TheKobra

OK I decided to break down and but a Blu-Ray play and I chose the 20 GB version of the PS3 that I picked up at Wal-Mart for $449.00. (I will never buy a game for the PS3) I chose not to buy a stand alone player due to the price $600.00+ and I already have a HD DVD player. Can some one tell me why Blu-Ray moves look so bad compaired to HD DVD movies. The only movie I watched that looked great was Open Season.

I also have the following on Blu-Ray:
Black Hawk Down - looks very poor
Night at the Museum - Average
Casion Royale - Above Average
The Devil Wears Prada - OK looking
Stranger than Fiction - Average
The Holiday - Average

To me it sure seems like there is a lot of dot crawl (I believe that is what it is called) going on in the background.

Most (not all) of my HD DVD movis seem to blow away all but one of my Blu-Ray movies. Anyone else seeing this?

Watching it on my Mit 56 inch 1080P HDTV

The Cow

What is your connection to your display? And do you have the PS3 set to show 1080 (it's not that by default)?

TheKobra

Connection = HDMI
TV shows (display) 1080P when the movie starts playing.

sleepykid

i would double check the settings because the movies look pretty good with my friends ps3.

The Cow

Your TV may or not be correct. Mine doesn't always report correctly.

Still check your PS3 output settings. Like I said, by default it is NOT 1080p.

Menu option "settings/display settings"

cultshock

Yeah, it wouldn't hurt to check your settings. The only title I have on your list is CASINO ROYALE, and I think it looks great played on the PS3. It seems strange that you say BLACK HAWK DOWN looks "very poor", as it's considered to be one of the better looking live action films on BD (although I haven't seen it myself yet).

bdshort

You must have something set wrong connection wise. I've seen most of those titles, and without exception, they all look fantastic (and I'm just using 1080i converted to 720p in my TV).

Supermallet

I'm also in the "check your settings" camp. If you just opened up the PS3 and plugged it in, then it's most likely currently set to 480i or 480p.

collven

There's definitely something wrong with your connection or settings. I own or have seen most of the movies you mentioned, and they look great on my display.

Either that, or you're an HD DVD troll trying to stir something up.

mljones99

I've only watched Casino Royale on my 60g PS3 and it looked awesome. I'm with everyone else on checking the settings.

Nevi

If Black Hawk Down "looks very poor" to you then either your TV/PS3 settings are incorrect or you're due for an eye exam. Sorry but I'm tired of reading that the HD formats don't look much better than regular DVD. It's ridiculous for anyone who has seen both to come to that conclusion.

Shannon Nutt

I agree...this is either flaming against Blu-ray or the OP doesn't have his equipment set up correctly.

mhinkley

When you go to your PS3 settings make sure that it is 1080p...it is NOT set to that as default and would result in not looking as good. My PS3 looks amazing with the HDMI cable hooked to my Samsung 46" 1080p!

Deftones

Did anyone mention to check your settings?

bboisvert

I'm thinking that it might be your settings. Give 'em a check.

mdc3000

Also keep in mind that the BD settings are in a seperate tab from the gaming/general display settings...Because BHD and Casino should look as good as almost anything on HD DVD.

TheKobra

My PS3 settings are set to 1080P output.

I checked all the setting and they are set correctly.

And NO, I am not a HD DVD troll, I own both HD DVD & Blu-ray.

I was wondering if the Samsung 1200 would be a better chioce for $200.00 more?

No eye exam needed, I have 20/10 vision (really).

davidlynchfan

Never did a comparison (PS3 20 gig owner myself) but shouldn't something like a BDP-S1 standalone player be able to outperform a PS3 image wise?

Arpeggi

I think you're mistaking intended film grain for bad video quality.

The Edit King

Sorry to hear you're having problems, TK!

Most all Blu-ray movies on my 60 gigger look great!

We all know the drill concerning how it doesn't upconvert, so my SDs SUCK in comparrison to playing them on my XA1, but apart from that common variation in transfers, and from my own personal experience I believe that they do about the same.

-THEEK!

Drexl

That is possible, and I hope he didn't just watch a minute or two of each from the start before coming to his conclusions. I don't know about the others, but both of the titles I have (BHD and CR) start off very grainy by design.

What about the colorspace setting (BD / DVD Video Output Format)? Did you try both YCbCr and RGB? I think the option to choose was added in one of the earlier firmware updates. Did you update the firmware? Some people have reported washed out color with the wrong settings for their displays.

One more thing: how did you get it for $449?

The Edit King

Isn't that what the 20 gig normally sell (or sold) for?

I paid $599 for my 60 gig. I thought there was a $100 difference in the prices. That's why I bought the 60 gig. I figured for 100 bucks more, might as well get the bigger HD, the wireless option, and besides, how in the WORLD could I EVER face myself in the mirror, day after day, knowing full well I didn't get that fabulous chrome/plastic trim?

-FOR THEEK'S SAKE!

yesan

TheKobra,
Would you happen to have both your HD player and PS3 player going into the same HDMI input on your display via a receiver?

If so, I think that the PS3 uses a different color format. There are calibration test patterns on most, if not all Sony BDs.
- load disc (I've tried with Layer Cake and Talladega Nights)
- hit the triangle button once main menu comes up
- input "7669" and hit enter

Here are a couple of threads over at AVS that briefly touch on the subject(s).

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=788813

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=762951

You may also want to make sure that you have the most recent firmware for your PS3. I believe it is currently at 1.70.

As an FYI, I have a Mitsu 52631, and have an HD-A2 and a 60gb PS3 going into the same HDMI input to the display via an Onkyo 604 (with the PS3 set to output BD/DVD as RGB). The two have drastically different brightness and contrast settings. The workaround that I am using is using the "Natural" display mode for my A2 and the "Bright" display mode for my PS3. Though they share the same color profiles, they allow you to have different brightness and contrast settings.

Hope this helps.

Ye-San

TheKobra

You know it could be film grain but I did a comparison between several movies Blu-ray vs HD DVD and for the most part the HD DVD seems to look better. Now there are a HD DVD movies that look like average (Fast Times and Animal House). Like I said above Open Season looks great as does Happy Feet on HD DVD. I have no plans of returning the PS3 but I would like to know if the Samsung 1200 would be a better choice for $200.00. I will never buy a game for the PS3. Some one asked if the price of the 20 GB version was normaly $449.00...No it was $499.00

The Edit King

OH, MAN!!!

Am I seeing things or what?

HEY! I HEARD THAT!

I could have SWORN Drexl said $499.00!

...and I even quoted him, and there it is in black & white..."$449.00"!

I've gotta face it, I'm gettin' old...gettin' old...

-THEEK!, INDEED!