720p or 1080i ?

[stuh]

The new DVD player has a scaler built in. Picture seems better with 720p, is there any advantage to using 1080i?

Also is it my imagination, but do R2 PAL DVD's always seem to give a better picture than the equivalent R1 NTSC version?

[ErnestM]

720p is progressive, 1080i is interlaced (no interlaced frames, so therefor you get 1 full frame at about 30 or less fps instead 2 interlaced at about 60fps).

Regarding PAL/NTSC - I suppose it depends on the video standard for your monitor/television...


ErnestM

[bashful]

It depends what you're watching: I've heard it said that 720p is better for detailed material, 1080i for fast-moving images.

[stuh]

Yep, i know all about progressive and interlaced. I'm just not sure what benefit (if any) 1080i is supposed to provide.

I'm guessing that if true native HD res 1080i then the extra lines are beneficial and outweigh the benefits of the lower resolution 720 progressive?

In my case the DVD is just upsampling standard DVD to HD res vis the inbuilt scaler, so 720p is just a tarted up version of the standard picture. Although i must confess the upsampling is pretty impressive via HDMI!

[stuh]

bashful said:

It depends what you're watching: I've heard it said that 720p is better for detailed material, 1080i for fast-moving images.

Interesting. I'll have a look at 1080i with some action material later.........

[ErnestM]

Quick way to see the difference:

Freeze frame a 720p picture. Fairly clear picture.

Freeze frame a 1080i picture. You will see scan lines and a blur.

--

Not trying to tout the benefits of either, just pointing out the differences. FWIW my Sony HDR-FX1 handycam will record in 1080i or 720p. The 1080i does seem to be better for action shots...


ErnestM

>> Edited by ErnestM on Tuesday 17th May 02:20

[FlossyThePig]

stuh said:

Also is it my imagination, but do R2 PAL DVD's always seem to give a better picture than the equivalent R1 NTSC version?

PAL has 625 line (576 displayed) and NTSC has 525 lines (486 displayed) so should look better. [PAL-M is 525 lines but I think it is only used in South America]

Hugh

[pjskel]

Its immaterial unless your display can actually display 1080i. If not, then it's downconverting to 720 anyway.
So, since the display is probably able to handle progressive scan, 720p would be the obvious choice, unless it has 1080 or more vertical resolution.
As of now though, 1080 isn't used, even though broadcasters are recording at 1080, since there's been no defined standard for it nor encryption - as in HDCP over DVI or HDMI.
There's also a bandwidth issue to argue over as well, so don't expect to see anything other than 720p out of you HD set-top boxes anytime soon.