4K - worth the difference?
4K - worth the difference?
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Ari

Original Poster:

19,770 posts

239 months

Sunday 8th November 2015
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Just noticed that Spectre is shoeing in '4K' at my local cinema. A quick Google suggests that it's some sort of ultra high definition yet it's the same price as the normal showing.

This isn't the 3D thing is it? (Hate that - doesn't work for me). And is it actually better (ie, worth going for 4K even if the time isn't as suitable in return for a better experience?)

maxdb

1,546 posts

181 months

Sunday 8th November 2015
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I thought 4k is the standard resolution in cinemas?

Cupramax

10,945 posts

276 months

Sunday 8th November 2015
quotequote all
Your post is somewhat confusing, how can it be "worth the difference", if, as youve stated, the price is the same?

Ikemi

8,610 posts

229 months

Sunday 8th November 2015
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4K is the future ... Netflix have begun filming some of their exclusive shows in ultra high definition. It's ridiculously clear in picture quality, and you'll really notice the difference when you stand close to larger displays. More depth, more colour, less pixilation. It's worth having a 4K ready display if you're looking for a 55-60"+ television, imho. 8K has been developed too.

ETA: In answer to your question, and as the price is the same, I'd go to the 4K showing!

Ikemi

8,610 posts

229 months

Sunday 8th November 2015
quotequote all
maxdb said:
I thought 4k is the standard resolution in cinemas?
No, most digital cinemas display in 2K resolution ... smile

Impasse

15,099 posts

265 months

Sunday 8th November 2015
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The cinematography in Spectre is quite dark anyway. Of the two times I've seen it (that's Mr Saddo to you) I preferred the 4k as it gave the illusion of being a brighter picture.

Ari

Original Poster:

19,770 posts

239 months

Sunday 8th November 2015
quotequote all
Cupramax said:
Your post is somewhat confusing, how can it be "worth the difference", if, as youve stated, the price is the same?
confused

Ari said:
And is it actually better (ie, worth going for 4K even if the time isn't as suitable in return for a better experience?)
Thanks all - have booked 4K. beer

Rich_W

12,548 posts

236 months

Sunday 8th November 2015
quotequote all
Ikemi said:
4K is the future ... Netflix have begun filming some of their exclusive shows in ultra high definition. It's ridiculously clear in picture quality, and you'll really notice the difference when you stand close to larger displays. More depth, more colour, less pixilation. It's worth having a 4K ready display if you're looking for a 55-60"+ television, imho. 8K has been developed too.

ETA: In answer to your question, and as the price is the same, I'd go to the 4K showing!
Parts in bold. I know your thread is about cinema, but you've mentioned home TV

In the Home Cinema forum on this site. The consensus seems to be that 4K broadcast (Netflix aside) is YEARS away. If at all. Remember 3-4 years ago 3D was the "thing" and that was dropped.

It's what comes out of the Sky/Virgin box that matters most. And the majority of that is not 1080P HD even. So there's little benefit in 4K at the moment. Remember that for all the upscaling in the world. It can't replace content that was never there in the first place.

Lunja

502 posts

209 months

Sunday 8th November 2015
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4k broadcast is likely to happen, but as said above it will take a while.

3d has failed (again) to catch on partly because it's difficult to create on a professional level. For every 3d shoot you'd need two cameras, specialised rigging to keep them at the optimal angles and distances from one another, perfectly matched optics, the cameras would have to be firing their shutters at exactly the same time, and specialist crew would be needed. On top of that, you've got double the data to capture, log and store, which is then a pain in the proverbial to edit.

4k is something the professional industry is much more excited about and there are increasing numbers of pro cameras with 4k sensors. 4k online will probably take off quicker than broadcast because of the cost to TV networks of investing in new acquisition and transmission equipment, although there is an increasing number of younger people on social media and YouTube requesting higher frame rates rather than higher resolutions, probably because their view of video games is that the higher the frame rate the better the experience, so that may well be the next big push online. Like 3d though, higher frame rates wouldn't be right for everything, the news or Downton Abbey in 60fps would look very strange!