuine crystals), digital copy, and much more. Click here to check out the list. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $84.99. You can find the latest specs for 'The Wizard of Oz: 70th Anniversary Ultimate Collector's Edition’ linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under September 29.Posted Thu Jun 11, 2009 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
Save Up To $65 on Blu-ray at Amazon[teaser]The more Blu-rays you buy at Amazon, the more $$$ you'll save in their latest sale.[/teaser] Amazon's "Buy More, Save More" sale works as follows: Buy 2 Blu-ray discs from this list, save $8. Buy 3 Blu-ray discs from this list, save $12. Buy 4 Blu-ray discs from this list, save $18. Buy 5 Blu-ray discs from this list, save $25. Buy 6 Blu-ray discs from this list, save $30. Buy 7 Blu-ray discs from this list, save $38. Buy 8 Blu-ray discs from this list, save $45. Buy 9 Blu-ray discs from this list, save $55. Buy 10 Blu-ray discs from this list, save $65. The offer is in effect from now through June 22. Complete details and applicable titles can be found by clicking here.Posted Thu Jun 11, 2009 at 07:00 AM PDT by: -
Warner Will Be '17 Again' This August on Blu-ray[teaser]Warner is releasing the Zac Efron comedy '17 Again' on Blu-ray this August.[/teaser] The Blu-ray available on August 11 (day and date with the DVD release) will feature 1080p/VC-1 video, Dolby TrueHD 5.1 audio, and extras will include: Zac Goes Back, Going Back To 17, “Way Cool” Tell All Trivia Track, Breakin' Character Outtakes, Zac's Dance Flashback, Additional Scenes, ZAC ATTACKS, Tom Lennon & Melora Hardin – Unfiltered, and BD LIVE – Media Center. The Blu-ray will also contain a DVD and digital copy of the film. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is TBA. You can find the latest specs for '17 Again’ linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under August 11.Posted Thu Jun 11, 2009 at 06:00 AM PDT by:
