Is All HD Created Equal?

[Shortside]

Originally Posted by Hi Fi

When does HD To The Max Play? Thanks.

I'd like to know too! HiDefBob?

[HiDefBob]

Other Variables ...

1. Newer HDTV cameras give a better picture than the old ones. Larger HDTV viewing screens can actually reveal the differences.
2. Although it is occurring less often as more HD cameras are purchased, some live sports still have a mixture of HD and SD cameras.
3. On series programming directors will use soft focus filters on some cameras when doing closeups on the actors ... some actors do not like the facial imperfections that HD cameras reveal.
4. Some directors on these series mess with the resolution of the HD cameras for special effects.
5. Programs on channels like Discovery HD often look the best because there is usually no tinkering with the cameras ... the object is to reveal the maximum resolution the cameras can give.

[HiDefBob]

Originally Posted by Shortside

I'd like to know too! HiDefBob?

It used to show on CBS Boston late on Saturday evenings. However, they discontinued the program about 6 months ago (or more). I do not now whether the program has been permenantly discontinued. Too bad if it has ... it was a great show for showing HDTV at its very best.

[MecArthur]

Hi guys,
thank you all for the good explainations about what are HD-channels versus HD-channels.
But one word I always see, it is up-converting to HD levels!
What actually means up-converting? Is it equal to HD quality or ist between SD and HD quality. And how does up-converting works,is there a loss somewhere?
Thanks Mecarthur.............

[57]

Upconversion can be done in several ways. When we talk about upconversion done by an affiliate, they take a 480i signal (the original SD programme) and pass it though some expensive equipment that uses a complicated algorithm to "extrapolate and interpolate" information to try to make the upconverted image as close to HD as possible. The equipment basically "guesses" at the "missing" information.

Since the original was 480i, it'll never be as good as HD, but it'll be better than SD.

You can see them do similar stuff on CSI when they take a blurry image, put it on a computer and make it look better.

All HDTVs also upconvert from SD, but the equipment and algorithm obviously won't be as good as the affiliate use. Same with upconverting DVD players.